Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of November 28
Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
WALKING (AND NOT FALLING) IN A WINTER WONDERLAND
The break we got from typical Hudson Valley winter weather a year ago isn’t likely to happen two years in a row. Being ready for whatever winter throws at us this time around is key, especially for seniors, who are more likely to be affected by cold and snow. Many medications affect the body’s ability to regulate its temperature, and older adults tend to lose body heat more quickly; those are factors you can anticipate with your choice of winter clothing. Preparation now will go a long way toward a winter with more time to enjoy the pretty snowfall, and less time worrying that you’ll take a spill on an icy driveway or sidewalk.
Start your preparation while you’re still indoors. There’s no need to hurry, not this time of year. Wait until the roads are clear before trying to venture outdoors, and if possible, bring a companion with you. When you do head outside, be sure you put on warm socks, a heavy coat, a warm hat, gloves and a scarf, taking extra precaution to cover exposed skin as the temperature drops. Be sure you’re wearing shoes with good traction and non-skid soles. If you’ve got a cane, replace the tip if it’s worn out.
Another indoor precaution against winter weather is to get ready for power outages. Step one: fresh batteries for your flashlights and radios, and a battery backup for your home computer if you use one. Extended outages could spoil frozen and refrigerated food, so have enough non-perishable goods ready to go. Have plenty of warm blankets handy, and you’ll need the aforementioned warm clothing if the power outage also knocks out your heat.
You might not immediately think of diet as a way to keep warm in the winter, but it’s important to vary what you eat in the winter when there are often fewer food choices available. Nutritional deficits can become a problem in the winter months, so ask your physician and/or nutritionist if you’ll need anything to keep your vitamin D levels where they should be.
Beyond this, the most important tip we can offer to get you through a Hudson Valley winter is to ask for help if you need it, especially when it comes to clearing snow and ice away from your property and any places you frequently walk. Stay in touch with friends, neighbors and family so that they can help – after all, we’ll all be going through this winter together.
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 SPECIAL EVENTS
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
Monday 12/19, 10 a.m. – “Successful Aging” at Hudson Valley Community Center
110 Grand Ave., Poughkeepsie
(845) 220-7332 or 471-0430 for info
Tuesday 1/10/17, 11 a.m. – “Successful Aging” at Rhinebeck Senior Friendship Center
Memorial Lutheran Church, 1232 Route 308, Rhinebeck (Rock City)
To request an Office for the Aging presentation for your senior, social and/or 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 – and this time of year, an alternate date in case your venue is closed by winter weather.
WINTER “SPOTLIGHT ON SENIORS” ARRIVES
We’re getting ready to mail out the winter 2016/17 edition of the Office for the Aging’s “Spotlight on Seniors” quarterly newsletter, but for those of you who prefer to read the electronic version, here’s the link: http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/SPOTLIGHTWinter2016final.pdf
For your senior friends and family who prefer the postal version, it’ll be on its way within a few weeks. To get on either our postal or electronic mailing list, get in touch with the Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555.
EARLY DECEMBER AT THE FOUNTAINS: HOLIDAY DANCING AND…STINKY PLANTS?
Two events at the Fountains at Millbrook (79 Flint Rd.) may pique your interest: on Saturday, December 3rd at 1:00pm, dust off your dancing shoes and dance along as the Holiday Line Dancers strut their stuff to popular music of the holidays. Then, on Monday, December 5th at 3:00 p.m., come take a walk on the weird side of gardening with Master Gardener, Donna Croshier. Learn about otherworldly plants that are giant, catch prey, smell horrible, live for years with no water, or live hundreds of years altogether. The events require reservations but are free and open to the public; call (845) 905-8000 to find out more.
OTHER AGING NEWS ONLINE
From a year ago but still useful, some tips on communicating with people living with dementia: http://www.yccf.org/embracing-aging-december-2015
This week’s news from the Alzheimer’s Association… http://act.alz.org/site/MessageViewer?autologin=true&em_id=228408.0
…and the Alzheimer’s Association’s listing of Dutchess County events, including one taking place today (11/28): http://www.alzhudsonvalley.org/dutchess-county-events.html
A new study is getting underway in California aiming to find out more about blood’s role in the aging process: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/nov/22/scientists-to-reset-blood-proteins-in-attempt-to-slow-ageing-process-calico
A farewell to 101-year-old Willie Rogers, who had been the oldest living member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen: http://www.tampabay.com/news/oldest-remaining-tuskegee-airman-a-st-petersburg-man-dies-at-101/2303534
Astronauts’ experience in space shares some similarities with the aging process, which has researchers interested in learning more: http://www.ottawasun.com/2016/11/23/what-astronauts-can-teach-us-about-aging
It’s never too late to learn a music instrument, and some late learners are even making money off their previously-hidden talent: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/more-older-adults-learn-its-never-too-late-to-pick-up-a-musical-instrument/2016/11/10/628857ec-a570-11e6-8fc0-7be8f848c492_story.html
The US dementia rate has been declining since 2000, but other developments may halt that trend: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/dementia-rate-declines-aging-america-halt-trend-43692983
Kittens: not only are they off-the-charts cute, they’re helping with dementia care: http://www.nextavenue.org/nursing-home-residents-find-purpose-in-kitten-care/
This Week in Senior Birthdays
Mon 11/28: Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Jr. (87)
Tue 11/29: World’s oldest person Emma Morano (117)
Wed 11/30: Actor/singer Mandy Patinkin (64)
Thu 12/1: Director/comedian Woody Allen (81)
Fri 12/2: Author/sportswriter Dan Jenkins (87)
Sat 12/3: Musician/reality-show star Ozzy Osbourne (68)
Sun 12/4: Game show host Wink Martindale (83)
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
