Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of July 18
HOUSING UPGRADE HELP FOR OLDER DUTCHESS ADULTS
Help is available for qualified Dutchess County older adult homeowners through the county’s Senior Citizen Owner-Occupied Property Rehabilitation Program. This program 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, a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., and must meet income guidelines.
Eligible properties also meet the following qualifications:
a. Only single-family, detached, owner-occupied units whose value, after rehabilitation, is not more than $333,000.
b. Properties must contain one or more substandard conditions that do not meet federal, state, or local health, safety, and fire codes.
c. Properties must have a minimum of $1,000 in repairs but must not exceed the $20,000 maximum.
d. Properties in any Dutchess County municipality, except the City of Poughkeepsie.
Eligible improvements include major system repairs necessary to meet HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (NYS Building Code). The program’s focus is repairs to “major systems” including but not limited to furnaces, plumbing,
structural (roofs, walls, decks/porches), electrical, necessary handicapped accessibility improvements, conventional septic systems, lead based paint abatement, bathrooms, and kitchens with significant deterioration, window, and appliances (see below).
General property improvement, improvements to outbuildings, maintenance and cosmetic improvements are prohibited. There are specific policies for window and appliance replacement, septic upgrades, and handicapped renovations.
For more information and full qualifying details, contact Audra Murray at the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development at 845-486-3633 or amurray@dutchessny.gov; or Mike Peratikos at 845-486-3637 or mperatikos@dutchessny.gov.
FOR OFA PROM ENTHUSIASTS
The enduring popularity of the OFA Senior Prom is such that we’re still getting inquiries about whether it will happen this year, nearly three years after the last prom took place.
Will it happen this year? As of right now we’re comfortable in saying…probably. Let’s just say we’re keeping our October calendar free. You do the same.
If the prom goes ahead, it’ll be our 25th, which makes it the Silver Anniversary prom. For those of you who spend months mulling over how to dress for the prom, “silver” is your theme. Dressing up is completely optional, but those who do dress up would be in the running to be the “Duke and Duchess” of the prom.
In the meantime, we’re planning a warm-up of sorts: a free concert with “Echoes of Sinatra,” on Thursday, August 25th from 1:30 to 3:30 at the Grandview (176 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie).
Dancers will be happy to know that there’ll be an open dance floor during the show, plus light refreshments at intermission.
Reservations are required for the event; space is limited. Call 845-486-2555 during business hours (9 am – 5 pm weekdays) to make your reservation.
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
HOME DELIVERED MEALS AND PICNIC VOLUNTEERS WANTED ASAP
Volunteer drivers are currently needed immediately, to drive for the Office for the Aging Home Delivered Meals (HDM) program throughout Dutchess County. Whether you’re available one weekday or five, we can accommodate your schedule. Mileage reimbursement is available for HDM drivers who use their own vehicles; reimbursement rates were increased as of July 1st to reflect the higher price of gasoline.
Hundreds of senior citizen residents of Dutchess County live in their own homes but are unable to cook, shop, or prepare meals. They have received essential help from the HDM program, which makes hot, nutritious midday meals available for most locations in the county Monday through Friday, along with frozen and shelf-stable meals for cases when inclement weather prevents delivery of hot meals.
We’re also looking for volunteers to assist guests at any of the following upcoming OFA Picnics. All picnics take place on Wednesdays.
July 20 – Wappinger (Robinson Lane Park)
July 27 – Pleasant Valley (West Road School)
August 3 – City of Poughkeepsie (Stitzel Field)
August 24 – East Fishkill (Recreation Park, Hopewell Junction)
August 31 – Beekman/LaGrange (Freedom Park, LaGrange)
To learn more about OFA volunteering, contact the Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 or ofa@dutchessny.gov.
Other news:
How to watch for signs of elder abuse.
Two of the world’s longest-lived communities are in Sardinia.
Looking for ways to improve mental health? Try gardening.
This week’s birthdays:
7/17: Actor/producer Donald Sutherland (87)
7/18: Yankees/Mets manager Joe Torre (82)
7/19: Songwriter/guitarist/astrophysicist Brian May (Queen) (75)
7/20: Guitarist/songwriter Carlos Santana (75)
7/21: Jazz vocalist Helen Merrill (92)
7/22: Former Yankees pitcher Sparky Lyle (78)
7/23: Actor/activist Woody Harrelson (61)
And the traditional Bad Joke:
Q: Where do fish go on vacation?
A: Finland.
