Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of November 14
Reminder: the Office for the Aging’s headquarters in the City of Poughkeepsie will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, but open on Friday, November 25. The Office for the Aging’s home delivered meals program will not operate on the 24th and 25th.
Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
A “HEAP” OF HELP FOR THE WINTER
With winter just a few weeks away, many seniors who live in Dutchess County year-round are keeping their fingers crossed that the cost of home heating fuel remains somewhat low, at least compared to many recent winters. For those who qualify, this year’s season for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) begins tomorrow, Monday, November 14. For those of you who might be learning of HEAP for the first time, it’s a one-time payment to the fuel supplier of households who meet the eligibility requirements. State and local funding for HEAP continues into the winter, for as long as the program’s budget lasts or until March 15, 2017, whichever comes first, and it covers many forms of home heating including electricity, natural gas, oil, coal, propane, wood or wood pellets, kerosene and corn.
Eligibility is determined based on a combination of income and household size. For a one-person household, maximum gross monthly income is $2300; for a two-person household, the maximum gross monthly income is $3007. The maximums grow with household size, to $6671 for a household of 11.
In some cases, households who do not pay a heating bill because their rent includes the cost of heat may be eligible for a heat included benefit, a payment of $30 or $35 which may go to the household or the utility.
If you have received HEAP in the past, you should have already received an application by mail, and you can apply for benefits by mail, fax, in person or online at www.mybenefits,ny.gov. For those applying for the first time, consult the Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 to learn more. New applicants will be required to complete a HEAP application and interview, as well as provide proof of each household member’s identity including a valid Social Security number, proof of income for each member of the household, and proof of residence. Additionally, you will need to provide a fuel and/or utility bill if you pay for heat or proof that you pay rent that includes heat.
Should you have a heat emergency, ask for assistance before you are out of heating fuel or your gas/electric service has been terminated. Your utility company is not required to restore your service, even if you are eligible for a HEAP benefit. There is a separate emergency HEAP program, but it does not open until January 3, 2017 and there will be no emergency benefits available before that day.
For owners of residences, Heating Equipment Repair/Replacement (HERR) benefits provide assistance for repair or replacement of essential primary home heating equipment. As above, applicants must agree to be interviewed in person and meet additional eligibility criteria.
Like regular HEAP, emergency HEAP and HERR are funded through March 15, 2017 or as long as funds last, whichever comes first.
Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 27 High Street, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601, telephone (845) 486-2555, email:ofa@dutchessny.gov website: http://www.dutchessny.gov/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/AGIndex.htm
UPCOMING OFFICE FOR THE AGING PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS
Tuesday 11/15, 11 a.m. – “Succesful Aging” at Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church
2 Fiddlers Bridge Rd., Staatsburg
Will include a talk on the Matter of Balance and Senior Exercise programs
Thursday 11/17, 2 p.m. – Office for the Aging Services presentation at Clinton Town Hall
1215 Centre Rd. (DC route 18), Rhinebeck (just north of Schultzville)
Friday 11/18, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. – Caregiver Conference at The Grandview
175 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie
Registration: 1-800-272-3900
Wed 11/30, 1 p.m. – “Successful Aging” at the Fountains at Millbrook
79 Flint Rd., Millbrook
Monday 12/5, 1 p.m. – “Successful Aging” at Kings Apartments, 20 Pine Dr., Pawling
To request an Office for the Aging presentation for your civic group, get in touch with outreach coordinator Brian Jones at (845) 486-2555 or bjones@dutchessny.gov. All you need provide is a venue that’s accessible and open to the public, and a space to set up a projector and screen.
TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS TODAY (11/14) IN MILLBROOK
“Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the latest research,” will be offered from 2-3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at The Fountains at Millbrook, 79 Flint Road, Millbrook. This program looks at research in diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement to help participants develop a plan for healthy aging. Call The Fountains to RSVP at 845-905-8014.
TUESDAY (11/15) ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP MEETING
They’ll be meeting at Hopewell Reformed Church, 143 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction at 1 p.m on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The group meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Joining the group is free, but registration is required. Call 800-272-3900 to RSVP and see www.alz.org/hudsonvalley for more information on this and other groups.
AMENIA PUTS ON A SHOW
On behalf of the Town of Amenia’s Performing Arts program, instructor Jill Winsby-Fein is announcing an open call for area residents to participate in a talent show at the Amenia Town Hall on Saturday, December 10, 2016 as part of Amenia’s Holiday of Lights celebration that day. All ages and talents are welcome to participate, and holiday-themed acts are encouraged. The show is being produced by the students in Amenia’s free Performing Arts Program, and talent show participants are welcome to join them on Saturdays at the Amenia Town Hall from 10:00 am to noon. For more information, please contact Jill at ameniaperformingarts@gmail.com.
NURSING SUMMIT AT MARIST – LAST WEEK TO REGISTER
“Cultivating Healthy Communities: The Role of the Nurse in Population Health” is taking place on Friday, December 2 at Marist College in Poughkeepsie – but this is the last week to register for the nursing summit, and registrations will not be accepted after Sunday, November 20. The registration fee for the event is $70 for individuals and $25 for students. You can register in one of two ways:
- Register through Eventbrite at: https://nursing-summit-2016.eventbrite.com, or
- Download the flyer/registration form at www.chahec.org and submit check payment by mail with your completed registration form. You may also call (845)883-7260 to have the registration form emailed to you.
OTHER AGING NEWS ONLINE
Once again, loneliness is being examined as a possible contributing factor in Alzheimer’s disease: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/alzheimers-early-signs-loneliness-study-research-a7393676.html
There may be unwitting ageism in the field of medical and scientific studies: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/engaging/201610/check-your-ageism-science-its-unbecoming
A possible breakthrough for those with spinal injuries: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/11/09/paralysed-people-could-walk-again-instantly-after-scientists-pro/
So far nobody’s been able to crack the code of aging…but what if they did? Interesting questions arise: http://medcitynews.com/2016/11/anti-aging-succeed/
Impress the grandkids with your knowledge of how the critters they saw this summer get through a Hudson Valley winter: https://nysparksnaturetimes.com/2016/11/08/their-blood-runs-with-antifreeze/
The University of Virginia’s football team has a volunteer statistician who’s 106 years old – and still drives to the games: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/07/sports/ncaafootball/106-centenarian-john-risher-university-of-virginia.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0
This week in senior birthdays:
Mon 11/14: US astronaut Fred Haise (Apollo 13) (83)
Tue 11/15: WWII veteran/Purple Heart recipient/judge Joseph Wapner (97)
Wed 11/16: Children’s author Jean Fritz (101)
Thu 11/17: Singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot (78)
Fri 11/18: Author/poet Margaret Atwood (77)
Sat 11/19: Talk show host Larry King (83)
Sun 11/20: Actress/singer Kaye Ballard (81)
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
