Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of February 20, 2017
Note: the Office for the Aging is closed today (Mon 2/20) for the New York state Washington’s Birthday holiday and the federal President’s Day holiday.
Note: the “Golden Living” column is still appearing in print in the Poughkeepsie Journal and on the Journal’s website; however, it will now appear in Thursday editions instead ofSunday editions. “Golden Living” is included in each week’s “Aging News”, as you can see below. This is the column that will run this coming Thursday (2/23).
Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
HOW THE WEST WAS FUN
You don’t have to know a chuckwagon from a station wagon to enjoy the Office for the Aging’s upcoming Country and Western Day celebrations, taking place Tuesday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at our eight Senior Friendship Centers located all over Dutchess County.
It’s a day where you can show off in all your country and western finery – if you’ve got a 10-gallon Stetson or a trucker’s cap, blue jeans, western shirts, cowboy boots, bolo ties or chaps, this will be the day to wear them at your local Friendship Center. They’re located in Beacon, East Fishkill, Millerton, Pawling, the City and Town of Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck and South Amenia.
Chow (that’s lunch, for us city slickers) will consist of barbecued ribs, baked beans, cornbread and more, and we’ll be playing both kinds of music: country and western. Senior Friendship Centers are located in Beacon, East Fishkill, Millerton, Pawling, the City and Town of Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck and South Amenia.
Country and Western Day is one of our most popular annual events and reservations are required, so make your reservations today by calling the Office for the Aging at (845) 486-2555 by Thursday, March 16. There is a suggested donation of $3.00 for lunch for those 60 and over, and a $4.00 charge for those under the age of 60.
A NEW SCAM
Many thanks to all the seniors who noticed an unusual new phone scam, in which a caller attempting to scam a victim begins their call by asking “Can you hear me?” in hopes you’ll reply “Yes” without thinking. The scammer is recording your voice and uses your “Yes” to fraudulently bill you for purchases you never agreed to. As with so many scams, this is an attempt to catch you at a moment when your guard may be down.
What to do when you hear “Can you hear me?” is simple. Say nothing, hang up, and report the call to the authorities. If you have Caller ID, note the phone number and get in touch with the state Division of Consumer Protection, which operates hotlines at 518-474-8583 and 800-697-1220. The hotlines are open weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. You can also file complaints with the state at https://www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. We have found the state’s consumer-affairs division does a tremendous job of keeping its ear to the ground for word of new and evolving scams like this one; they also have speakers available for presentations and Q&A sessions with members of your civic group or house of worship. You can request a presentation at the link above.
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 events and presentations
Tuesday 2/21, 11 a.m. – “Successful Aging” at Tri-Town Senior Friendship Center
55 Overlook Rd., Poughkeepsie (rear of the American Legion building)
(rescheduled from 2/7 and 2/9 – snow date T/B/A)
Monday 3/6, 12 noon – “Successful Aging” at the Town of Fishkill Recreation Center
793 Route 52
(845) 831-3371 for information
Snow date: 3/13
Tuesday 3/21, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Senior Friendship Center Country & Western Day
All eight Dutchess County Senior Friendship Centers
Reservations required at (845) 486-2555
Monday 4/3, 2 p.m. – “Wills, Trusts and Elder Law” at Pawling Library
With John Wirth, Esq., Office for the Aging Advisory Board
11 Broad St.
(845) 855-3444 for information
Monday 5/22, 12 noon – The Celebration of Aging
Villa Borghese
70 Widmer Rd., Wappingers Falls
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.
CAREGIVER WORKSHOP ON HEART DISEASE AND STROKE (Mon 2/27)
Learn about the risk factors for heart disease and stroke on Monday, February 27 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at Stone Ledge Senior Apartments (21 Farm Ln., Hyde Park), with nurse practitioner Tamesha Reynolds, Stroke Coordinator for Vassar Brothers Medical Center. The event is free but space is limited, so reserve your spot by calling (845) 483-5551. The event is 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.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP MEETS TODAY (Mon 2/20)
Are you providing care for an aging parent or loved one? Are you part of the “Sandwich Generation?” This support group focuses on the importance of taking care of yourself, provides helpful tools & techniques to care for your loved ones, and shares information on what community services might be available to assist you. The free support group meets at 26 IBM Road in Poughkeepsie and is facilitated by trained Registered Nurses, and takes place the third Monday of every month from 5 to 6 p.m. To register, call 845.483.5551 and ask for Dominique Mindur.
DIABETES PREVENTION AT NORTHERN DUTCHESS
Type 2 diabetes can cause serious health problems and the constant finger-pricking, pill-swallowing or insulin injections that come with the preventable disease can greatly decrease one’s quality of life. To help adults reduce their diabetes risk, Northern Dutchess Hospital will offer the National Diabetes Prevention Program beginning Monday, March 13, for 16 consecutive weeks and bi-monthly follow-ups. The free educational program on modest healthy lifestyle changes is offered from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. or 6 to 7 p.m. in the hospital’s cafeteria conference room, 6511 Springbrook Ave., Rhinebeck. Seats are limited. To find out if you qualify for the program, call Amanda Sheffield at 845-871–4380 (TTY: 800-421-1220) or visit www.healthquest.org/NDHdiabetes.
Other aging news online:
A busy week in Washington for New York leaders discussing health care and Medicaid: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/N-Y-lawmakers-question-health-officials-on-drug-10939423.php
Age well while saving money? We’re listening… http://health.usnews.com/wellness/aging-well/slideshows/6-ways-to-age-well-and-save-money-doing-it
Health experts are noting a “sharp increase” in the number of seniors using multiple psychoactive drugs, even though many of the seniors had no mental-health diagnosis requiring said drugs: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/health/psychiatric-drugs-prescriptions.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FElderly&_r=0
With baseball spring training getting underway, here’s video of three classic Nike commercials featuring Mets and Yankees greats, all of them now retired. Watch as Scooter steals the show without saying a word: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGm_ieQX89k
This week in senior birthdays:
Mon 2/20: Actress/designer Gloria Vanderbilt (93)
Tue 2/21: Activist/politician John Lewis (77)
Wed 2/22: NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving (67)
Thu 2/23: Singer/songwriter Howard Jones (62)
Fri 2/24: Actor/singer Dominic Chianese (86)
Sat 2/25: Talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael (82)
Sun 2/26: Singer/songwriter Michael Bolton (64)
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
