Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of December 5
Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
PUT THE “SPOTLIGHT ON SENIORS” ON YOUR WINTER READING LIST
The winter 2016-17 edition of the Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s quarterly “Spotlight on Seniors” is being mailed to thousands of local residents this month, packed with information to help seniors and their caregivers survive a Hudson Valley winter and get ready for 2017.
In the “Spotlight” you’ll find useful information on fall prevention, tips on how the Office for the Aging can help seniors avoid isolating themselves during the winter, an explanation of the “File of Life” system that can save emergency responders precious time in a medical emergency at your home, advice on how you can help your neighbors through volunteering, a recap of the Senior Prom which took place earlier this fall, and much more information you can use all winter long. The “Spotlight on Seniors” will also look ahead at events for 2017, including our “Celebration of Aging” coming up in May at which we honor the many Dutchess County residents who will turn 100 or more in 2017, the county’s couples who have been married 70 years or more, and the county’s Senior Citizens of the Year as nominated by you, the readers.
There are two other ways to read the “Spotlight” right away, for those of you eager to see it. We’ve posted it at the Office for the Aging’s website, (http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/SPOTLIGHTWinter2016final.pdf), and we can also email you the “Spotlight,” along with our informative and entertaining weekly Aging News emails, if you send us your email address. Get in touch with Outreach Coordinator Brian Jones to find out more at bjones@dutchessny.gov or 845-486-2555. If you’d rather get the “Spotlight” through the regular mail, call the Office for the Aging and we’ll take care of the rest.
We’re also in the process of distributing the winter “Spotlight” at area libraries and other municipal buildings; if you’re in a supervisory capacity at such a facility and would like some to give to your residents, give Brian a call or email and he’ll bring some by.
GIVING THE GIFT OF HELP
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of Dutchess County is looking for volunteers to assist the Departments of Emergency Response and Behavioral and Community Health in the event of an emergency. You may have seen the MRC this past summer, assisting seniors at the Office for the Aging senior picnics, and signing up to join them is a simple process. Medical training and credentials are always helpful for volunteers, but not required. You can sign up for training online at http://www.health.ny.gov/servny?prog=19, or get in touch with MRC coordinator Joe Ryan for more information at jryan@dutchessny.gov or 845-486-2493.
CAREGIVER WORKSHOP THIS WEEK IN HYDE PARK
The free workshop “Taking Care of You: Priority Number One” is being held this Thursday, December 8, 3:00-4:30 p.m., at Stone Ledge Senior Apartments, 21 Farm Lane in Hyde Park. You’ll learn ways to continue caring for yourself as you care for senior friends or loved ones. Valley Vista Social Day Program director Anne DeMuro, MAEd, will be giving the presentation, sponsored by MidHudson Regional Licensed Home Care and funded in part by the U.S. Administration on Aging, New York State Office for the Aging and Dutchess County Office for the Aging. Space is limited, so reserve a spot by calling 845-483-5551.
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
TODAY – 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.
WATCH THE 2016 SENIOR PROM
The video of this year’s Senior Prom will be airing Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. and Sundays at 12 noon through the Christmas weekend on Time Warner’s public access channel – in Poughkeepsie and many other communities that’s channel 23.
In northern Dutchess, it will air on the PANDA public access channel at these times:
Monday 12/5 9:30 AM
Thursday 12/8 1:30 PM
Saturday 12/10 7 AM
Sunday 12/11 6 PM
Tuesday 12/13 4:30 AM
Friday 12/16 9 AM
Saturday 12/17 Noon
Sunday 12/18 7:30 PM
ANOTHER CHANCE TO PREPARE FOR WINTER (AND MORE)
The Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response and the Dutchess County Medical Reserve Corps are holding another free Citizen’s Preparedness Training Program session on Thursday, December 8th from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response (392 Creek Road, Poughkeepsie). The two-hour training session is designed to provide participants with the tools and resources to better prepare for any type of disaster. Participants will learn how to respond accordingly in a disaster and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. The training program is being provided by the Dutchess County Departments of Emergency Response and Behavioral and Community Health. The event is open to the public and free to attend. Doors to the event will open at 6:30 p.m. Each family will receive a free Citizen Preparedness Corps Response Starter Kit. For more information, call (845) 486-2080.
To see the Citizen’s Preparedness Training flyer, click here: http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/CriminalJusticeCouncil/Citizens-Preparedness-Training-MRC-presentation.pdf
Other aging news online:
Disappointing findings on the prospects that vocational therapy can slow cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease, but it may have other value nonetheless: http://jg-tc.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/can-occupational-therapy-slow-alzheimer-s-decline/article_86470578-e827-5e52-97dd-b14ed40f54fb.html
Now online: the December newsletter of the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of the Mid-Hudson Valley: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxtaWRodWRzb25wYXJraW5zb25zfGd4OjNhMjNmZTA4ZGM5YTA0NTY
Parkinson’s drug costs for the elderly have been increasing considerably: http://www.post-gazette.com/aging-edge/aging-edge-reports/2016/11/25/Drug-costs-surge-for-the-elderly/stories/201611250188
If you let your exercise routine slide over Thanksgiving, here’s a way to get back in the swing of things: https://go4life.nia.nih.gov/tip-sheets/starting-exercise-again-after-break
And over 60, you can indeed still build muscle mass: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/12/02/can-you-regain-muscle-mass-after-age-60/?emc=eta1&_r=0
A review of a recent Wall Street Journal article on a new method of treating hip fractures: http://www.healthnewsreview.org/review/fast-track-treatment-for-hip-fractures-wsj-story-needed-some-figures-to-back-up-the-claims/
More on Emma Morano, the world’s oldest living person, who turned 117 last week: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38134004
Playgrounds for seniors? Sure: http://www.wsj.com/articles/playgrounds-for-an-aging-population-1480302001
If you’re a fan of film dramatizations of historical events, there’s now a way to spot which movies may have taken liberties with the historical record: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/28/selma-100-per-cent-historically-accurate-imitation-game-information-is-beautiful
College towns are becoming more attractive to senior citizens who want to stay physically and mentally active: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/25/business/college-towns-can-be-attractive-later-in-life.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fretiring&_r=0
Another aging rock star decides the retired life isn’t for him, as Eric Clapton gets ready to go back on the road in 2017. He’ll be at Madison Square Garden in March, by which time he’ll be 72. The shows may be sold out by the time you read this: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/eric-clapton-plots-2017-american-tour-dates-w452468 (Also among those successful seniors with tours planned for 2017: Tony Bennett (90), Sting (65), Willie Nelson (83), Loretta Lynn (84), Brian Wilson (74), Phil Collins (65), Smokey Robinson (76), and Frankie Valli (82))
Also not retiring: this 98-year-old yoga teacher from nearby Westchester: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/world-s-oldest-yoga-teacher-98-loves-wine-and-never-drinks-water-a7445506.html
This week in senior birthdays:
Mon 12/5: Singer/pianist Little Richard (84)
Tue 12/6: WWII veteran/former Hudson Valley congressman Ben Gilman (94)
Wed 12/7: Baseball Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench (69)
Thu 12/8: Sports physician Dr. Ferdie Pacheco (89)
Fri 12/9: Actor/producer Kirk Douglas (100)
Sat 12/10: NBA referee Dick Bavetta (77)
Sun 12/11: Businessman/philanthropist Aaron Feuerstein (91)
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
