Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s

AGING NEWS

Bus Drivers Needed
Home Delivered Meals Drivers Needed
Last Chance to Nominate Seniors of the Year (3/25)
No Cost Energy Savings
Northern Dutchess Seminar Series
Dutchess County Division of Veterans’ Services
Long-Term Care Insurance Seminar (3/29)
More Aging News Online

Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens

Dutchess County Office for the Aging

DRIVERS NEEDED

The Office for the Aging is looking for experienced bus drivers to help transport seniors to and from Senior Friendship Centers, delivering hot meals to homes, and occasionally providing transportation to groups of seniors to supermarkets or other locations as scheduled in advance. This paid position requires the ability to operate an automotive vehicle used to transport seniors and meals. The operator is responsible for the safety and conduct of the passengers, and must have: good knowledge of driving safety practices and traffic laws/regulations; ability to operate a bus under all driving and road conditions; ability to understand and follow simple oral and written directions; ability to get along well with seniors, volunteers and other staff; mechanical aptitude; mental alertness; dependability; and physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position. Suitable applicants may be hired as a regular or substitute driver in one or more of our service areas across Dutchess County. A commercial driver’s license (CDL) with passenger endorsement is required. To apply for this position contact the Dutchess County Office for the Aging at 486-2555, and an application packet will be mailed to you. Please note: a criminal background check and confidentiality training is required for this position. The Office for the Aging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information on this, and other employment opportunities with Dutchess County, visit: www.dutchessny.gov/jobs

HOME DELIVERED MEALS VOLUNTEERS

In addition, volunteers are needed to assist the Office for the Aging in a variety of ways with our senior meals programs at 10 locations across Dutchess County. Possible volunteer roles include: packaging home delivered meals, delivering meals to homes, assisting Friendship Center staff with set-up before and cleaning up after senior meals, conducting games and other activities with the seniors, keeping the center organized and helping to record attendance. Other assistance may be needed depending on the location. To apply to become a volunteer, contact Dutchess County Office for the Aging at the number above.

SEARCH IS ON FOR SENIORS OF THE YEAR

The window of opportunity to nominate someone for the 2016 Dutchess County “Senior Citizen of the Year Award” is about to close. Nominations are being accepted through March 25^th in the categories of senior male, senior female or the senior citizen couple of the year. The awards are presented at the Celebration of Aging held each May in honor of Older Americans Month. The nomination form and more information are available by calling our office at (845) 486-2555 or you can find a copy of the form online in the Spotlight on Seniors newsletter:

http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/soswinter20152016.pdf

The Celebration of Aging also honors residents of Dutchess County who have achieved incredible feats of aging. Please let us know of any Dutchess County resident you know who will be turning 100 or older anytime this year, or celebrating their 70^thor greater wedding anniversary during 2016 by calling the phone number above or through email atagingservices@dutchessny.gov. We would like to invite them to be our guests at the Celebration of Aging, scheduled for Monday, May 16^th at noon at the Villa Borghese in Wappinger.

Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 27 High Street, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601, telephone 486-2555, email: agingservices@dutchessny.gov website: http://www.dutchessny.gov/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/AGIndex.htm

NO COST ENERGY SOLUTIONS
EmPower New York provides no-cost energy efficiency solutions to income-eligible New Yorkers. Nearly 100,000 of your neighbors are saving energy and saving money with EmPower New York — without spending a dime. Whether you own your home or rent, a participating contractor [PDF] will be assigned to you to assess if your home would benefit from free energy upgrades such as:

Air sealing to plug leaks and reduce drafts
Insulation to make your home more comfortable all year round
Replacement of inefficient refrigerators and freezers
New energy-efficient lighting
Plus, free health and safety checks of your smoke detectors, appliances and more

Get Started

First, find out if you are income-eligible. Then, you can choose one of these three ways to apply:

NORTHERN DUTCHESS SEMINAR SERIES: Wellness talks highlight back health, elder fraud, bereavement

Northern Dutchess Hospital’s Wellness Series returns this spring with seven educational events featuring dynamic topics and speakers who want to improve the well-being of the community. The informative health discussions are held in the hospital’s cafeteria conference room, 6511 Springbrook Ave., Rhinebeck.

