Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of January 22
Note: Our “A Matter of Balance” classes are filling up, but we still have space at classes throughout Dutchess County that begin in the late winter and early spring – if you act quickly! Email ofa@dutchessny.gov or call (845) 486-2555 during regular OFA business hours (9a-5p Mon-Fri) to find out more. If you were on a Matter of Balance waiting list before, you can expect to hear from us soon!
Golden Living . . . News for Seniors, Their Families, and Caregivers
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
FREE TAX PREP AND E-FILING
Once again this year, the AARP Tax-Aide program, in conjunction with the IRS and the Hudson Valley CA$H Coalition, will be offering a free, volunteer-run, tax preparation service for low to moderate income taxpayers, with special attention to those ages 60 and older. You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service. There are 20 Tax-Aide sites around the county. All sites offer a free electronic filing service for both Federal and New York State returns.
The CA$H Coalition reports 4,452 returns were prepared last year for low and middle-income persons, including seniors. This year, working couples earning less than $20,600 and individuals making less than $15,010 are entitled to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For filers with children, the income determining eligibility rises considerably. Specifics are available at www.irs.gov.
The IRS reports that the EITC lifted 9.2 million people out of poverty in 2015, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
Appointments are available starting the first week of February and continue through April 15th, and phone lines to accept appointments are already open. Dial 211 (or 1-800-899-1479) for site locations, hours or an appointment. Phone lines will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the best time to call being after 5 p.m. A call specialist will review eligibility, make an appointment, provide directions to the appropriate AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site, and provide a complete list of required documents needed for the appointment.
More information about the program as well as 24-hour, year-round tax assistance can be found at their website: www.aarp.org/taxaide
LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
The New York State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program uses volunteers to advocate for the best possible treatment for residents of long-term care facilities. They’re now accepting applications for their March 2018 volunteer ombudsman training class. The program assists residents living in nursing homes, assisted living, adult homes, and family type homes in Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Sullivan, Greene, and Columbia Counties. Learn more about their opportunities at (845) 229-4680 or email gloria@hudsonvalleyltcop.org.
SUCCESSFUL AGING PRESENTATIONS COMING IN FEBRUARY
OFA Outreach Coordinator Brian Jones will be giving talks on “Successful Aging” on Tuesday, February 13, at 11 a.m. at Castle Court at Concord Village (Van Wagner Rd., Poughkeepsie), and on Wednesday, February 14 at 10:30 a.m. upstairs at the Pine Plains Free Library (7775 S. Main St. (Route 82)). Email bjones@dutchessny.gov or call (845) 486-2555 for more information.
For a complete list of OFA appearances around Dutchess County, including talks on a wide range of nutrition issues, senior housing topics and OFA services, subscribe to our free “Aging News” weekly emails by getting in touch with Brian at the email address 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:www.dutchessny.gov/aging
Office for the Aging upcoming events:
Mon 1/22/18, 11 a.m. – “Rules of Healthy Behaviors”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
King’s Apartments
(845) 486-2555 to find out more
Tue 1/23/18, 11 a.m. – “A Guide to Good Health Resolutions”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Pawling Senior Friendship Center
(845) 486-2555 for more information
Wed 1/24/18, 2 p.m. – “Successful Aging”
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
The Fountains at Millbrook (79 Flint Rd., Millbrook)
(845) 486-2555 for details
Thu 1/25/18, 11 a.m. – “Setting Fitness Goals for the New Year”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Tri-Town Senior Friendship Center
55 Overlook Rd., Poughkeepsie (rear of American Legion building)
(845) 486-2555 to find out more
Fri 1/26/18, 11 a.m. – “Successful Aging”
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
Brookside Meadows, Pleasant Valley
(845) 486-2555 for details
(postponed from 1/11; snow date 2/2, same time)
Fri 1/26/18, 11 a.m. – “Conquering Your Good Health Resolutions”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
City of Poughkeepsie Senior Friendship Center
110 South Grand Avene
(845) 486-2555 to find out more
Tue 1/30/18, 11 a.m. – “Will Your Resolutions Last Until February?”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Rhinebeck Senior Friendship Center
(845) 486-2555 to find out more
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 or bjones@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!
