Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of October 15th
Golden Living . . . News for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED IN EAST FISHKILL, MILLERTON, PINE PLAINS
The Office for the Aging’s Home Delivered Meals program is looking for volunteers to deliver midday meals to homebound seniors in the East Fishkill area, and in northeastern Dutchess County, including the Towns of North East and Pine Plains along with the Village of Millerton.
Volunteers are also needed to deliver frozen meals to homebound clients in the Pine Plains area, on the third Tuesday of every month.
You’ll be able to help some of the seniors who need assistance the most – and this time of year, you get the bonus of enjoying some of the finest fall foliage anywhere as you make deliveries.
A background check is required for these volunteer positions, which involve using one’s own vehicle. Also required are a valid driver’s license and insurance coverage. Mileage reimbursement is available.
Volunteer home meal delivery help is always welcome no matter which part of the county you are able to serve. We also have volunteering opportunities available for those who wish to help with simple clerical work, to assist seniors with health insurance questions, and to lead one of our Senior Exercise and/or Brain Games classes. Additionally, in 2019 we’ll need volunteer help at our summer Senior Picnic events, and to lead our “A Matter of Balance” classes in the late winter and spring.
For more information on volunteering opportunities, contact the Office for the Aging at (845) 486-2555, or email ofa@dutchessny.gov.
OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ALSO AVAILABLE
Also in need of volunteer drivers is Friends of Seniors, the Poughkeepsie-based volunteer organization that provides companionship and non-emergency transportation to seniors throughout most of Dutchess County.
Right now they’re looking for drivers to cover the City and Town of Poughkeepsie, along with drivers who are familiar with the Route 9 corridor, especially between southern Dutchess County and Poughkeepsie.
For details on volunteering for Friends of Seniors, call (845) 485-1277 or visit www.friendsofseniors.biz.
2019 TAX PREP VOLUNTEERS WANTED
The Hudson Valley CA$H Coalition and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide need volunteers from Dutchess County to serve as tax preparers for the 2019 tax season. Volunteers have an opportunity to increase their talents while helping low and moderate-income neighbors receive free, reliable tax assistance and secure all the refunds and credits available to them. If you have prepared personal income taxes before, and are looking for a rewarding way to use these skills, consider volunteering with the coalition. Free training will be provided, including IRS certification.
Tax-Aide also needs volunteers in other areas of expertise, including IT support, client facilitator, program promotion and marketing.
For more information, contact Linda Eddy at (845) 475-7500 or email leddy@dutchesscap.org.
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
SENIOR SEMINARS COMING UP IN NOVEMBER (11/1)
The Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s annual “Senior Seminars” day takes place Thursday, November 1st, at New Hackensack Reformed Church at 1580 Route 376, Wappingers Falls. Space is limited, so register in advance for any seminar you’d like to attend by contacting the Office for the Aging using the information at the end of this column. These seminars are a great way to find information in one place that might otherwise require a lot of time and travel.
Here’s the schedule for this year’s seminars. You can sign up for one seminar in each of the 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 time slots.
You can sign up for one, two, or three seminars. Keep in mind that if you choose only a 9:30 and 11:30 seminar, there’s not sufficient seating outside the classrooms while you wait – so add a 10:30 seminar to your day and learn something new.
9:30 a.m.
PARKINSON’S DISEASE – Learn more about the disease that affects hundreds of Dutchess County seniors. Presented by the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of the Mid-Hudson Valley.
LIBRARIES – Libraries can be much more than what they used to be! From books to streaming content, libraries engage patrons in many ways. With Poughkeepsie Public Library Director Tom Lawrence.
CENTRAL HUDSON AND SENIORS – A discussion of the many services available to senior citizen Central Hudson customers, including senior protections, life support programs and much more.
10:30 a.m.
MEDICARE Q&A – Office for the Aging Information Services Specialist Maggie Kwet helps you navigate the sometimes-challenging landscape of Medicare. The annual Open Enrollment period for Medicare began on October 15th and will continue until December 7th.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?– Hearing loss can have devastating effects on all aspects of your life. Presented by professionals from Access Hearing.
FUNERALS AND YOUR RIGHTS – Every consumer has the right to a meaningful, dignified and affordable farewell. With the Funeral Consumers Alliance of the Hudson Valley.
11:30 a.m.
EXERCISE AND BALANCE – Find out more about the Office for the Aging’s Senior Exercise and “A Matter of Balance” programs, both of which are vital to seniors looking to continue living independently.
SENIORS AND THE LAW – Always a popular topic, this year’s speaker is private attorney Paul Weinberger, with whom the Office for the Aging contracts to provide legal assistance to seniors who might otherwise be unable to afford it.
