Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s AGING NEWS For the week of September 17

Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s

AGING NEWS

For the week of September 17

Golden Living . . . News for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers

Todd N. Tancredi, Director

Dutchess County Office for the Aging

LOOKING FOR MEDICARE ANSWERS? DON’T DELAY

October 15 to December 7 is when all people with Medicare can change their Medicare health plans and prescription drug coverage for the following year to better meet their needs. The Office for the Aging offers free phone and in-person counseling to people with questions about their Medicare plans. You can make an appointment by contacting us during business hours at (845) 486-2555, or by emailing ofa@dutchessny.gov. With over 60,000 seniors in Dutchess County, counseling appointments fill up quickly and are often booked solid by early to mid-October. If we are unable to book an appointment for you, we can put you in touch with other local Medicare counseling alternatives who may have space.

We’ll go into greater detail on health insurance counseling in next week’s Golden Living column.

SENIOR PROM DISCOUNT EXTENDED

There’s still time to take advantage of lower-priced tickets to the annual Office for the Aging “Senior Prom,” coming up on Monday, October 15^th from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Villa Borghese in Wappinger (70 Widmer Rd.).

We’ve extended the deadline for lower-priced $20 per person admission to all payments delivered or postmarked by Friday, September 28^th, or until the event sells out, whichever comes first. If you and your friends have been on the fence about whether to go to the prom, this is your chance to act! After the 28^th, admission increase to $30 per person. Ten people can be seated at each table, and all the seats feature good access to the dance floor.

This year’s prom theme is “The Big Game” which means that if you want an outfit that matches the theme, dress as if you’re attending or participating in your favorite sporting event. You’ll be treated to a buffet lunch, an afternoon of great dance music from the full Bob Martinson Band, and plenty of chances to win great prizes. In keeping with this year’s theme you’ll have chance to win tickets to Marist College football and basketball games, Army football, and many more prizes from local restaurants and merchants.

Sponsors for the Senior Prom include Wingate Healthcare, EverCare At Home, Northwestern Mutual, and the Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services.

GOLDEN GATHERING RETURNS SATURDAY 9/22

Seniors, their families and caregivers are invited to the free annual “Golden Gathering” on Saturday, September 22nd, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Arlington High School (1157 Route 55, Lagrangeville). The event, hosted by New York State Senator Sue Serino and funded by the James J. McCann Charitable Trust, will feature free health screenings, free flu shots, entertainment, refreshments, door prizes and over 100 tables full of information from local businesses and organizations, including the Office for the Aging. You’ll be able to find resources for seniors in a “one-stop shop” setting, covering needs from senior safety to nutrition to legal issues, and much more. Last year’s event attracted over 850 seniors from all over Dutchess County. Don’t miss it!

Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 27 High Street, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601, telephone (845) 486-2555, email:ofa@dutchessny.gov website: www.dutchessny.gov/aging

Office for the Aging upcoming events

Unless otherwise indicated, call (845) 486-2555 for more information

Tue 9/18, 11 a.m. – “Overcoming Food Cravings”

With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava

Castle Court at Concord Village, 386 Van Wagner Rd., Poughkeepsie

Wed 9/19, 11 a.m. – “Overcoming Food Cravings”

With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava

Pawling Senior Friendship Center, 154 Charles Colman Blvd.

Thu 9/20, 11 a.m. – – “Overcoming Food Cravings”

With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava

The Landing of Poughkeepsie, 251 Boardman Rd.

Sat 9/22, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – OFA at the Golden Gathering

Arlington High School, 1157 NY 55, LaGrangeville

(845) 229-0106 or email goldengathering41@gmail.com for information

Tue 9/25, 11 a.m. – “Overcoming Food Cravings”

With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava

City of Poughkeepsie Senior Friendship Center, 110 South Grand Ave.

Wed 9/26, 11 a.m. – Senior Forum public hearing (first of two)

Beacon Senior Friendship Center, 1 Forrestal Heights

Thu 9/27, 11 a.m. – Senior Forum public hearing (second of two)

Red Hook Senior Friendship Center, 59 Fisk St.

Mon 10/15, 12 noon – 4 p.m. – Office for the Aging Senior Prom

Villa Borghese, 70 Widmer Rd., Wappinger

Tickets $20 each ($200 per table of 10) if paid or postmarked by September 15

$30 each after that…

This year’s theme: “The Big Game” – dress as a spectator or participant in your favorite sport or athletic activity.

Any other questions? Email bjones@dutchessny.gov.

To request an Office for the Aging presentation for your senior, social and/or civic group, get in touch with outreach coordinator Brian Jones at (845) 486-2555 or bjones@dutchessny.gov. All your group needs to provide is a venue that’s wheelchair-accessible and open to the public, with space to set up a projector and screen. We have our own projector and screen – but if you have those, let us know.

We feature presentations on Successful Aging, Office for the Aging services, Medicare/Medicaid, scam prevention, senior housing, a wide range of topics related to nutrition, and more!

ONE CHILLY DAY AND…

…we start getting questions about flu (influenza) season.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you be vaccinated for the 2018-19 flu season before its “official” beginning in November, for the best chance at successfully preventing flu throughout the season, which continues through April 2019.

But who pays for it?

Medicare Part B pays for one flu shot in each flu season, regardless of whether you’re enrolled in the original Medicare program or in a Medicare Advantage plan. If you’re in original Medicare, the shot is free (no deductible, no copay) if you have it administered by a doctor or pharmacist who accepts Medicare assignment — that is, has agreed to accept the Medicare-approved payment as full reimbursement for providing this service.

