Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s AGING NEWS For the week of October 26th

Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s

AGING NEWS

For the week of October 26th

 

 

A REFRESHER ON SAFE FALL DRIVING

 

Many of us aren’t traveling as much as we had before the COVID-19 pandemic, and when we do head out there’s always the chance our skills behind the wheel may have gotten rusty – even for drivers of many decades’ experience. Fall is a great time of year to re-acquaint ourselves with best driving practices, so drivers can anticipate potential issues that are common in the fall, like the following:

 

Leaves, especially when they’re wet. By itself, a fallen leaf is harmless. When they’re still on the trees they’re beautiful this time of year – but drop millions of them on roads and add rain, and it’s a hazard that can be every bit as slippery and dangerous as black ice. With more cars on the road in the fall, more crashes happen now than in the winter. Drive as you would in the snow: slowly and smoothly, with plenty of space between you and vehicles ahead of you.

 

The sun. As the days get shorter, more sunrises and sunsets take place during busy morning and afternoon driving hours. Have a good pair of sunglasses handy for the glare. Keep your windshields clean, inside and out, so that dust streaks don’t make glare worse.

 

Fog and frost. Use your low beams and fog lights so that other vehicles can see you. Skip the high beams in fog; they’ll only reflect light back into your eyes. Allow a few extra minutes to clear your windshields from frost. Pay attention to those “Bridge Freezes Before Road” signs because on a chilly morning, a bridge surface could be slick while the road on either side of it is fine.

 

Deer and other wildlife. November is the peak time of year for car-deer collisions, because it’s the height of their mating season (“the rut”) and they’re least likely to be aware of your approaching car. As you drive, take extra time to scan roadsides for animals, and proceed with caution, especially during the hours around sunrise and sundown when deer tend to be most active. If an animal of any size darts out into the road, slow down and use the brakes if there’s nobody behind you. Remember that drivers behind you may not be able to see what you see. And don’t swerve. That may be your instinct – but consider all the other things you could crash into that are a great deal more dangerous than an animal, like utility poles, trees and other vehicles. There’s also the risk of swerving leading to a rollover crash. Simply slowing down may be enough to allow the animal to evade your car, especially for smaller, more agile animals like birds and squirrels.

As for attaching “deer whistles” to your car, repeated studies indicate they don’t work – and a few even emitted noises that attracted deer to the road. There’s no technology that can substitute for alertness behind the wheel.

And speaking of deer, always buck-le up.

 

Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 114 Delafield St., Poughkeepsie, New York 12601, telephone (845) 486-2555, email: ofa@dutchessny.gov website: www.dutchessny.gov/aging

 

NO-COST DRIVE-UP FLU SHOTS FOR VETERANS AT CASTLE POINT (Weekdays)

Veterans in need of a vaccine for the 2020-21 influenza season can drive up and get one at the VA campus in Castle Point, just off Route 9D. Similar services are available at the VA campus in Montrose in Westchester County.

No appointment is necessary for the shots, which will be available on weekdays from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

More information here: https://www.va.gov/communitycare/flushot.asp

 

BROOKMEADE “SURPRISE A SENIOR” PROJECT

                If you can help the senior residents and/or clients at the Brookmeade campus on Route 308 in Rhinebeck, volunteer Julianna Zobel offers the “Surprise a Senior” project. They’re looking for the following items for seniors:

Clothing: Bathrobes, button-up sweaters, everyday socks, fuzzy socks with grips, nightgowns, shawls, slippers and wraps

Décor: Blankets, clocks, framed photos, wall or desk calendars

Games/fun: Adult coloring books, Audio books/CD players, candy/snacks, board games, cards, crayons/markers/pens/pencils, chess sets, dominoes, jigsaw puzzles

Toiletries: aftershave, comb sets, cosmetics, deodorant, electric razors, hair pins/ties/bands, lip balm, unscented lotion, tissues

Showing love: plants, stuffed animals, simple art projects

Items can be dropped off at the gazebo on the Brookmeade campus, or can be mailed/shipped to 46 Brookmeade Dr., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 c/o “Surprise a Senior.”

Deliveries can be made until November 20th.

For more information, email info@brookmeadecommunity.org.

 

Other aging news online:

 

People with cognitive impairment (regardless of cause) can vote…but how? Here’s a rundown of applicable laws and rules, and what forms of help are and aren’t allowed: https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/law_aging/2020-voting-guide.pdf

 

A study of mice indicates that cold-water swimming may help the brain protect itself from dementia: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54531075

 

 

This week in senior birthdays:

 

10/24: Musician/songwriter Bill Wyman (former Rolling Stones) (84)

10/25: Singer/songwriter Jon Anderson (Yes) (76)

10/26: Singer/songwriter/bass player William “Bootsy” Collins (69)

10/27: Actor/comedian John Cleese (81)

10/28: Singer/actress Dame Cleo Laine (93)

10/29: New York Islanders NHL Hall-of-Famer Denis Potvin (67)

10/30: Singer/songwriter Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) (81)

 

Successful Aging Lifetime Achievements

As many of you know, every May we hold a “Celebration of Aging” event to honor Dutchess County seniors who have reached outstanding milestones in aging – reaching age 100 or more, celebrating a 70th wedding anniversary and beyond, and sometimes both.

Since this year’s Celebration was cancelled due to the pandemic, we’ve been looking for alternative ways to honor these seniors…such as right here in this newsletter.

If you know a Dutchess County resident who has recently turned 100 or more, or is about to…or a Dutchess County couple celebrating a marriage of 70 years or more, please contact OFA Outreach Coordinator Brian Jones – bjones@dutchessny.gov.

Congratulations, therefore, to Rhinebeck resident Ellen Steinhardt, who celebrates her 100th on October 27th. Ellen is of Jewish heritage, escaped Nazi Germany, became a nurse to give back to humanity, and was one of Arbor Ridge’s first residents to move in in 2008. Ellen remains an integral part of the community and is one of Arbor Ridge’s most active residents.

Congratulations also to Jack and Betty Woods of Rhinebeck, who celebrated their 70th anniversary recently at the Brookmeade Community. Together, the couple has 1 daughter, 3 sons, 8 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. When Jack was asked what the secret is to such a long marriage, he said, “To always say ‘yes, dear’ and to check on her always”. As for Betty, she says “Just to love him and make sure he’s nearby.”

 

And a Bad Joke:

I have a friend who composes songs about sewing machines. He’s a Singer songwriter…or sew it seams.

 

 

Brian Jones
Outreach Coordinator

Dutchess County Office For the Aging

114 Delafield St.
Poughkeepsie NY 12601
Main office: (845) 486-2555
Direct line to my desk: (845) 486-2544

 

Sign up for weekly Office for the Aging e-newsletters with DutchessDelivery: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Dutchess-Delivery.htm

 

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Author: Harlem Valley News