Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of October 4th
Note: the Office for the Aging and all OFA Senior Friendship Centers will be closed for the national Columbus Day holiday on Monday, October 11th. OFA Home Delivered Meals clients will receive their October 11th meals in advance.
Golden Living . . . News for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
YOUR VOICE COUNTS
It’s said that the squeaky wheel gets the grease; and when it comes to successful aging, advocating for your needs is a key part of the equation. The senior population of Dutchess County has been growing at a tremendous pace – 80% growth in the 85+ age group in the past decade, to point to one recent example. It’s a sign that smart planning will be needed for both current seniors and those who hope to be seniors one day.
In non-pandemic years OFA would host two public listening sessions in the early fall, where seniors and caregivers could speak in person to OFA director Todd Tancredi and members of the OFA advisory board. Those public sessions remain on hold for now due to ongoing pandemic concerns, but you can still contact us with your questions and concerns at any time. Call OFA at 845-486-2555, or email ofa@dutchessny.gov. You can find out more about our plans for 2022 and beyond, and point out areas with the potential for improved services.
No need to worry whether OFA is the right agency to ask. We can help you find the organizations where your questions can be best addressed.
SENIOR LEGAL DAY – STILL TIME TO SIGN UP
Dutchess County seniors and caregivers can still sign up for OFA’s “Senior Legal Day” event at the Pavilion at Brookmeade, 34 Brookmeade Dr. in Rhinebeck, Tuesday, October 12th.
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.
A PEEK AHEAD AT 2022
We hope it will be possible for more in-person OFA activities to happen in 2022. This year’s Senior Picnic program was greatly enriched by this year’s addition of a sit-down option to the picnic experience, with live music added to picnics from late July onward. If sufficient progress is made against the pandemic by next spring, we hope to be able to resume full in-person picnics for the summer of 2022.
We’re also cautiously hopeful about bringing back the annual OFA Senior Prom in 2022. Whenever it happens, it’ll be our 25th prom, so “Silver Anniversary” will be the theme.
In the meantime, there’s still plenty of time left in 2021 for outdoor activities. Join OFA and Dutchess County Parks at Wilcox Park (off Route 199, Milan/Stanford) at 9 a.m. on Friday, October 15th for a Senior Walk Around the Lake. Fall foliage should be close to peak, and we’d love for you to join us for some leisurely exploration. Call 845-486-2555 to register.
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
STILL TIME TO SIGN UP FOR DRIVE-IN BINGO IN BEACON (Tue 10/5)
There’s still space available at our final OFA Drive-In Bingo event of 2021, Tuesday, October 5th at 1:00 p.m. at Memorial Park in Beacon. Dutchess County seniors can sign up for this free event by calling OFA at 845-486-2555.
If you’ve never been to a drive-in bingo event before…how it works is simple. You can listen to the bingo numbers being called over your car radio. We’ll use a low-power FM radio transmitter for that, and we’re bringing a speaker system as well. When you get a bingo…honk, and we’ll come check your card. It’s that easy!
In the event of a weather-related cancellation, participants will be called. The rain date, if necessary, is Wednesday, October 6th.
FALL PREVENTION “SAMPLE DAY” EVENT RESCHEDULED (Thu. 10/7)
The Falls Prevention Week “sample day” event at Bowdoin Park that was postponed on September 23rd has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 7th at Bowdoin Park (85 Sheafe Rd., Wappingers), pavilion 3. All participants who reserved a spot for the September 23rd date are being notified of the rescheduling.
Seniors can still sign up for a space at the event, by calling OFA at 845-486-2555 before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 5th, while space remains available.
Participants will take part in a live Tai Chi class, a walk with a naturalist, Bingocize, and a senior exercise class demonstration. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
NATIONAL SENIOR HEALTH AND FITNESS DAY AT ST. SIMEON (Oct. 27)
The senior housing facilities at St. Simeon Properties (24 Beechwood Ave, Poughkeepsie) are hosting a free National Senior Health and Fitness Day event on Wednesday, October 27th. For more information, call 845-471-0171. All attendees must be fully vaccinated, present their vaccine cards and wear masks.
Schedule of events and venues (all times/events subject to change):
9:00 am – walk the property
St. Simeon II, 9:45 am – Sleep Disorders, with Dr. Steven Ritter, Nuvance Healthcare
St. Anna, 11:00 am – Musical presentation with Music Therapy students from Hudson Valley Hospice
St. Anna, 12 noon – Free lunch prepared by OFA chef Kim Constable
St. Anna, 1:00 pm – Meet and Greet, with brief presentations
St. Simeon Second Mile, 2:15 pm – Tai Chi presented by Linda Clark
St. Simeon II, 3:30 pm – Protecting Yourself Against Financial Fraud, with Joshua Drew, Security Risk Officer; and John DeAngelis, Community Relations Coordinator, Hudson Valley Credit Union
Free blood pressure screenings presented by the Arlington Fire Department will be available from 9-10 am at St. Simeon Second Mile, from 10-11 am at St. Anna library, and from 2-3 pm at St. Simeon II.
PAWLING’S “GREAT GIVE BACK”
The Pawling library is partnering with the Pawling Resource Center, who are in need of area residents’ help. They are especially in need of the products listed below. The Great Give Back is a program that offers library patrons the opportunity to help people in their community. Donations will be accepted at the library (11 Broad St., Pawling) from Friday, October 1, until Friday, October 15.
Items needed: toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, deodorant), paper products (toilet paper, tissues, paper towels), baby diapers and wipes.
CLASSIC CAR SHOW IN CLINTON (Sat 10/2)
Enjoy fabulous old cars (and the stories behind them), on view from a private collection, at 300 Schultzville Rd. in Clinton Corners, Saturday, October 2nd from 1-4 p.m. Proceeds benefit Clinton Community Library (1215 Centre Rd., Rhinebeck/Schultzville), who host many events for rural seniors. Details at clinton.lib.ny.us, or call 845-266-5530.
Other aging news online:
When it comes to a longer life, exercise is more important than weight loss: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/well/move/exercise-weight-loss-longer-life.html?action=click&algo=bandit-all-surfaces_impression_cut_5&block=trending_recirc&fellback=false&imp_id=406355841&impression_id=d65300f6-2135-11ec-9798-db015490a042&index=3&pgtype=Article&pool=pool%2F91fcf81c-4fb0-49ff-bd57-a24647c85ea1®ion=footer&req_id=964391017&surface=eos-most-popular-story&variant=4_bandit-all-surfaces_impression_cut_5
More advice to avoid sharing “innocent” personal details on social media: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Remember-the-first-time-you-gave-away-your-16494241.php?IPID=Times-Union-HP-CP-Spotlight
This week in senior birthdays:
10/4: NY Giants NFL Hall of Famer Sam Huff (87)
10/5: Singer/songwriter/guitarist Steve Miller (78)
10/6: Former Mets catcher Jerry Grote (79)
10/7: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu (90)
10/8: Actress/producer Sigourney Weaver (72)
10/9: Ex-Yankee player and coach Joe Pepitone (81)
10/10: Singer/songwriter David Lee Roth (Van Halen) (67)
And this week’s Bad Joke:
Q: Why did the duck cross the road?
A: To prove he’s not chicken.