CAREGIVERS MEET AT MIDHUDSON REGIONAL (Tue 1/30)
MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie is hosting a Caregivers Workshop at the hospital’s M. Ann Elizabeth conference room on Tuesday, January 30 from 2:30-4 p.m. Presented by the Alzheimer’s Association, the conference will focus on behavior and communication with Alzheimer’s patients. For more information, call (845) 483-5551.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE TELEPHONE SCAM WORKSHOP (Mon 1/22, 1-2 p.m.)
Join the Tivoli Library (86 Broadway, 845-757-3771) and Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office’s for an informative presentation about common and current telephone scams, taking place from 1 to 2 p.m. on Monday, January 22 at the library. Deputy Sheriff Michael Rahilly will show you how to avoid falling victim to these telephone scammers. Every year, thousands of people lose money to telephone scams, from a few dollars to their life savings – don’t be one of them! A Q&A session will follow.
Contact the library to sign up; space is limited.
CITIZENS PREPAREDNESS IN PAWLING (Tue 1/23, 7-9 p.m.)
This month’s foul winter weather is another reason Dutchess seniors need to be prepared for any type of disaster, and the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response and Department of Behavioral & Community Health have been traveling the county for presentations on preparedness. You’ll acquire the tools and resources to better prepare for any type of disaster, learn how to respond accordingly in a disaster, and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions.
The next presentation is coming up on Tuesday, January 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Pawling Library (11 Front St., (845) 855-3444). Doors open at 6:30. Attendees will receive a free Citizens Preparedness Response Kit.
Other aging news online:
Health care is now America’s largest employment sector: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/01/health-care-america-jobs/550079/?utm_source=eb
Winter hiking…around here? It can be done, but follow this checklist: http://www.hvmag.com/Your-Essential-Winter-Hiking-Checklist-Hudson-Valley/?utm_content=buffer8d0ae&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Home care agencies often incorrectly deny Medicare help to chronically-ill people. As is often the case, the key to success is being an informed consumer: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/01/17/578423012/home-care-agencies-often-wrongly-deny-medicare-help-to-the-chronically-ill?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20180117
It’s best not to stifle a sneeze because…ouch: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/nostrils-blocked-sneeze-dangers-rupture-back-of-throat-1.4487971
An assortment of good health news for 2018: https://seniorplanet.org/and-the-good-news-is/?mc_cid=01f7e48353&mc_eid=4149ad7bda
Siberia: the place where everybody listens to their grandmother (their “babushka” in the original Russian) about dressing for the cold because it’s 60 below out there. That’s -76 Fahrenheit, as if that makes a difference: http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/as-temperatures-sink-to-60c-in-yakutia-heroic-chinese-tourists-take-a-swim/
International recognition for a Vassar College astronomer and her husband: https://stories.vassar.edu/2017/180112-little-blue-dots.html
GM is planning to test cars with no steering wheels and no pedals, starting in 2019:
Betty White just turned 96 and she swears that the secret to a long life is…vodka and hot dogs, of course: http://www.latimes.com/food/sns-dailymeal-1865811-entertain-betty-white-swears-vodka-and-hot-dogs-are-secret-long-life-20180108-story.html
This week in senior birthdays:
1/22: Chef/author Graham Kerr (84)
1/23: WWII/Korean War photographer David Douglas Duncan (102)
1/24: Singer/songwriter Neil Diamond (77)
1/25: NFL Hall of Famer Carl Eller (76)
1/26: Sportscaster/actor Bob Uecker (83)
1/27: Actor/activist James Cromwell (78)
1/28: Humanitarian/chess master Johan van Hulst (107)
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
