Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of September 25
Golden Living . . . News for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers
Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
Every year, Medicare’s Open Enrollment dates stay the same: October 15th through December 7th. During this time, you may choose to switch prescription drug plans or stay with the plan that you currently have. It may be possible to save money, get better coverage, or both by investigating the choices. During the open enrolment period, you will be able to view the plans and make any changes to your coverage on the Medicare website: www.medicare.gov. But before you make any final decisions, you may want to reach out to the Office for the Aging.
If you need one-on-one assistance with your Medicare decisions, without sales pitches, volunteers and staff from Dutchess County government’s Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) are available for appointments. Please call our office for more information at 845-486-2555. Be sure to call early as appointments fill up fast and all plan changes for 2024 must be made by December 7th.
OFA produces an annual Medicare Spotlight newsletter published every October just before open enrollment begins. If you received an OFA THRIVE60+ newsletter in your regular mail or email recently, you’ll receive a Medicare Spotlight the same way, and the Medicare Spotlight will also be available at www.dutchessny.gov/THRIVE60, where you can look over all our quarterly newsletters and back issues.
HERE COME THE MEDICARE SCAMMERS, LIKE CLOCKWORK
One thing you can count on about scammers: They’ll chase whatever’s in the news. At OFA, we follow their patterns to keep you one step ahead. Every fall, scammers appear in your email and on your phone’s Caller ID, pretending to be representatives of Medicare.
They’re not. Medicare does not “cold call” anybody.
Some scammers try to trick you into giving up the ID on your Medicare card, which they can use to file fake claims. Taxpayers are losing more than $100 billion a year to Medicare and Medicaid fraud, according to estimates from the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association.
Sometimes scammers will try fear-based tactics, threatening older adults with a loss of Medicare coverage unless they give up personal financial information. Don’t be tricked. No insurer, private or public, which includes Medicare, will call to threaten you with loss of coverage unless they’re paid immediately. Fooling people into acting while they’re emotionally shaken is a classic scammer move.
Additionally, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office points out that if you’re contacted by someone you don’t know asking for money, for any reason, that’s a signal of a likely scam. Anyone who thinks they’ve been victimized by a scammer is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 845-486-3800, their tipline at 845-605-CLUE, or email dcsotips@gmail.com.
For more scam prevention resources, visit www.dutchessny.gov/aging for a printable list of local, state, and federal authorities, each with its own area of specific scam prevention expertise. OFA also offers Scam Prevention presentations to seniors’ groups and caregiver organizations. Contact OFA to find out more, at 845-486-2555 or ofa@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
LAST WEEK FOR SENIORS TO APPLY FOR FREE FARMERS MARKET COUPONS
Time is running out for older (age 60+) low-income Dutchess County residents who haven’t yet applied for Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) coupon booklets. Qualifying older adults have until Thursday, September 28th to apply. SFMNP is a win-win for older adults and local farmers, providing nutritious food as well as supporting participating farms and markets. The booklets are comprised of five $5.00 coupons that can be used at any participating vendor.
Walk-in applicants can visit OFA headquarters (114 Delafield St., Poughkeepsie) only between 2:30 and 4 pm on Tuesday the 26th and Thursday the 28th to apply, while supplies last. There’s also a “drive-up” application event taking place at OFA on Wednesday, September 27th, from 9:30 to 12 noon.
Not all farmers markets participate in the SFMNP program; to find regularly updated county-by-county lists of participating markets, visit agriculture.ny.gov/farmersmarkets.
SFMNP coupons should be treated like cash. They cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. The coupons are valid at participating markets throughout New York State for as long as the markets remain open this year, or November 30th, whichever comes first.
YOUR VOICE COUNTS AT OFA PUBLIC COMMENT FORUMS
While you can contact the Office for the Aging at any time with your questions and concerns, the annual OFA Public Comment Forums are unique opportunities to speak directly, in person, to OFA leadership and members of the OFA Advisory Board, at the following dates and locations:
Wednesday, October 4, 10:30 am
OFA Friendship Center
114 Delafield St., Poughkeepsie
Friday, October 6, 10:30 am
The Pavilion at Brookmeade
34 Brookmeade Dr., Rhinebeck
If you are unable to attend a Public Comment Forum, you can mail written comments to the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 114 Delafield St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. You can also email comments to ofa@dutchessny.gov
All Public Comment Forum locations are handicapped accessible. Persons requiring special accommodations to take part in a Public Comment Forum should contact OFA by Monday, September 18th.
OFA SENIOR PROM – MONDAY 10/16 – FILLING UP FAST!
This year’s Office for the Aging “Golden Anniversary” Senior Prom is taking place on Monday, October 16th from 12 noon to 4 pm at Villa Borghese, 70 Widmer Rd. in Wappinger, presented with vital support from The Pines at Poughkeepsie. The prom begins with lunch, then the full Bob Martinson Band will keep the dance floor packed for the rest of the afternoon.
