Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of November 12-18
Note: the Office for the Aging will be closed for the observed Veterans Day holiday on Monday, November 12th. We will also be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 22nd…and OPEN on Friday, November 23rd.
Golden Living . . . News for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT WINDOW CLOSING IN DECEMBER
The Medicare Open Enrollment period, a yearly window of opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries to change their coverage options will close on December 7th. If you are happy with your current coverage, and your plan is not making changes that affect you, you do not need to do anything; however, it is always a good idea to investigate all your options.
The Office for the Aging’s Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) has trained volunteer counselors who can help seniors with their insurance questions. Currently, appointments with the counselors are booked through the end of open enrollment period, but you may call for possible placement on a waiting list in the event of cancellations.
Alternative counseling resources are also available. If you have computer access, the www.medicare.gov website has tools that can be used to compare options for both Part D prescription drug coverage plans and Medicare Advantage Plans. To get the most accurate results, you will need your Medicare number and a list of your medications, along with details of the dosage and frequency of use of each. The site should work with the new Medicare identification card distributed this past summer in New York, as well as with the old version of the Medicare ID that was based on your Social Security number. The new Medicare cards were distributed throughout New York State this past July. If you haven’t gotten your new card yet, call toll free 1-800-MEDICARE, especially if you also changed addresses recently.
If you’d like help learning to navigate the Medicare website, you can sign up for a computer training session at the Adriance Library, 93 Market Street in Poughkeepsie (www.poklib.org), on Wednesday, November 28th, from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Space is limited.
If you don’t have computer access, Medicare has counseling available over the phone by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Again, have all of your information readily available when you call.
For those who would like a review of the basics of Medicare, there are two more seminars scheduled prior to the end of the open enrollment period. On Wednesday, November 21st at 10 a.m., a Medicare Orientation session will be held at the Poughkeepsie Galleria community room; and on Monday, November 26th at 4 p.m., another Medicare Orientation session will be held at the Center for Healthy Aging at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck. Call the Office for the Aging to reserve a spot, because space is limited.
All events are subject to schedule changes, and there’s always a possibility we will be able to schedule other events before the end of open enrollment. Keep tabs on our events calendar at www.dutchessny.gov/aging to find out the latest developments.
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
Unless otherwise indicated, call (845) 486-2555 for more information
All events subject to unannounced schedule changes
Tue 11/13, 11 a.m. – Healthy Eating Through the Holidays
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Red Hook Senior Friendship Center, 59 Fisk St.
Wed 11/14, 2 p.m. – Anti Scam presentation
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
The Landings of Poughkeepsie, 251 Boardman Rd.
Call (845) 471-4044 for information
Thu 11/15, 11 a.m. – Healthy Eating Through the Holidays
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
East Fishkill Senior Friendship Center, 890 NY 82 (Hopewell Junction)
Thu 11/15, 7 p.m. – Scam Prevention AND Office for the Aging Services
With outreach coordinator Brian Jones
St. Martin de Porres Church, 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
Registration deadline: Friday, November 9th
Fri 11/16, 11 a.m. – Reading the New Food Labels
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
The Landings of Poughkeepsie, 251 Boardman Rd.
Mon 11/19, 11 a.m. – Healthy Eating Through the Holidays
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Beacon Senior Friendship Center, 1 Forrestal Heights
Tue 11/20, 11 a.m. – Healthy Eating Through the Holidays
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Pawling Senior Friendship Center, 154 Charles Colman Blvd.
Tue 11/27, 11 a.m. Healthy Eating Through the Holidays
With OFA nutrition coordinator Nimesh Bhargava
Tri-Town Senior Friendship Center, 55 Overlook Rd., Poughkeepsie
Tue 12/11, 11 a.m. – Anti-Scam Presentation
With OFA outreach coordinator Brian Jones
The Regency at Fishkill, 100 Regency Dr.
Snow date: Thu 12/13, 11 a.m.
