Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s AGING NEWS For the week of August 2nd

Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s

AGING NEWS

For the week of August 2nd 

SUMMER SKIN CARE TIPS

Regardless of skin color, anybody who heads outside will have some susceptibility to potential sun damage; therefore, don’t skimp on the sunscreen. and check the time before going out. As a rule, seniors’ skin is more susceptible to damage from the sun.

The sun’s rays are at their most intense between the peak hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Besides the sun itself, water, sand, and concrete increase the risk of sunburn through reflected light.

Once outside, what’s your sun protection strategy? University of Cincinnati researchers report that the natural sun protection factor (SPF) of human skin ranges from 3 for those with the palest skin, to 13 for those with the darkest – not enough for full protection, in anybody’s case. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a minimum sunscreen SPF of 30, and to reapply every two hours if you plan on swimming or being outside for an extended time.

SPF is an inexact measurement of protection, but it’s the best we’ve got for sunscreens thus far. SPF refers to a multiple of the amount of time it would take untreated skin to burn – measured under laboratory conditions. What works in the lab may not do as well on your back porch.

SPF only measures a product’s ability to protect against UVB rays; therefore, look for both 30+ SPF as well as broad-spectrum protection that also helps protect from UVA and other harmful rays. UVA rays can penetrate the skin more deeply and are associated with skin aging and cancer.

Products with SPF values over 50 are only slightly more protective. According to the Food and Drug Administration, many people using ultra-high-SPF sunscreens do so improperly and spend far more time out in the brightest sun. As a result, they risk exposing themselves to more harmful UV radiation than do people who use products in a lower SPF range.

 

If you don’t like the greasy feeling of some sunscreens, look to your clothing as another line of defense. Chosen carefully, the right clothing can help you stay cool as well as protect you from the sun’s effects – and unlike sunscreen, you don’t need to reapply. A fabric’s ability to protect your skin is measured in Ultraviolet Protective Factor (UPF). It’s a more robust measurement of how much ultraviolet radiation can get to your skin, because it measures protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Fabric rated UPF 50 allows 1/50th of the sun’s rays of untreated bare skin.

A wide-brimmed hat can take care of protecting the ears and head; there are also hats with neck gaiters that cover the area between the hairline and collar.

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

OFA ACCEPTING SENIOR FARMERS MARKET COUPON APPLICANTS ON TUESDAY, THURSDAY AFTERNOONS

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) promotes improved nutrition through increased consumption of locally grown fresh produce, with the added benefit of expanding sales at participating markets and farm stands. Age and income are the qualifying factors for SFMNP benefits. Coupon booklets for 2021 will be distributed to qualifying seniors, while supplies last, at the Office for the Aging’s main office, only on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Contact the Office for the Aging to learn more about the program.

Eligible recipients must personally sign the Statement of Eligibility Form to receive SFMNP checks. Checks cannot be mailed to eligible older adults. Proxies may not pick-up and sign for checks. A valid Power of Attorney (POA) may sign for checks and pick up books for an eligible older adult. POA must bring proof of their being someone’s POA. While the client must sign in person for the booklet, a caregiver or family member, or another person, may shop at the farmers market for them using their coupons.

Coupons can be used until November 30th, 2021, or whenever a participating market closes for the season, whichever comes earlier.

For statewide updated lists of participating SFMNP markets, go to www.agriculture.ny.gov/farmersmarkets.

NO-COST CLEAN-AND-TUNE PROGRAM THROUGH “HEAP” FOR QUALIFYING SENIORS

Through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), New Yorkers may be eligible to have their heating equipment cleaned and tuned in preparation for winter weather, at no cost.

You may be eligible for a benefit if:

  • You are the homeowner
  • Your household’s gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size
  • Your primary heating equipment is more than 12 months old
  • Your primary heating equipment or chimney has not been cleaned within the last 12 months
  • You do not have a service contract with your vendor that includes clean and tune services

Keeping heating equipment tuned up results in improved safety and efficiency, which in turn leads to lower heating costs and greater peace of mind. A clean-and-tune may include a battery-powered carbon monoxide (CO) alarm to make sure that furnaces and other fuel burning appliances are not producing dangerous CO gas.

Seniors (age 60+) with HEAP qualification questions can contact the Office for the Aging’s HEAP examiner at 845-486-2553 or zserrano@dutchessny.gov.

POP-UP VACCINATION CLINIC IN POUGHKEEPSIE (Sat 7/31)

Christ Episcopal Church (20 Carroll St., Poughkeepsie) will be a site of a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday, July 31st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pfizer vaccines will be given. Appointments are recommended, and can be made by contacting Greg Citarella at 845-452-8220 or office@christchurchpok.org. Walk-ins are also welcome. No out-of-pocket costs, regardless of insurance and/or immigration status.

The event is presented in partnership with Healthy Black and Latinx Coalition, WMCHealth Health Equity Taskforce, and MidHudson Regional Hospital.

OFA AT EASTERN DUTCHESS HEALTH FAIR IN DOVER PLAINS (Mon 8/2)

Community Action Partnership of Dutchess County (www.dutchesscap.org) is hosting a health fair at their facilities at 3414 NY 22 in Dover Plains, from 2 to 6 p.m. Stop by the Office for the Aging table and find out more about our services and events for seniors and caregivers.

FALL PREVENTION WEEK COMING IN SEPTEMBER

The Office for the Aging is partnering with Nuvance Health to offer fall prevention classes that begin in September. For more information, including tips on reducing the risk of falls in your home, and more on Fall Prevention Week (September 20-24), click here.

TIVOLI VILLAGE YARD SALE (Sat 7/31)

Households throughout the Village of Tivoli are taking part in a village-wide rain-or-shine yard sale on Saturday, July 31st starting at 9 a.m., with a map of participating sales distributed at the “four corners” in the middle of the village, half a mile west of Route 9G.

During the yard sale, the Tivoli Free Library will host a whimsical puppet production of Aesop’s Fables at 11 a.m. at the gazebo outside village hall (86 Broadway).

Other aging news online:

The pandemic has made an existing shortage of home care personnel for seniors more acute: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/24/health/coronavirus-elderly-home-care.html

How can older athletes…and non-athletes…handle aging? https://www.ocregister.com/2021/07/25/how-older-athletes-handle-aging-and-how-you-can-get-the-most-of-your-activities/

This week in senior birthdays:

8/2: Songwriter/musician/Hudson Valley resident Garth Hudson (The Band) (84)

8/3: Actor/producer Martin Sheen (81)

8/4: Former Mets outfielder Cleon Jones (79)

From the 1969 World Series, here’s the “shoe polish incident” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpo8FYFHjuE

8/5: Actress Loni Anderson (76)

8/6: Science fiction author Piers Anthony (87)

8/7: Singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell (71)

8/8: Actor/director Dustin Hoffman (84)

And our traditional Bad Joke.

A steak pun is a rare medium well done.

Author: Harlem Valley News