Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s AGING NEWS For the week of December 6th

Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s

AGING NEWS

For the week of December 6th

REMOTE SENIOR EXERCISE, TAI CHI AND BINGOCIZE

Dutchess County seniors who’d like to get their exercise in this winter, without running the added risks of winter travel, can now sign up for remote Tai Chi and/or Bingocize classes this winter. As mentioned in last week’s Golden Living, OFA is also offering a remote “A Matter of Balance” class this winter. To register for any class, and for more information, call OFA at 845-486-2555 or email ofa@dutchessny.gov.

If you’d like to become a volunteer class leader in any exercise class, contact OFA. Training is provided.

WINTER 2021-22 “SPOTLIGHT ON SENIORS”

The Winter 2021-22 issue of OFA’s Spotlight on Seniors newsletter is now in print and being delivered to thousands of seniors and caregivers throughout Dutchess County. You can read about the recent return of OFA’s Tri-Town Senior Friendship Center; OFA’s plans for events throughout 2022; possible upcoming changes to New York Medicaid; information on discussing aging as it relates to driving, and much more. There’s even a bit of advice on how to make your outdoor space safely bird-friendly for the winter.

You can also view the Spotlight online at dutchessny.gov/aging, where you can also find back issues of the newsletter. OFA also delivers copies of the Spotlight to public libraries, senior centers, and senior housing complexes throughout Dutchess County. If you manage any such facilities and would like some Spotlights to distribute while supplies last, email bjones@dutchessny.gov.

If you’re not online and would like to be placed on the mailing list for future issues of the Spotlight, call 845-486-2555.

 

OFA MEALS, FRIENDSHIP CENTERS AND INCLEMENT WEATHER

With winter about to begin, and a good chance of winter weather preceding the formal arrival of the solstice, it becomes necessary from time to time to close OFA Senior Friendship Centers and cancel Home Delivered Meals (HDM) operations.

Remember: When schools in your area are closed or delayed, it means there’s a strong possibility that Friendship Centers will be closed and HDM deliveries cancelled. Frozen and shelf-stable meals are delivered in advance of inclement weather to ensure HDM clients have a nutritious meal to enjoy on days when normal delivery is cancelled.

Since a typical day for the OFA Nutrition Program involves serving and delivering meals to over 400 seniors throughout Dutchess County, it’s often not possible to call clients individually.

When winter weather requires a change to OFA schedules, it’ll be announced and/or posted on area radio stations and their websites. Dutchess County Government will also provide updates on social media channels: facebook.com/DutchessCoGov and twitter.com/DutchessCoGov.

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

EPIC AND MEDICARE PART D

The open enrollment period for Medicare closed on December 7th, but for seniors with Medicare Part D there is another way to save money on prescription drug coverage. EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage), is a New York State program that provides supplementary drug coverage and premium assistance for seniors with Medicare Part D. As an added benefit, EPIC enrollees may change their Part D plan outside of the open enrollment period once, any time during the year.

EPIC is open to any New York State resident who is age 65 or older and has an annual income up to $75,000 if single or $100,000 if married. EPIC has two plans based on income, according to the New York State Department of Health. The Fee Plan is for members with income up to $20,000 if single or $26,000 if married. The Deductible Plan is for members with incomes ranging from $20,001 to $75,000 if single or $26,001 to $100,000 if married.

To receive EPIC benefits, you must be enrolled in a Part D plan. EPIC may even help pay the Medicare Part D drug plan premiums for members with qualifying incomes. Higher income members are required to pay their own Part D premiums, but EPIC provides premium assistance by lowering their EPIC deductible.

Seniors with Medicare Advantage health insurance can only join EPIC if they have Part D drug coverage included in their plan.

It is very important to show both your EPIC ID card and the Medicare Part D plan card at your pharmacy to receive the maximum prescription benefits.

