NO COST HOME ACCESIBILTY MODIFICATIONS
Many older Dutchess County homeowners find themselves having difficulty with physically or financially keeping their home in safe shape. The roof is leaking, but who’s climbing the ladder to get a closer look at the extent of problem? A wheelchair-using senior needs a ramp to get into their home, but how does that get built the right way? The kitchen lights are flickering – is that a sign of a larger wiring problem?
This is where Rebuilding Together Dutchess County (RTDC) steps in with cost-free critical home repairs to income-qualified homeowners. Seniors, persons living with a disability, military veterans, or parents with school-aged children are encouraged to apply.
The deadline to apply for 2022 RTDC assistance is Thursday, September 30th. More information is available at www.rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org or by calling 845-454-7310.
RTDC also features two year-round programs: a Handyman program that assists seniors 60 and older with small safety and accessibility repairs; and a Home Safety and Fire Prevention program that installs smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, a fire extinguisher, and reflective house numbers that enable first responders to find homes during night-time emergencies.
For workplaces, houses of worship, or other clubs interested in helping RTDC serve their community, email info@rtdutchess.org. Over 14,000 volunteers have helped RTDC since its founding in 1992, with over a thousand Dutchess County homeowners helped with critical repairs, accessibility modifications, and energy-efficiency upgrades. The market value of the work has been estimated at over $7 million.
HOUSING UPGRADE HELP, CONTINUED
Other help is available for qualifying Dutchess County senior homeowners through the Senior Citizen Owner Occupied Property rehabilitation program, which upgrades existing owner-occupied housing by assisting low and moderate income senior citizen households to complete rehabilitation on properties with housing quality standard or code violations.
Applicants must be income qualified, age 62 or older, a fee simple owner of the property, whose value after rehabilitation is not more than the federally-designated 2021 limit of $243,000.
For more information and full qualifying details, contact the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development at 845-486-3600.
HAVE PRESENTATION, WILL TRAVEL
Whether your organization is meeting in-person or remotely, Office for the Aging presentations are available for all Dutchess County groups of seniors and/or their caregivers. We offer presentations on successful aging, scam prevention, nutrition, and much more. For more information, contact OFA Outreach Coordinator Brian Jones at 845-486-2544 or bjones@dutchessny.gov.
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
PLENTY OF SENIORS ACTIVITIES THIS FALL – DRIVE-IN BINGO, SENIOR LEGAL DAY AND MORE
If you’re reading this email on the day it was sent (Friday 9/24), there’s still time to sign up for the free Drive-In Bingo event that’s taking place on Monday, September 27th at Dutchess County’s own Wilcox Park in Milan, just off Route 199. Call OFA at 845-486-2555 to reserve your space.
There’s also a Drive-In Bingo coming up on Tuesday, October 5th at Memorial Park in Beacon. Both events begin at 1:00 p.m. and last for 60-90 minutes, with bingo prizes and trivia!
The rain date for each Drive-in Bingo event is the following day.
There’s more free opportunities for seniors to stay active and engaged as we move through October.
Tuesday, October 12th is Senior Legal Day, held at the Pavilion at Brookmeade in Rhinebeck (34 Brookmeade Dr., just off Route 308 near the east end of the village). Here’s the day’s schedule:
9:30-10:15 – Medicare, Social Security and “Bumps in the Road” with Nina Lynch, OFA Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP); and Marion Power, Geriatric Care Manager
10:30-11:15 – Preventing Fraud and Abuse; with Nancy Brodey Koch, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
11:30-12:15 – Wills, Power of Attorney, and Health Care Proxies with Paul Weinberger, Attorney at Law
Capacity is limited to 75 guests per session. Register by calling OFA at 845-486-2555.
Light refreshments will be available.
BUT WAIT – THERE’S MORE!
Let’s say you want to stay physically active, but also want to keep things simple. How about a walk in the park? That’s as simple as it comes.
OFA and Dutchess County Parks are hosting a free Senior Walk Around the Lake at Wilcox Park in Milan (off Route 199) on Friday, October 15th. Call OFA to register, so that we know how many people are coming: 845-486-2555.
If you’ve never been to Wilcox, you’re in for a treat. The 614-acre park is great for activities ranging from walking and hiking to basketball, birding, and much more – and we figure mid-October should be right in the middle of foliage season.
(One note for visitors, especially if you’re traveling from communities southeast of the park like Stanfordville/Bangall and Millbrook: the Route 199 entrance is the only entrance to Wilcox, no matter what your mobile device’s mapping app may try to tell you.)
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM SERIES
The Alzheimer’s Association is hosting two informational seminars at the Town of Wappinger Senior Center (20 Middlebush Rd., at town hall) in October:
2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5 – 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
Learn what to watch for in yourself and others. This program explores typical age related changes, common warning signs of Alzheimer’s, how to approach someone about memory concerns, early detection, the benefits of a diagnosis, the diagnostic process and Alzheimer’s Association resources.
2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 16 – Healthy Living for your Brain and Body
Get information on diet, nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social
engagement as well as hands-on tools to develop a plan for healthy aging
Registration is required for both events, and open to fully vaccinated
individuals. Contact the Wappinger Senior Center to reserve your space, at 845-297-3670.
Other aging news online:
New rules to block robocall scammers are having some positive effect, but scammers are adapting: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/18/how-fcc-tries-to-fight-robocalls.html
America’s oldest National Park ranger turned 100 a few days ago: https://abc7news.com/betty-soskin-birthday-oldest-national-park-ranger-reid-middle-school-rosie-the-riveter-museum/11037849/
Just turning 107? Time to release a new album: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/20/1036622670/107-year-old-french-pianist-colette-maze-new-album?utm_source=pocket-newtab&fbclid=IwAR18C6EJfHuGyx15euRrIzZqyO-1vUEkPfeA-JD0igfVIyB9bjzp2Db6Ycc
This week in senior birthdays:
9/27: Singer/songwriter Meat Loaf (74)
9/28: Actress Brigitte Bardot (87)
9/29: Singer/songwriter Jerry Lee Lewis (86)
9/30: Actress/producer/screenwriter Fran Drescher (64)
10/1: Actress/singer Julie Andrews (86)
10/2: Singer/musician/actor Sting (70)
10/3: MLB Hall of Famer Dave Winfield (70)
And this week’s essential Bad Joke to share with the grandkids:
Q: What do cows use in text messages?
A: E-moo-jis!
