Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of August 29
Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
“MOB” SCENE
In New York State, an average of 900 seniors over age 65 die every year from fall-related injuries. Additionally, 128,000 older adults require hospital care due to injuries sustained in a fall. The good news is many interventions can reduce the risk for falling, including one program based in Dutchess County.
Since February 2015, the Dutchess County Office for the Aging has offered “A Matter of Balance” (MOB, for short) to the community. MOB, sponsored locally by Health Quest, is an evidence-based program which addresses fall risk. The eight-session series helps participants view falls and the fear of falling as something they can control. It also sets realistic goals for increasing activity and changing their environment to reduce fall risk factors. The program also promotes exercise to increase strength and balance. 2013 research from the Centers for Disease Control has shown participants in “A Matter of Balance” have seen improvement in fall management, fall control, exercise levels and a reduction in monthly falls.
In September, seven new MOB classes will begin in the following areas: Dover Plains, Fishkill, Pleasant Valley, Town and City of Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck and Wappinger Falls. As of this date, only a few openings remain. Anyone interested must complete and return an application to the Office for the Aging. This application can be obtained by calling the OFA (845-486-2555), or going to its website (http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/agMBbrochure.pdf). A 2016-17 series of classes tentatively scheduled to begin this winter is also in the planning stages. The Office for the Aging encourages seniors to participate in “A Matter of Balance” if they are concerned about falling, have sustained a fall in the past, restrict their activities because of concerns about falling and are interested in improving balance and flexibility. Participants must be age 60 or older, ambulatory and able to problem-solve.
LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
If you have two hours a week available to volunteer to help resolve issues affecting residents of long-term care facilities in Dutchess County, the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman is looking for your help. The ombudsman is an advocate for residents within nursing homes, assisted living, adult homes and family-type homes. After training and certification you would educate, empower and advocate on behalf of residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and family-type homes. Similar opportunities are also available in neighboring Hudson Valley counties. For more information, call Gloria Murray, Director of Hudson Valley Long-Term Care Ombudsman, at 845-229-4680 extension 102 or email Gloria@hudsonvalleyltcop.org.
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
ARLINGTON GRAD’S CLASSICAL INTERLUDE IN MILLBROOK
The Fountains at Millbrook welcomes Dutchess seniors to reserve a free spot for a September 7th, 2 p.m. performance by pianist Oscar Rodriguez, who will perform a concert of classical piano favorites. His program will include works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Claude Debussy, Fredric Chopin, and a self-penned piece, Life of a Butterfly. Oscar Rodriguez is a graduate of Arlington High School and the Bruno Maderna Conservatory in Cesena, Italy. To reserve a spot, call (845) 905-8000.
“SUCCESSFUL AGING” PRESENTATIONS: COMING SOON TO YOUR COMMUNITY?
OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones spends a lot of his time traveling all over Dutchess County speaking to seniors’ groups of all kinds on the importance of the idea of “successful aging” – that is, staying actively engaged with the community, remaining physically and mentally healthy, and making healthy lifestyle choices. If your group would like to host a Successful Aging presentation, all Brian needs is a place to plug in his small audio-visual setup. Email him at bjones@dutchessny.gov to find out more, or call (845) 486-2555.
September’s first Successful Aging presentation is coming up soon – to find out more, watch the Golden Living column in next Sunday’sPoughkeepsie Journal, and next week’s Aging News.
OTHER AGING NEWS ONLINE
A heavily-hyped new “anti-aging” supplement may or may not be all it’s cracked up to be. “New York“ magazine examines the claims:http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/08/is-elysium-healths-basis-the-fountain-of-youth.html
There are places where $200,000 in retirement savings can last you 30 years, but you’d be living out your days on another continent:http://www.nextavenue.org/slideshow/8-countries-200k-will-last-30-years-retirement/
Research from the UK has found a correlation between being obese or overweight in middle age and brain shrinkage:http://www.afar.org/news/view/grantee-in-the-news-mike-henne-on-new-research-linking-weight-to-brain-mass/
Jazz harmonica master Toots Thielemans died last week at age 94; besides his own extensive body of work, a lot of you may remember his solo from this 1983 Billy Joel hit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuS6-Iksx4w
This Week in Senior Birthdays:
Mon 8/29: Vietnam War veteran/senator John McCain (80)
Tue 8/30: Businessman/philanthropist Warren Buffett (86)
Wed 8/31: Singer/songwriter Van Morrison (71)
Thu 9/1: Actor/singer George Maharis (87)
Fri 9/2: NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw (68)
Sat 9/3: Cartoonist Mort Walker (93)
Sun 9/4: Actress/singer/dancer Mitzi Gaynor (85)
Questions, comments and advice on how to get around Labor Day weekend traffic in our beautiful county 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
Phone: (845) 486-2555 Fax: (845) 486-2571
Email: bjones@dutchessny.gov