Overall topics include: preventing cybercrime, stories from emergency medicine physicians, end-of-life decisions, joint health, bereavement and memoir writing. Speakers are from the hospital’s medical staff, Hudson Valley Hospice, Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health as well as writing instructor Beverly Sloane. Reservations are required.

To register, visit www.healthquest.org/wellness or call one of the phone numbers listed below (TTY 1-800-421-1220).

Spring Wellness Series schedule:

Elder Fraud: Protecting Your Personal Information in a High-Tech World

2 p.m., Monday, March 28

Cafeteria Conference Room, Northern Dutchess Hospital

Cybercrime is on the rise, and older adults are often targeted. In this Center for Healthy Aging lecture, you will learn useful tips to help secure your personal identification information and protect yourself from phone, Internet and in-person scams.

Speaker: John Schwartz, Chief Information Security Officer, Health Quest

To register: call 845-876-4745 or visit healthquest.org/wellness

From Bacteria to Broken Bones: Emergency Physicians’ Stories

11:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 5

Cafeteria Conference Center, Northern Dutchess Hospital

During this lunch-and-learn, the focus is on emergency departments, which are home to a variety of dramatic and unusual events. Northern Dutchess Hospital emergency medicine physicians will share their stories while giving you tips that could help you in a medical emergency. Learn why Hollywood depictions are more fiction than fact during this luncheon. Soup and salad served.

Speakers: Dr. John Sabia, NDH’s Vice President of Medical Affairs and Dr. W. Andrew Wilson, Director of NDH’s Emergency Department

To register: call 845-871-1720 ext. 1 or visit healthquest.org/wellness

A Discussion of “Consider the Conversation 2: Stories about Cure, Relief and Comfort”

2 p.m., Monday, April 11

Cafeteria Conference Room, Northern Dutchess Hospital

The Center for Healthy Aging and Hudson Valley Hospice will show segments of the film “Consider the Conversation 2: Stories about Cure, Relief and Comfort,” as a catalyst for discussion about palliative care and end-of-life issues. The film chronicles the real-life experiences of a variety of patients who are terminally ill.

Speakers: Dr. James Scaduto, Dr. Jodi Friedman, Clinical Social Worker Allison Gould and Hudson Valley Hospice Clinical Social Worker Peggy Kuras

To register: call 845-876-4745 or visit healthquest.org/wellness

Back to Life: Relief for Painful Chronic Back Conditions

5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 3

Cafeteria Conference Center, Northern Dutchess Hospital

Back pain is one of the top causes of missed work and reasons for doctors’ visits, often leading chronic sufferers to wonder if surgery is right for them. Spine surgeon Dr. Richard Perkins will talk about treatment options for severe lower back problems, including herniated disks, sciatic and stenosis, and will provide insights on when surgery might be the best option. A question-and-answer period follows the presentation.

Speaker: Dr. Richard Perkins, Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County

To register: call 845-871-1720 ext. 1 or visit healthquest.org/wellness

Grief: A Primer

2 p.m., Monday, May 16

Cafeteria Conference Room, Northern Dutchess Hospital

While grief is a very personal and multilayered experience, there is some general understanding of the grief cycle that can serve as a guide and source of comfort for the grieving. This lecture will describe the common stages of grief and explore the many complexities of loss.