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 which began on October 15th and continues through December 7th, 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.
We host monthly Medicare information sessions whose schedule is available on the calendar at www.dutchessny.gov, and the following extra classes have also been added:
- Medicare 101 – Wed 11/14, 10 a.m. – Poughkeepsie Galleria Community Room
- Navigating the Medicare Website – Wed 11/28, 9:30 a.m., Adriance Library
VOLUNTEERING WITH OFA AND/OR MRC
You may figure out quickly enough that OFA stands for “Office for the Aging,” but what’s MRC?
It’s the Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County, which offers many opportunities for people to support their communities during times of need, and throughout the year. If you’ve been to an Office for the Aging Senior Picnic, you’ve seen MRC volunteers assisting seniors, answering questions, and administering free blood pressure screenings.
The MRC will host an orientation session for new members on Thursday, November 15th at 6 p.m., at the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, 392 Creek Road, Poughkeepsie. For more information about the MRC, or to register for orientation, please contact MRC Coordinator Joe Ryan at (845) 486-2493 or jryan@dutchessny.gov.
The Office for the Aging is also looking for year-round volunteer assistance in various aspects of our operation: clerical help, Home Delivered Meals driving, Senior Friendship Center help, and much more. Email bjones@dutchessny.gov or call (845) 486-2555 to find out more.
TWO CITIZENS PREPAREDNESS EVENTS ON NOVEMBER 14
It’s always a good time to prepare yourself for unknown events, but especially so with winter on the way. The Dutchess County Department of Emergency Management is hosting two preparedness sessions on Wednesday, November 14th. One’s in northern Dutchess and the other’s in southern Dutchess, both at the locations of OFA Senior Friendship Centers, as noted below:
- Wednesday, November 14th TIME: 12 noon to 2 p.m.
Location: Red Hook Community Center, 59 Fisk St., Red Hook
- Wednesday, November 14th TIME: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: East Fishkill Community Center, 890 Route 82, Hopewell Jct.
Both events are free and open to the public; call (845) 486-2080 for more information.
NOVEMBER IS DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH
In recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month, Sims and Associates Podiatry (www.simspodiatry.com) is offering free diabetic foot screenings during the entire month of November. Call one of the offices below to schedule an appointment; all numbers are 845 area code:
Poughkeepsie: 471-2243
Fishkill: 897-2735
Pleasant Valley: 723-4857
Highland: 834-3880
Office hours at all locations are Mondays 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
ELDER LAW (AND MORE) IN STANFORDVILLE (Sat 11/17)
Residents of rural north-central Dutchess County can get their questions about elder law, wills, trusts, Medicare and more answered on Saturday, November 17th at 10 a.m. at the Stanford Free Library (14 Creamery Rd., www.stanfordlibrary.org), with attorney Andrew Baffi. Reservations are appreciated – call (845) 868-1341 for details.
Other aging news online:
Genetics aren’t as much of a factor in aging as once thought: https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/genetics-play-a-smaller-role-in-aging-than-we-thought
Not that you necessarily needed convincing of the benefits of grandparenthood, but… https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-baby-scientist/201811/the-grandness-grandparents
Aging and still working? This article could be right up your alley: https://naples.floridaweekly.com/articles/aging-still-working/
This week in senior birthdays:
11/12: Actor/playwright Wallace Shawn (75)
11/13: Retired Yankees pitcher/pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre (77)
11/14: Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise (85)
11/15: Actor/activist Ed Asner (89)
11/16: NASCAR driver Terry Labonte (62)
11/17: Singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot (80)
11/18: NFL Hall-of-Famer Warren Moon (62)
There’s still time to send over your favorite Thanksgiving recipes to bjones@dutchessny.gov, but due to popular we’re also bringing back the Bad Jokes a little early!
Q: What’s the difference between a well-dressed man on a unicycle and a poorly dressed man on a bike?
A: Attire!