Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of July 26th
IN-PERSON OFA MEDICARE CLASSES HAVE RESUMED
This week, we hosted our first in-person “Medicare 101” class since early 2020, at the Pavilion at Brookmeade in Rhinebeck (34 Brookmeade Drive). If the number of local COVID-19 cases stay low and the restrictions of 2020-21 remain lifted, we’ll schedule more in-person classes.
One group of “Medicare 101” classes take place the fourth Monday of every month at 4:00 p.m.; the next class will take place on Monday, August 23rd.
Additional in-person “Medicare 101” classes take place at the Community Room of the Poughkeepsie Galleria on the third Wednesday of every month, starting at 10:00 a.m.
Space is limited at these classes, so reserve your space by calling the Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555.
A complete schedule of OFA events and classes is available at dutchessny.gov.
MAIL SCAMS RETURNING?
Last week we wrote about our hopes for the end of phone scams, but warned that scammers simply take up different methods when one scheme no longer works for them.
Sweepstakes, contest and lottery scams have been around for thousands of years, and show no signs of abating.
An alert 92-year-old Dutchess County resident this month alerted us to having received a fake “Publishers Clearing House” award letter. The letter arrives using the correct address for the sweepstakes company, but everything inside is fraudulent, including the realistic-looking award check inside. What tipped off our would-be victim is the letter that came with the check, asking that the recipient provide bank account information and pay processing fees.
That’s not how legitimate sweepstakes and lotteries operate. Had the recipient tried to deposit the check, and followed the scammer’s instructions to send them processing fees and taxes using the proceeds from the fake check, the scammers would have been long gone with the victim’s money while the victim would be left to deal with their bank and issues caused by the bounced check.
Here’s some tips to protect yourself from these kind of scams:
- Scammers say they’re from a well-known sweepstakes…when they’re not. Scammers try to look official, whether they’re impersonating well-known contest brands or a government lottery.
- You don’t ever have to give your financial information to claim a prize. If somebody asks for banking or credit card information, don’t give it to them.
- Scammers send fake checks that look realistic, as in the example from this article.
- Scammers will pressure you to “act now” without thinking things through.
- As always, if it sounds too good to be true, it is.
If you think you’ve been targeted in a prize scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC shares scam reports with thousands of law enforcement agencies.
If the scam attempt came in the mail, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report or 1-877-876-2455.
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
HUDSON VALLEY HONOR FLIGHTS RESUME
The popular “Hudson Valley Honor Flight” (HVHF) program celebrating veterans from the Hudson Valley will resume operations in October and November.
All participants will be required to be vaccinated to take part in the flights to Washington, D.C.: October 9th from Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, and November 6th from Westchester County Airport in White Plains. Honorees take a flight to Washington, and are transported around the city by bus to war memorials. They attend a dinner in their honor before flying home.
Priority is given to veterans of World War II, and Korean War veterans. HVHF serves veterans from Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York, along with certain neighboring counties in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Applications and additional information are available at www.hvhonorflight.com. More information is also available at 845-391-0076.
FREE WILCOX PARK ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS
Seniors looking for new exercise experiences can try out some free events coming up later this summer at Dutchess County-operated Wilcox Park (Wilcox Park Rd., Milan, off NY 199, just east of the Taconic Parkway).
On Thursday, August 12th and Thursday, August 19th, Dutchess County Parks and OFA will host senior walks through Wilcox Park. Both walks begin at 9:00 a.m.
On Thursday, September 2nd at 10:00 a.m., there’ll be a Learn to Disc Golf event at the Wilcox disc golf course, with veteran Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) competitor, tournament director and course designer Dan Doyle, who designed the 27-hole disc golf course at Wilcox.
Registration is required for all events, so that we know how many people are planning to be there. Call the Office for the Aging (845-486-2555) to register.
NATURE’S ART ON THE HUDSON (Sat 7/31)
Evergreen Minds and Cornell Cooperative Extension’s “No Child Left Inside” are joining to present “Nature’s Art on the Hudson,” an intergenerational sensory experience in and with nature, at Waryas Park in the City of Poughkeepsie, on Saturday, July 31st from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon. The event is open to people living with dementia and their care partner(s).
Advance registration by Wednesday, July 28th is required, and can be made by emailing molson@evergreenminds.org or calling 845-464-3256.
Other aging news online:
The head of the FDA is calling for an investigation into the relative quickness of approval for a controversial new Alzheimer’s drug: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-head-calls-investigation-alzheimer-s-drug-approval-n1273555
Walking can build up aging brains: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/14/well/move/exercise-walking-brain-memory.html
A pair of August concerts in honor of Tony Bennett’s 95th birthday are likely to be his last public performances, considering he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/07/19/lady-gaga-and-tony-bennett-performimg-final-concert-together/8011671002/
On safely exercising when it’s hot: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/07/19/1016989389/how-to-heat-proof-your-summer-workout
Legendary TV producer Norman Lear turns 99 this week (he’s on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TheNormanLear), and for the first time his legendary shows like “All in the Family” will be available to stream: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/TV/classic-norman-lear-sitcoms-coming-to-prime-574845102.html
Australia’s oldest man recently passed away at age 111; his secret to long life is one we haven’t heard before: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/21/australias-oldest-man-dexter-kruger-dies-aged-111
This week in senior birthdays:
7/27: Screenwriter/producer Norman Lear (99)
7/28: Basketball Hall-of-Famer/former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley (78)
7/29: Canadian musician Geddy Lee (Rush) (68)
7/30: Singer/songwriter Kate Bush (63)
7/31: Jets defensive lineman Gerry Philbin (80)
8/1: Blues musician Robert Cray (68)
8/2: Songwriter/musician/Hudson Valley resident Garth Hudson (The Band) (84)
And a Bad Joke to cap it all off:
Q: What does a clock do when it’s hungry?
A: Goes back four seconds.