A “HEAP” OF HELP FOR THE WINTER – Cold weather will be here before you know it, and it can be a trying time for low-income seniors. Your questions about New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will be answered by Office for the Aging staff.
Office for the Aging upcoming events
Unless otherwise indicated, call (845) 486-2555 for more information
Mon 10/15, 12 noon – 4 p.m. – Office for the Aging Senior Prom – SOLD OUT
Wed 10/17, 11 a.m. – “The Facts About Diabetes”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
South Amenia Senior Friendship Center, 229 South Amenia Rd., Wassaic
Fri 10/19, 2 p.m. – OFA Anti-Scam Presentation
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
The Fountains at Millbrook, 79 Flint Rd.
Wed 10/24, 11 a.m. – “The Facts About Diabetes”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Pawling Senior Friendship Center, 154 Charles Colman Blvd.
Thu 10/25, 11 a.m. – “The Facts About Diabetes”
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
The Landing of Poughkeepsie, 251 Boardman Rd.
Thu 11/1, 9:30 – 12:30 p.m. – Senior Seminars
New Hackensack Reformed Church, 1380 NY 376, Wappingers Falls
(See this email for schedule of seminars)
Reserve seats at (845) 471-1500
Thu 11/8, 12:30 p.m. – Scam Prevention Presentation
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
St. Simeon II Community Room, 24 Beechwood Ave., Poughkeepsie
Fri 11/16, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Caregiver Conference
“Caregiving: A Highwire Act”
The Grandview, 176 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie
To sign up (it’s free), call the Alzheimer’s Association: 800-272-3900
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.
We feature presentations on Successful Aging, Office for the Aging services, Medicare/Medicaid, scam prevention, senior housing, a wide range of topics related to nutrition, and more!
MEDICARE EVENTS CALENDAR
If you’re a resident of Dutchess County with questions about Medicare as this year’s open enrollment period gets set to begin on October 15th, there are Medicare-related events throughout the county. Space is limited, so reserve your spot by contacting the Office for the Aging at (845) 486-2555 or ofa@dutchessny.gov.
- Medicare 101 – Mon 10/15, 2 p.m., Pawling Library
- Medicare 101 – Wed 10/17, 10 a.m., Poughkeepsie Galleria Community Room
- Medicare 101 – Wed 10/24, 6:30 p.m., Pawling Library
- Medicare 101 – Wed 11/14, 10 a.m. – Poughkeepsie Galleria Community Room
- Navigating the Medicare Website – Tue 10/16, 6:30 p.m., Boardman Road Library, 141 Boardman Rd., Poughkeepsie
- Navigating the Medicare Website – Wed 10/24, 9:30 a.m., Adriance Memorial Library, 93 Market St., Poughkeepsie
- Navigating the Medicare Website – Thu 11/8, 6:30 p.m., Adriance Library
- Navigating the Medicare Website – Wed 11/28, 9:30 a.m., Adriance Library
Other aging news online:
The Social Security Administration made it official on Thursday: Social Security and SSI benefits will increase in 2019 by 2.8%: https://blog.socialsecurity.gov/social-security-benefits-to-increase-in-2019/?utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Only got time for ten minutes of exercise? That’s okay. Every little bit helps: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/sep/24/10-minutes-of-exercise-a-day-improves-memory?CMP=share_btn_fb
Promising news from the field of dentistry. Things aren’t like they used to be: https://seniorplanet.org/smile-good-news-about-dentistry/?mc_cid=598027813d&mc_eid=4149ad7bda
Therapy…chickens? Research points to better mental health, plus eggs and maybe even some tick removal – but check your local zoning regulations and the Dutchess County sanitary code (it’s at www.dutchessny.gov) before setting up a backyard coop: https://www.nextavenue.org/calming-effect-therapy-chickens/?hide_newsletter=true&utm_source=Next+Avenue+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ebd42585f7-10_04_2018_Thursday_Newsletter_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_056a405b5a-ebd42585f7-164961917&mc_cid=ebd42585f7&mc_eid=5393aabc18
This week in senior birthdays:
10/14: Fashion designer Ralph Lauren (79)
10/15: Actor/director Penny Marshall (75)
10/16: Actress/singer Dame Angela Lansbury (93)
10/17: Actor/comedian George Wendt (70)
10/18: NFL Hall-of-Famer Mike Ditka (79)
10/19: Intelligence officer/diplomat/author John le Carré (87)
10/20: Baseball Hall of Famer Juan Marichal (81)
Finally, the Bad Joke of the Week:
A monastery in England was going bankrupt. The abbot didn’t know what to do. The brothers had a meeting, and decided to open a fish-n-chips shop. One day, a man knocked on the door. After one of the brothers answered the door, the man asked, “May I have just an order of chips?”
The brother said, “Hold on a moment. I’m the fish friar. You want the chip monk.”
