Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s AGING NEWS for the week of July 18, 2016

 

Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s

AGING NEWS

for the week of July 18, 2016

Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens

Todd N. Tancredi, Director

Dutchess County Office for the Aging

 

THE CURE FOR TECHNOPHOBIA?

                        A key goal for “successful aging” is maintaining connections with friends and family, especially given the increasing number of older Americans who live alone: including almost half (46%) of women over the age of 75, according to 2014 figures from the U.S. Administration on Aging. Without continuing social contact, loneliness often contributes to cognitive decline, which in turn contributes to less social contact and still more cognitive decline. Social contact avoids that spiral, but our ever-changing communication patterns threaten to leave seniors behind. Still, seniors are more ambivalent than the general population about technology as a reliable way to keep in touch. Most people over the age of 60 didn’t grow up with a computer in their school, let alone at home or in their hands, and with unfamiliar technology come understandable trust issues. Nonetheless, when connectedness is presented as a matter of cognitive health and fear of technology as a roadblock to successful aging, an increasing number of seniors have been putting aside their apprehensions. Seniors’ presence is felt even on massive online enterprises like Facebook, which were the domain of tech-savvy young people not even a decade ago. The percentage of those over 65 using the internet surpassed 50 percent four years ago, and two years ago, the number was closing in on 60 percent. Physical challenges and health issues can be barriers to connecting seniors, but a 2014 Pew study found the differences between seniors with such challenges and those without is less than expected; and once online, over 70 percent of seniors consider the internet a daily part of their lives and view it in a positive light. Of the seniors on social media like Facebook, four out of five say they socialize with others every day.

Who’s introducing seniors to new technology? Most don’t take the plunge on their own. For the most part, it’s family members to whom seniors want to stay connected the most. AARP reports almost three-quarters of older adults were introduced to social media by their children and grandchildren.

Each generation prefers its own methods of communication. Past generations did the best they could through letters and in-person conversations. A simple phone call or voicemail might suffice for you and your adult children, but you may have difficulty communicating with grandkids without knowing at least a little bit of texting shorthand – unless you view this “language barrier” as a learning opportunity rather than a roadblock. The grandkids will be delighted to be in the position of exchanging their wisdom for yours, and you’ll have another avenue for healthy social connections.

Share your tech-learning-curve stories with Office for the Aging outreach coordinator Brian Jones, (bjones@dutchessny.gov) who also communicates by telephone, regular mail and in person.

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

 

SCAM PREVENTION SEMINAR TODAY (7/18) IN MILLERTON

New York state senator Sue Serino and the New York State Department of State are hosting the event this afternoon from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.at the North East Community Center, 51 South Center Street in Millerton. For more information: https://www.nysenate.gov/calendar/events/sue-serino/july-18-2016/free-senior-scam-prevention-seminar

 

SENIOR PICNIC VOLUNTEERS WANTED IN BEACON, POUGHKEEPSIE, ETC.

With the Office for the Aging’s Senior Picnic series in full swing, your senior friends and neighbors always appreciate a bit of assistance in making sure that hosting nutritious lunches for hundreds of seniors goes smoothly. The next picnic takes place this Wednesday (7/20) at Memorial Park in Beacon, and we have picnics coming up July 27 at Waryas Park in the city of Poughkeepsie, August 3 at Cady Field in Pleasant Valley, August 10 at Bowdoin Park in the town of Poughkeepsie, August 17 at Freedom Park in LaGrange, and August 24 at the East Fishkill Recreation Park. We can particularly use help with setting up tables and chairs before each picnic, breaking down tables and chairs afterwards, parking, registration and more. Step up and help out by getting in touch with Office for the Aging Outreach Coordinator Brian Jones at bjones@dutchessny.gov or(845)486-2555.

 

HEALTHY LIVING FOR BRAIN AND BODY (JULY 20)

          The Hudson Valley chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is hosting a free educational program on Wednesday, July 20 at the East Fishkill library on Route 376, featuring the latest information about research findings in diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement. Participants will also use hands-on tools to develop a plan for healthy aging. Space is limited, so RSVP to Cindy Dubinski at the Library, (845)221-9943, extension 225 or ludubinski@yahoo.com.

 

LA CLÍNICA VAN COMES TO RED HOOK (7/25)

The van will be stationed at the parking area at the Migliorelli farm stand at 7357 South Broadway (Route 9) in Red Hook from noon until 5 p.m. Free care will include nutrition consultation, and for women, gynecological exams and Pap smears. More information athttp://www.laclinicahudson.org/.

 

OTHER AGING NEWS ONLINE:

Brain fitness and physical fitness are clearly connected: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/09/your-money/for-effective-brain-fitness-do-more-than-play-simple-games.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FElderly&_r=0

 

A piece in the Harvard Business Review calls for society to make greater use of mentoring by seniors, and for greater age-integration of communities: https://hbr.org/2016/07/aging-societies-should-make-more-of-mentorship?referral=00563&cm_mmc=email-_-newsletter-_-daily_alert-_-alert_date&utm_source=newsletter_daily_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert_date

 

You may have some old canisters of photographic film around your home, but chances are you don’t have a roll of film from 1888:https://www.eastman.org/two-rare-rolls-early-kodak-film-acquired-george-eastman-museum

 

Minnesota’s “Giving Voice Chorus” consists of 100 people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers…and they sound great:http://www.nextavenue.org/giving-voice-chorus/

 

 

Senior birthdays this week:

Mon 7/18: Former Yankees/Mets manager Joe Torre (76)

Tue 7/19: Songwriter/astrophysicist Brian May (69)

Wed 7/20: Guitarist/songwriter Carlos Santana (69)

Thu 7/21: Cartoonist Garry Trudeau (68)

Fri 7/22: WWII veteran/politician Bob Dole (93)

Sat 7/23: Radio host Don Imus (76)

Sun 7/24: Actress/comedian Ruth Buzzi (80)

 

 

Brian Jones
Outreach Coordinator

Dutchess County Office For the Aging

27 High Street

Poughkeepsie NY 12601

 

Phone: (845) 486-2555 Fax: (845) 486-2571

Email: bjones@dutchessny.gov

Author: Harlem Valley News