Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
THE SEASON FOR FALL PREVENTION
Fall may be coming in a few days, but any season is the right one for fall prevention.
It may surprise you to learn how many health conditions assumed to be inevitable consequences of aging begin with one cause that’s largely preventable: falls. According to the most recent available numbers from the Centers for Disease Control, falls are by far the most common reason for seniors’ emergency room visits. Several million Americans over age 65 fall at least once a year, leading to 2.5 million emergency room visits and 700,000 hospitalizations. The average cost of a single fall-related injury is $35,000, and one out of every five falls results in broken bones or a head injury. Adjusting for inflation, the annual direct medical costs of falls comes to $34 billion, a figure the CDC estimates will reach $50 billion by 2020. Many seniors admitted to a hospital after a broken hip caused by a fall never go home again, and many others remain wheelchair-bound for the rest of their lives.
Even falls that don’t result in serious injury can lead to seniors cutting back on activity for fear of falling – which may be the worst thing they can do, because when a person is less active they become weaker and thus more prone to falling.
Fortunately, there’s also much more encouraging news. Most falls are not an inevitable result of aging, and you can prevent them.
MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie will host a Fall Prevention for Older Adults event on Thursday, October 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring free fall prevention screenings and a personalized fall risk profile that will include several factors: balance and mobility, a medical screening, exercise, review of medications, safety of the home environment, a check of vision and hearing, assistive devices, foot health and nutrition.
Space is limited at this event, so to make an appointment call (845) 431-8159. Refreshments and door prizes will be provided, and valet parking will be available at the hospital’s Atrium entrance.
If you can’t make it to this event, there are many easy first steps you can take to reduce your own fall risk. For starter, your primary doctor or health care provider can help you make necessary changes in nutrition, exercise and medication, and recommend a walking aid as needed. An eye doctor can ensure that your sight is at its best. Around your home, you can remove loose rugs, add handrails along hallways and stairs and grab bars to showers and bathtubs, add lighting where needed, and store commonly-used items at levels where you can reach them without needing to use a step-stool.
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
SENIOR PROM TICKET DISCOUNT ENDS FRIDAY (9/23)
If you’d like to go to the Office for the Aging’s annual Senior Prom (co-hosted by the Pines at Poughkeepsie), Monday 10/17, 12 noon – 4 p.m. at Villa Borghese in Wappingers Falls, your opportunity to purchase discounted tickets at $20 per guest ends this Friday, September 23…or whenever the prom sells out, whichever comes first. You do not need an entry form to send in a check, but one is available athttp://go.usa.gov/xBWg5. Payment can be sent to the Office for the Aging, 27 High St., Poughkeepsie NY 12601. The discount will apply to all payments postmarked or received by September 23rd. After that, the price of admission jumps to $30 per person.
This year’s theme is “Denim and Diamonds” – in other words, pair up your blue jeans and other denim clothes with your finest jewelry. Also sponsoring are Wingate Healthcare, EverCare, Hudson Cadillac Buick GMC, Hamaspik Choice, Prime Health Choice, Zounds Hearing, Helping Other People Everywhere, Avalon Assisted Living and Wellness Center, TEG Federal Credit Union and Toll Brothers.
SUCCESSFUL AGING PRESENTATION THIS WEEK AT CLINTON TOWN HALL
Outreach coordinator Brian Jones gives his latest presentation on making the most of your senior years this Thursday (9/22) afternoon at1:00 p.m. at the Clinton Community Library, 1215 Centre Rd., just north of Schultzville. It’s part of the library’s ongoing “Optimistic Aging” series. For more information, go to www.clinton.lib.ny.us or call (845) 266-5530.
ALZHEIMER’S WALK(S) IN OCTOBER
The annual Walk To End Alzheimer’s will take place on the morning of Saturday, October 15th on the Walkway Over the Hudson between Poughkeepsie and Highland. For information on how to register for the event or to donate to the cause, check out www.walkwaywalk.org or call coordinator Venesa Samuda at (845) 471-2655. If that date or time doesn’t work for you, go to www.alz.org/walk to find a walk near you.
WEEKEND WALK AND TALK IN WAPPINGER (9/24)
Village of Wappingers Falls historian Brenda Von Burg will lead this free walk-and-talk this Saturday afternoon (1:30) through the village’s 1887 Grinnell Public Library District. At the library, vies their collection of 19th century Wappingers Falls landscapes by Clinton Clapp, as well as an exhibit devoted to birds native to the region. From there you’ll walk to the Mesier Homestead and hear from Wappingers Falls historian Mary Schmalz on what the village was like at the turn of the 20th century, featuring histories by Trustee Eileen Stickle. After the talk, Greenway Trail guide, Wilfredo Chaluisant will lead a walk to the Greenway Trail. Pick up trail maps at the library all month. The majority of the walk is on sidewalks or indoors, and the library, Mesier Homestead and sidewalks are all wheelchair-accessible. Estimated duration: 3 hours. For more information, call (845) 297-3428 or email jsimmons@grinnell-library.org.
OTHER AGING NEWS ONLINE:
The September issue of the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of the Mid Hudson Valley is out: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxtaWRodWRzb25wYXJraW5zb25zfGd4Ojc4NTkwOTc1ZGUwNWJhNjA
When it comes to Medicare coverage, the so called “improvement standard” used to deny additional care hasn’t been allowed for years, but a lot of providers and Medicare adjudicators are still operating as if it is: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/13/health/medicare-coverage-denial-improvement.html?_r=1
Movies with ageist stereotypes may actually lead to poorer health for older viewers: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/13/ageist-stereotypes-in-film-may-make-old-audience-members-ill-stu/
In Denmark, a “house of memories” helps draw out the memories of people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/09/13/493744351/denmarks-house-of-memories-recreates-1950s-for-alzheimers-patients?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20160913
In Japan, there are now nearly 66,000 citizens over the age of 100, about the same number as are in the entire US…: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/13/national/aging-japan-now-65692-centenarians/#.V9qjRC0rLcs
…which may be because Japan’s over-65 population are taking over the country’s fitness centers and health clubs: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-14/pensioners-pumping-iron-shows-how-much-aging-is-reshaping-japan
Some reported health benefits of wine don’t involve drinking it…just follow your nose: http://vinepair.com/booze-news/sommelier-brain/
The 75-year-old man who has run 75 marathons in 75 days: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2016/09/15/75-year-old-ray-matthews-runs-75-marathons-in-75-days-to-raise-m/
She’s a 65-year-old grandma, her hair’s purple, and she’s been living in a treehouse since 1992 – but the local authorities say it’s dangerous:http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article99662117.html
Last week in our Senior Birthdays section, you may have noted that the world’s oldest man, Yisrael Kristal of Israel, celebrated his 113th birthday. That’s not his only party – he’s also getting around to his bar mitzvah: http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/213567/worlds-oldest-man-a-113-year-old-israeli-holocaust-survivor-to-celebrate-his-bar-mitzvah
This week in senior birthdays:
Mon 9/19: Journalist/author Roger Angell (96)
Tue 9/20: Actress/singer Sophia Loren (82)
Wed 9/21: Singer/songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen (82)
Thu 9/22: Brooklyn/LA Dodgers player/manager Tommy Lasorda (89)
Fri 9/23: Singer/songwriter Julio Iglesias (73)
Sat 9/24: NFL legend “Mean” Joe Greene (70)
Sun 9/25: Actor/producer Michael Douglas (71)
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
