Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of August 8
Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
OUTAGE INSIGHT
We’re right about at the peak of summer’s “dog days.” Previous Golden Living columns have covered ways seniors can ride out heat waves as comfortably and safely as possible, with or without air conditioning. This time, though, we’re going to touch on what seniors can do when the air conditioning (and the rest of a home’s power) goes out due to one of the many thunderstorms that also frequent the Hudson Valley this time of year.
The two utility companies whose service areas include Dutchess County, Central Hudson and NYSEG, offer similar suggestions on how to prepare for storms and what to do if you lose power.
You’re already preparing just by reading this article: The time to be ready for a power failure is when the power’s still on.
If you or a loved one depend on life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity, take action now to prepare for an outage and contact your utility company. You may be eligible for additional protections and notifications from the utility company, but you will still be responsible for providing emergency power during outages. Having a backup evacuation plan in the event of an extended outage affecting life-sustaining equipment is also strongly recommended.
Other essential pre-storm preparation includes making sure you have at least one telephone that does not rely on electrical power. Cordless phones are often inoperable during outages, and cell phones will need to be charged beforehand.
Have flashlights and portable radios ready, with fully-charged batteries, plus spare batteries. Make sure you have a supply of bottled water and nonperishable food.
Should the power go out during a storm, there are other factors to keep in mind. If you see wires down, or trees or their branches touching wires, stay inside and get in touch with your utility company. It’s best to assume that downed wires are always live. A potentially deadly electrical current could still exist in a downed wire, even if the wire is not obviously sparking.
Leave the refrigerator and freezer doors closed whenever possible. Food can keep for up to 24 hours in a refrigerator/freezer, but not if the doors are being opened and shut.
Turn off or unplug the appliances and computers you were using when the power went out, so that they won’t be damaged by any surge when the power comes back on.
Leave a few lights switched on around the house, so you’ll know when the power has come back on.
A generator can be an immense help during an outage, but it must be operated safely. Be sure to maintain the generator properly year-round, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and always operate the generator in a clean, dry, well-ventilated area – NEVER indoors or in a garage.
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
VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR AUGUST 10 (WED) SENIOR PICNIC
This is one of the larger summer Senior Picnics, taking place for Town of Poughkeepsie residents at Bowdoin Park onWednesday, August 10. We’re looking for help setting up tables and chairs for our seniors, parking assistance, bringing lunch and drinks to seniors, and helping break down tables and chairs afterwards. If you’ve got the time any time between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and a desire to help your senior friends and neighbors, let Office for the Aging outreach coordinator Brian Jones know, at bjones@dutchessny.gov. We also have picnics coming up on August 17 at Freedom Park for LaGrange and Beekman residents, and on August 24 for East Fishkill residents at the town recreation park on Route 376.
If you’re coming to the picnics as a guest, remember that representatives of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department and Traffic Safety Board will be at each picnic accepting outdated and no-longer-needed medications for safe disposal – with the exception of sharps (needles, etc.).
MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS OFFERS ACTIVE SHOOTER PREP PROGRAM (8/18)
A free presentation on steps to take in the event of an active shooter situation is being offered by the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of Dutchess County, with presenter Deputy Sheriff Arthur Hart of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department, on Thursday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, 392 Creek Rd., Poughkeepsie.
“Hopefully, none of us will ever have to use this potentially life-saving information,” said Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian “Butch” Anderson, “but, it is important to prepare ourselves for all types of emergency situations.”
Registration is required for this event by getting in touch with MRC coordinator Joe Ryan at (845) 486-2493 orjryan@dutchessny.gov.
COUNTERFEIT MONEY REPORTED LOCALLY
This item comes from across the river in Kingston, where city police reported on their Facebook page that somebody’s been trying to pass motion-picture-prop $20 bills as the real thing – and it’s not a stretch to think the funny money could show up on the Dutchess side as well, so keep an eye out for it. More: https://www.facebook.com/KingstonPD/photos/a.208782982514118.52294.166027723456311/1123511721041235/?type=3&theater
VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION COMING AUGUST 30
2016 marks fifty years since the beginning of the Vietnam War, and VA Hudson Valley will host a commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 30, at the Castle Point campus, 41 Castle Point Road, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. RSVP to the VA Hudson Valley Public Affairs Office at VHAHVHPAOInfo@va.gov or by calling845-831-2000, ext. 5234 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
OTHER AGING NEWS ONLINE
Social Security’s website is requiring additional account access security, which might create issues for users who don’t have mobile devices:http://blog.socialsecurity.gov/new-online-security/
The number of people 65 and older staying in the workforce is growing: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/02/health/retirement-working-longer.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FElderly&_r=0
The US is struggling with the issue of how to serve an aging population, but the country that’s really over a barrel when it comes to an aging populace is China: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/unprecedented-aging-crisis-thats-hit-china/
Before long, when you go to the doctor complaining of pain, you might be prescribed virtual reality rather than painkillers:https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601911/better-than-opioids-virtual-reality-could-be-your-next-painkiller/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post
An all-time classic Beatles album turned 50 years old this past Friday: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/beatles-revolver-50-14-awesome-11692663
All summer the grandkids have been going crazy over something called Pokémon GO. Here’s a quick explanation of what the big deal is – and it does get the kids out of the house. In case you’re tempted to play: http://seniorplanet.org/so-what-exactly-is-pokemon-go/
In case you missed their story, here are Karl and Elizabeth Gfatter of Poughkeepsie – celebrating 75 years of marriage! http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/central-dutchess/2016/08/01/local-couple-celebrates-75-years-marriage/87913418/
This week in senior birthdays:
Mon 8/8: Singer/guitarist Mel Tillis (84)
Tue 8/9: Actor/producer Sam Elliott (72)
Wed 8/10: Musician/songwriter Ian Anderson (69)
Thu 8/11: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (66)
Fri 8/12: Actor George Hamilton (77)
Sat 8/13: World Trade Center tightrope-walker/Hudson Valley resident Philippe Petit (67)
Sun 8/14: Actor/comedian/writer/musician Steve Martin (70)
Questions, comments, and recommendations on how to keep mint plants from overrunning the garden can be directed to outreach coordinator Brian Jones as noted below.
Brian Jones
Outreach Coordinator
Dutchess County Office For the Aging
27 High Street
Poughkeepsie NY 12601