Speakers: Clinical Social Worker Beth Alter and Dr. Ellen Marx, Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health

To register: call 845-876-4745 or visit healthquest.org/wellness

Writing the Stories of Your Life

2 p.m., Monday, June 13

Cafeteria Conference Room, Northern Dutchess Hospital

Do you remember the day you learned to ride a bike? Held your first grandchild? Suffered a great heartbreak? Laughed so hard you cried? In this workshop, memoir writing instructor Beverly Sloane will teach you how to turn a significant memory into a compelling, vivid and honest written work. The Center for Healthy Aging’s Allison Gould will discuss the therapeutic value of writing for healing and personal growth.

Speakers: Memoirist Beverly Sloane and Clinical Social Worker Allison Gould

To register: call 845-876-4745 or visit healthquest.org/wellness

Dutchess County Division of Veterans’ Services

The primary objective of the Dutchess County Division of Veterans’ Services is to promote the interests and welfare of veterans, their dependents, and survivors. They aim to enhance their quality of life through counseling, claims assistance, education, and advocacy by obtaining federal, state, and local benefits which they may be entitled to. These benefits are not automatic, they must be applied for. Contact them at (845) 486-2060 to schedule an appointment with a counselor. For more information about our programs and services, visit www.dutchessny.gov/Veterans

Dutchess County Veterans’ Services Include:

Assistance Filing Claims & Referrals for:

Exposure to Agent Orange
Persian Gulf Hazards
Service-Connected Disability
Non-Service Connected Pension
Educational Benefits
Vocational Rehabilitation
Medical & Dental Benefits
Home Loan Guarantee
Insurance
Veterans Status for Merchant Marines

Burial Benefits:

Headstone or Marker
Burial/Plot Allowance
Presidential Memorial Certificates

Survivor’s Benefits:

Dependency & Indemnity Compensation
Death Pension
V.A. Life Insurance Claims
Annual Eligibility Verification Reports

Assistance Applying for NYS Benefits:

Blind Annuity
Real Property Tax Exemption

We Can Also Assist With:

Filing Discharge Papers with County Clerk
Replacing Military Records (Discharge Papers)
Application for Medals (NYS & Federal)
Upgrading or Correcting Military Discharges
Referrals to Other Benefit Agencies

Long Term Care Inurance Seminar

The Pines at Poughkeepsie Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation will host a free seminar focusing on the complexities of Long Term Care Insurance. The Hodgkins Agency will present information regarding how to pay for Long Term Care. If you have ever wanted to speak to a Financial Professional about Long Term Care Insurance this is a great opportunity for free advice. The seminar will take place March 29th at 5PM in the lobby of The Pines, light refreshments will be served. Reservations are highly suggested as we anticipate many people will want to take advantage of this opportunity. Reserve a seat with Becky(845)454-4100 ext. 318

MORE AGING NEWS ONLINE:

Anesthesia Not Linked to Long-Term Mental Decline, Study Finds

03/11/2016 08:00 AM EST

Underlying health, previous functioning are more likely factors, researchers say. Source: HealthDay

Elderly with Advanced Colon Cancer Often Get Costly, Dubious Treatments

03/10/2016 01:00 PM EST

Drugs come with many side effects, may add only one month to survival, researchers add. Source: HealthDay

Some doctors wary as paperless prescriptions become law

CBS News

NEW YORK — The scribbled, cryptic doctor’s prescription is headed toward eradication in New York, where the nation’s toughest paperless-prescribing requirement takes effect this month.
ALZHEIMER’S NEWSLETTER: http://act.alz.org/site/MessageViewer?autologin=true&em_id=207494.0&dlv_id=235108&utm_campaign=enews-2016-03-21&utm_medium=email&WT.mc_id=enews2016_03_21&utm_source=enews-aff-118

ARTHRITIS NEWSLETTER: http://view.em.arthritis.org/?qs=2e8909ce94d323126fa8e2898b98305c8a8b222382edfc51b05820b2a97987bae8456bcf075fa4f0c88b764d5b3dde1b2c86b0e72800ef15fe6fd9a310437de67da1dfe284b73e7b89b68b4889619cf1

Joseph A. Ryan