Two other important things to know:

  • A senior who receives full Medicaid benefits is not eligible for EPIC;
  • If your Part D drug plan has an annual deductible, you must pay the deductible before EPIC coverage will begin.

You can find an EPIC application, as well as more information about the program, at the state Department of Health website, health.ny.gov/health_care/epic, by calling EPIC toll free at 1-800-332-3742, or by writing to EPIC, P.O. Box 15018, Albany, NY 12212-5018.

For 2022 EPIC Program highlights, click here: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/epic/member_info/program_highlights_2022.htm

LIFTING THE VEIL” EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (PRESENTED IN MANDARIN)

The Alzheimer’s Association presents “Lifting the Veil; Guiding Our Path,” an online dementia and caregivers’ educational webinar, on Saturday, December 11th from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.

The presentation is done in the Mandarin language. Presenters include Dr. Chien-Liang Liu, director of the Taipei City Hospital Dementia Center, and Alzheimer’s Association Community Educator Maggie Li.

Register at www.tinyurl.com/2021onlinechineseed. Instructions on how to join the webinar will be sent on Friday, December 10th.

Other aging news online:

Don’t forget: Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment period ends on Tuesday, December 7th: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/29/medicare-open-enrollment-ends-dec-7-reasons-to-review-your-coverage.html

Another study demonstrating the benefits of simply going for a walk…of any distance: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/01/well/move/exercise-brain-health-alzheimers.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqohlSlUbAibKUNwj6RiBm_WIzawxnHT_NyXQQyxLzuJQA4WJ_1vNIKNndds-3jGWXsQHMKMqQLY66N5jCHFXalvipIqYytNCKj8pqIm3UyRn0piVVO1hr3qwZGPjbbpxn7H6tR_caX26UfPZhH12dAliocR1ZBr9jyxzs6TGEuJy3tl42u5wRcwpAGddO1TZ-qXgGB58O92ZbhrD6wFQW-xRXTHbmNf0-KtXOUwJSgqAFCUjlD56vNBMO9oXPLL8LAojfKf9hLYWAm9uLeS5FmoLdjOO1U_J19rrAZ9sFuc&smid=url-share

An overview of the effectiveness of “anti-aging” diets: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-11-overview-effectiveness-anti-aging-diets.html

A few “smart home” ideas, if adapting to new technology interest you: https://news.yahoo.com/savvy-senior-looking-smart-home-110204524.html

Could coffee be helpful in dementia prevention? https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2021.744872/full

Americans recently polled by CBS believe lifestyle factors are key to improved longevity: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/americans-aging-opinion-poll/

In Japan, a country with one of the world’s highest percentages of senior citizens in the population, a new device makes it easier for seniors with chewing and swallowing difficulties to enjoy a wider variety of food: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-25/for-aging-japan-a-cooker-that-makes-chicken-soft-as-butter

This week in senior birthdays:

12/6: Comedian Steven Wright (66)

12/7: Baseball Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench (74)

12/8: Irish flute player James Galway (82)

12/9: Actress Dame Judi Dench (87)

12/10: Actress Susan Dey (69)

12/11: Actress/singer/dancer Rita Moreno (90)

12/12: Game show host/animal advocate Bob Barker (98)

Since it’s Steven Wright’s birthday this week, here’s some of his most famous one-liners, which head deep into Bad Joke territory:

7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.

Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.

Borrow money from pessimists – they don’t expect it back.

Change is inevitable… except from vending machines.

Cross country skiing is great if you live in a small country.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don’t have film.

Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.

Half the people you know are below average.

Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

How do you tell when you’re out of invisible ink?

I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met.

I bought a house, on a one-way dead-end road. I don’t know how I got there.

I went to a general store. They wouldn’t let me buy anything specifically.

It’s a small world, but I wouldn’t want to have to paint it.

I went to a restaurant that serves “breakfast at any time”. So I ordered French toast during the Renaissance.

Author: Harlem Valley News