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan (such as an HMO or PPO), the shot is still free. But you may be required to have it administered by a doctor who is in the plan’s provider network.

More information is available at www.flu.gov.

For friends and family who aren’t in Medicare, the Dutchess County Board of Community and Behavioral Health (DBCH) is putting together a series of free flu-shot clinics. Watch future Aging News emails to find out when and where.

WANTED: SUBSTITUTE HOME DELIVERED MEALS DRIVERS (CDL REQUIRED) AND SUBSTITUTE FRIENDSHIP CENTER SITE MANAGERS

The Office for the Aging is looking for both paid and volunteer help at our Senior Friendship Centers and in our Home Delivered Meals program. The need for volunteers continues year-round, but right now there are paid part-time openings for substitute site managers at our eight Senior Friendship Centers throughout Dutchess County, and part-time openings for drivers with CDL licenses to join our Home Delivered Meals program.

To find out more, email Nutrition Services Coordinator Nimesh Bhargava at nbhargava@dutchessny.gov.

“STOP THE BLEED” TRAINING IN PAWLING (Tue 9/18)

Much of the information you may have learned in first-aid training in years gone by has changed, so stay up to date with a free “Stop the Bleed” training presented on Tuesday, September 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. by the Dutchess County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), at the Pawling Free Library (11 Broad St.).

“Stop the Bleed” is intended to encourage bystanders to become empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes, therefore it is important to quickly stop the blood loss by any means necessary. Participants will receive “hands on” training in the proper use of direct pressure, wound packing and tourniquets.

Registration is required for this free program; call the library at (845) 855-3444 or email Donald at adult@pawlinglibrary.orgto register.

RED HOOK WINS GRANT FUNDING FOR CLEAN ENERGY SENIOR TRANSPORTATION

The state Department of Transportation has notified the Town of Red Hook that their federal grant to transport seniors and individuals with physical challenges by all-electric passenger vans, is recommended for funding. Watch future issues of the Aging News to find out when the service will launch.

The $107,000 grant, along with New York state incentives and matching funds from the Ascienzo Family Foundation, will make it easier for town residents to continue living independently.

For more information, visit the town’s recently-updated website at www.redhook.org.

“REBUILDING DAY” APPLICATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 30

Many older Dutchess County homeowners find themselves having difficulty with physically or financially keeping their home in safe shape – which is where Rebuilding Together Dutchess County steps in with cost-free critical home repairs to qualifying homeowners.

The deadline to apply for assistance is September 30. Income qualified Dutchess County homeowners, especially seniors, persons living with a disability, military veterans or parents with school aged children are encouraged to apply. Since RTDC’s founding in 1992, over 13,300 volunteers have been engaged assisting 600 Dutchess County homeowners with critical home repairs, accessibility modifications and energy-efficiency upgrades valued at over $6.2 million in market value.

More information is available at http://www.rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org/apply or by calling (845) 454-7310.

Other aging news online:

You’re driving up to an intersection that’s got a flashing yellow turn signal on. “What does that mean?” you wonder. Dutchess County roads have one flashing yellow already, at the intersection of Titusville Rd. and Noxon Rd. near the border of the Towns of LaGrange and Poughkeepsie. While the Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board reports that the Noxon/Titusville flashing yellow is the only one in the county right now, there may be more in the county before long. We had to look up what the flashing yellow meant, and we’re passing along that info so it doesn’t confuse you: https://dmv.ny.gov/about-dmv/chapter-4-traffic-control-2

Is there a connection between daytime sleepiness and dementia? https://www.usnews.com/news/health-care-news/articles/2018-09-07/study-excessive-daytime-sleepiness-may-contribute-to-alzheimers-disease

Some health screenings are more beneficial than others, and some may be counterproductive: https://www.healthnewsreview.org/screening-how-overdiagnosis-and-other-harms-can-undermine-the-benefits/

Due to a combination of seniors working longer and adult children taking longer to move out of the house, seniors aren’t downsizing from their home as much as they used to – and those that do downsize are older than they used to be:https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2018/09/10/seniors-staying-put-downsizing-later-study-says

Retailers are adapting to a big anticipated increase in the number of senior customers, along with their caregivers:https://www.roanoke.com/business/news/retail-s-new-niche-aging-baby-boomers/article_4cd1a350-ce66-59f9-8710-2ee1f1b6c0bd.html

Edith started hitting the weights at age 91: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-tampa/97-year-old-tampa-woman-proves-powerlifting-helps-women-build-muscle-to-slow-the-effects-of-aging

(video) Every year, Jack does something new and interesting on his birthday. He’s 106 now, so…time to go ziplining!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPJTzQXTKyo

This week in senior birthdays:

9/17: Former NY Knicks player/general manager Phil Jackson (73)

9/18: Actor/singer Frankie Avalon (78)

9/19: Baseball writer Roger Angell (98 and still busy: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/5797-getting-baseball-right-a-conversation-with-roger-angell)

9/20: Actress/singer Sophia Loren (84)

9/21: Author/screenwriter Stephen King (71)

9/22: Brooklyn/LA Dodgers player/manager Tommy Lasorda (91)

9/23: Singer/songwriter Julio Iglesias (75)

And finally, the Bad Joke:

Q: Under what circumstances will bakers trade recipes?

A: On a knead-to-know basis.

Brian Jones
Outreach Coordinator