Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of December 25, 2017
Note: the Office for the Aging is closed on Monday, January 1, 2018 for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays…but otherwise we are OPEN regular hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Golden Living . . . News for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
REMEMBER US BEFORE YOU NEED US
The holidays are the time of year when many seniors and their younger family members see each other for the first time in many months, some not since a year ago or even longer. If can be a surprise to the younger family members if the senior they know and love is noticeably more frail, less able to take care of themselves, or less mentally sharp than at previous get-togethers.
We hope this isn’t your situation – but one day it could be. One of our jobs at the Office for the Aging is to be sure families and caregivers are prepared for what can be a difficult situation, so the senior can live happily and independently for as long as is safely possible.
Many seniors may already attend our summertime Senior Picnics, the Celebration of Aging in May, our Senior Prom in October or other events, but may be otherwise unaware of everything the Office for the Aging does.
If you have questions about what an Office for the Aging does, I encourage you to clip or bookmark this article for future reference. Every county in New York has an Office for the Aging or an agency with a similar name and function, while New York City has a citywide Office for the Aging.
Some of the services we provide to residents of Dutchess County include:
- Information and referral about issues of concern to older persons;
- Advocacy and case assistance for Medicaid, food stamps, and other entitlement programs;
- Home delivered meals for homebound seniors;
- Senior Friendship Centers where nutritious, hot meals are served along with activities at centers in the Cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie, and in the Towns of Amenia, East Fishkill, North East, Pawling, Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck;
- Transportation services include rides to Senior Friendship Centers and grocery shopping where available, as well as contracting for medical transportation;
- Legal services focusing on shelter and income issues;
- Long term care services through our NY Connects unit, providing a single point of entry for a variety of community based services;
- Energy and housing assistance for help with fuel bills and emergency fuel/utility terminations;
- Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) to assist seniors navigating the intricacies of senior health insurance;
- Case management to provide home care needs assessment;
- Senior exercise and Brain Games classes to exercise the body and the mind;
- A Matter of Balance, a program designed help reduce falls in the elderly. The next classes begin in the late winter in eight locations countywide;
- Reassurance programs like “Are You Okay,” PERS (Personal Emergency Response System) units and a Telephone Reassurance Program;
- Caregiver services including workshops, counseling and assistance, case management, and services for grandparents raising grandchildren.
If you need to learn more, you can find a Directory of Senior Services updated for 2018 and much more information at our website: www.dutchessny.gov/aging.
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: www.dutchessny.gov/aging
Office for the Aging calendar of events:
Thu 12/28, 11 a.m. – “Make Health the New Holiday Tradition”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
East Fishkill Senior Friendship Center
(845) 226-3605 or 486-2555 for more information
(event was rescheduled from 12/21)
Thu 1/11/18, 11 a.m. – “Successful Aging”
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
Brookside Meadows, Pleasant Valley
(845) 486-2555 for details
Snow date: 1/18, same time
Wed 1/24/18, 2 p.m. – “Successful Aging”
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
The Fountains at Millbrook (79 Flint Rd.)
(845) 486-2555 for details
Wed 2/14/18, 10:30 a.m. – “Successful Aging”
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
Pine Plains Free Library, Second Floor Community Room
7775 South Main St. (Route 82)
(845) 486-2555 for details
Snow date: 3/14/18, same time
Wed 3/21/18, 11:30 a.m. – “Successful Aging”
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
At “Lunch and Learn”, Temple Beth-El
118 South Grand Ave., Poughkeepsie
(845) 486-2555 for details
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 orbjones@dutchessny.gov. All your group needs to provide is a venue that’s wheelchair-accessible and open to the public, with space to set up a projector and screen. We have our own projector and screen – but if you have those, let us know. This time of year, we recommend you come up with an alternate presentation date you can make available in case of inclement winter weather.
We feature presentations on Successful Aging, Office for the Aging services, Medicare/Medicaid, senior housing, a wide range of topics related to nutrition, and more!
OFA volunteer opportunities for this week (and beyond):
Home Delivered Meals drivers – Delivering nutritious meals to homebound seniors is a great way to give of yourself during the holiday season as well as in 2018. Contact nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava at nbhargava@dutchessny.gov or (845) 486-2555.
Senior Friendship Center help – we have eight Friendship Centers around the county, in Beacon, East Fishkill, Millerton, Pawling, the City of Poughkeepsie, the Town of Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck (Rock City), and South Amenia. Contact OFA at (845) 486-2555 to find out more.
For more opportunities to help your senior friends and neighbors in conjunction with the OFA’s mission, contact Friends of Seniors at (845) 485-1277 and/or the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at (845) 452-5104.
FROM THE DUTCHESS COUNTY GOVERNMENT PAGE AT FACEBOOK:
Posted December 22 and of interest to many Dutchess property taxpayers:
“With the adoption earlier this week of the federal tax legislation, some residents have inquired about the possibility of pre-paying their 2018 property taxes before the new legislation takes effect. Dutchess County has made accommodations and advised local towns they can receive prepayment of 2018 property taxes. For more information, residents are advised to contact their individual town about the availability to pre-pay, and their financial advisor or the IRS about the impact on their taxes.”
To follow Dutchess County Government on Facebook, including the Office for the Aging, go to https://www.facebook.com/DutchessCoGov
Other aging news online:
Email scams proliferate during the holidays. Here’s some prevention tips from the U.S. Postal Service: https://www.uspscybersafe.com/
When it comes to maintaining healthy brain function, “use it or lose it” continues to be a good rule to go by: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/03/age-old-problem-how-to-stay-clever-for-longer
(audio/podcast) Author Margaret Morganroth Gullette on ending ageism: https://seniorplanet.org/listen-ending-ageism/?mc_cid=8ef1c0dcd7&mc_eid=4149ad7bda
The story of the woman who can smell Parkinson’s disease: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/meet-woman-can-smell-parkinsons-disease/
A difficult night’s sleep has been linked to forgetfulness and more serious memory issues in older adults: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/12/18/571120472/older-adults-forgetfulness-tied-to-faulty-brain-rhythms-in-sleep
“Retire? But why?” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/business/asked-about-retiring-they-have-a-simple-answer-why.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FElderly
This week in senior birthdays:
12/25: Singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett (71)
12/26: Singer Abdul “Duke” Fakir (The Four Tops) (82)
12/27: Yankees outfielder/coach Roy White (74)
12/28: Comics legend Stan Lee (97)
12/29: Actor/producer Ted Danson (71)
12/30: Brooklyn/LA Dodgers Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax (82)
12/31: Actor/director Anthony Hopkins (79)
Brian Jones
Outreach Coordinator
Dutchess County Office For the Aging
Phone: (845) 486-2555 Fax: (845) 486-2571
Email: bjones@dutchessny.gov
Website: www.dutchessny.gov/aging