Reservations opened two weeks ago and are $20 per person with a deadline of October 6th to pay and thus reserve a seat. We anticipate that the prom will sell out, so don’t delay! A printable reservation form is available in the Fall 2023 OFA THRIVE60+ newsletter and on the OFA website at www.dutchessny.gov/aging; and are available at all eight OFA Friendship Centers.
If you are anticipating attending as part of a group, please submit all reservation forms and payment together, so that we can do our best to keep your group seated near each other. If your group is larger than 10 people, remember that each table has a maximum capacity of 10 seats. Please make sure all guests’ names are printed or written clearly, so that they appear on the guest list correctly. Each guest will be assigned to a specific table.
Each year’s prom has a unique theme, and we’re going with a “golden anniversary” theme to commemorate 50 years since the 1973 founding of the Office for the Aging. It’s optional to dress up; but if you’re planning on being creative with your outfit, you’ll want to incorporate gold into it.
“ADDICTION AND THE AGING” and “SKY BREATHING – A NEW WAY TO MEDITATE” AT BOARDMAN ROAD LIBRARY (Tue 9/26)
Learn about how alcohol and substances affect us as we get older and how to use breathing strategies to cope with life stressors.
Dr. Bina Dani will present on Sky Breathing/Meditation and Christine Groenewegen will present on Addiction and Aging. The event is hosted by the Dutchess County Adult Mental Health Subcommittee.
There is no charge for this event, taking place at Boardman Road Library in the Town of Poughkeepsie (141 Boardman Road), from 2:30-4:30 pm. Registration is not required.
MARIST CENTER FOR LIFETIME STUDY SEEKS NEW MEMBERS
The Marist College Center for Lifetime Study (CLS), having just completed its thirtieth year of service to seniors, has embarked on a campaign to attract new members.
CLS is a volunteer organization operating under the auspices of Marist College. Its primary purpose is to provide opportunities for the educational, intellectual and cultural growth for persons age 55 and older. CLS does this by offering classes to its members at the Locust Grove Estate on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie.
There is a wide range of courses offered in eight-week sessions in the spring and fall. Classes in the past have included such topics as art, computers, current events, economics, gardening, history, healthcare, law, literature, music, poetry, politics, religion, science, and travel. Classes are taught by knowledgeable individuals including college faculty, CLS members, community leaders and professional experts.
CLS not only offers classes but also plans trips to places of interest, social activities and events as well as access to various Marist College events and programs. Anyone interested in learning more about CLS are invited to browse the CLS website at https://www.marist.edu/professional-programs/cls or by calling the CLS office at 845-575-3902.
“BOOTS BY THE BANDSHELL” AT BOWDOIN PARK (Saturday 10/14)
Join Dutchess County Parks and 97.7 “The Wolf” radio for “Boots by the Bandshell,” a free country music event with line dancing, food trucks, family activities and fireworks.
It takes place on Saturday, October 14th from 3:30 to 8:00 pm, at the bandshell pavilion at Bowdoin Park (85 Sheafe Rd., Wappingers Falls). CJ and Jess from The Wolf’s morning show will be on hand from 3:30 until 5:00, followed by a performance from Thunder Ridge from 5:00 until 7:30, capped off with a 7:45 fireworks show. For more information, see www.dutchessny.gov/parks.
TWO DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSES (October 1 and 2-3)
Older drivers looking to refresh their skills and save on insurance costs have an opportunity to sign up for one of two six-hour defensive driving courses, held at Nubian Directions (248 Main St., Poughkeepsie). The NYS DMV-approved classes take place on Sunday, October 1 from 10 am to 4 pm; and a class consisting of two 3-hour sessions on Monday and Tuesday, October 2 and 3, from 3-6 pm both days.
Drivers who successfully complete the class can save up to 10% on vehicle liability, collision, and personal injury protection insurance premiums for three years, and may reduce the number of points on an individual’s driving record by up to four.
The fee for senior drivers is $35, and $40 for all others. For more information, contact Michael Sweeting at 845-407-1378.
Other news:
Starting on Monday, September 25th, the federal government is restarting its free mail-order COVID test program. Details coming soon at www.covid.gov.
Thruway tolls are increasing in 2024, for the first time in 14 years.
This week’s birthdays:
9/23: Singer/songwriter Julio Iglesias (80)
9/24: NFL legend “Mean” Joe Greene (77)
9/25: Actor/producer Michael Douglas (79)
9/26: Singer/songwriter Bryan Ferry (78)
9/27: Baseball Hall-of-Famer Mike Schmidt (74)
9/28: Actress Brigitte Bardot (89)
9/29: 1983 Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Wałęsa (80)
And here’s the Bad Joke:
Q: Are monsters good at math?
A: Not unless you count Dracula.
