Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of November 13th
November schedule advisory:
The Office for the Aging and OFA Friendship Centers will be closed on the following holidays in November:
Friday, November 10th (Veterans Day Observed)
Thursday, November 23rd (Thanksgiving Day)
OFA offices will be open on Friday, November 24th but OFA Friendship Centers will be closed on the 24th.
NEW YORK MASTER PLAN ON AGING – YOUR INPUT WANTED
The numbers of older adult residents of New York and Dutchess County are continuing to grow. Dutchess County’s percentage of older residents is greater than the state’s percentage, which is in turn greater than the national percentage of older residents. Within Dutchess County, 2020 Census data indicates that parts of Hyde Park, Millbrook, Pawling, Rhinebeck and the Town of Poughkeepsie all have 65+ populations of at least 25%, with much of rural Dutchess soon to surpass that mark as well.
New York officials have recognized the need to have a plan so that older residents can lead independent, meaningful lives as they age.
New York is putting together a Master Plan for Aging (MPA) that’s designed to examine federal, state, county and local policies and programs for older adults, so that they can best be coordinated to help older adults.
Note that it’s called a Master Plan for Aging. That’s because everybody is aging and will become an older adult sooner or later with good planning and a bit of good luck.
While the Office for the Aging has the concerns of older adults always top-of-mind, that might not be the case in Albany or Washington – and that’s where you come in. New York State is surveying the public to help draw up the best possible plan for aging New Yorkers. Visit forms.ny.gov/s3/mpasurvey to take the survey.
For paper copies of the survey, write to
The Master Plan for Aging Team
Department of Health
Office of Aging and Long Term Care
875 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
NEW LIFE FOR OLD EYEGLASSES
In recognition of America Recycles Day on November 15th, Dutchess County’s Solid Waste Management Division and Office for the Aging are collecting gently used eyeglasses to benefit those in need. Stop by any Office for the Aging Friendship Center any weekday up to and including November 30th to donate your used eyeglasses. Donations will be given to the LaGrange Lions Club, as part of its international campaign, Recycle for Sight. This collection event complements the County Clerk’s ongoing collection of eyeglasses at county Department of Motor Vehicles offices in Poughkeepsie (22 Market St., in the County Office Building), Beacon (223 Main St., 845-838-4891), Millbrook (15 Merritt Ave., 845-677-4080), and Wappingers Falls (29 Marshall Rd., Suite 3B, 845-298-4620).
OFA Friendship Centers are open most weekdays 10 am – 2 pm, at the locations below:
Beacon – 1 Forrestal Heights, Mon-Fri, 845-838-4871
East Fishkill – 890 NY 82, Hopewell Jct., Mon-Fri, 845-226-3605
Millerton – 28 Century Blvd. (Library Annex), Mon-Thu, 518-789-3081
Pawling – 154 Charles Colman Blvd., Tue-Thu, 845-855-9308
Poughkeepsie – 114 Delafield St., Mon-Fri, 845-486-2555
Red Hook – 59 Fisk St. (Red Hook Community Ctr.), Mon-Fri, 845-475-1129
South Amenia – 229 South Amenia Rd., Wassaic, Mon-Thu, 845-373-4305
Tri-Town – 1576 Main St. (US 44), Pleasant Valley, Mon-Thu, 845-275-8565
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
FOR DUTCHESS SENIORS, SOME GET-UP-AND-GOGO
Imagine that your 88-year-old mom in Beacon has been glad to adapt to the world of mobile technology, but she finds ride-sharing apps to be less than user-friendly. Or your 77-year-old dad in Red Hook has heard of Uber and Lyft and is interested but prefers his old reliable landline to a smartphone. They’ve got appointments to get to but can’t always do it on their own.
The scenarios described above might also be your own situation.
The Office for the Aging is connecting Dutchess County’s older adults with the non-emergency medical transportation they need, with help from “GoGoGrandparent,” (www.gogograndparent.com), a startup on-demand ride-sharing service that’s been expanding nationwide, including in Dutchess County.
The service is aimed at Dutchess County seniors who are not eligible for transportation via Medicaid.
During the pilot phase of this program, OFA and GoGo are providing a limited number of free non-emergency medical trips for Dutchess County seniors, wherever local Uber and Lyft drivers are available. To register for GoGo, call OFA during business hours at 845-486-2555.
OFA / RHINEBECK PODIATRY LUNCH EVENT (Wed 11/29)
The Office for the Aging and Rhinebeck Podiatry Services invite Dutchess County older adults (60+) to a free educational forum, “Common Foot Problems – What You Can Do To Keep Your Feet Healthy,” with Dr. Dany Y. Jabbour of Rhinebeck Podiatry Services. Topics include common foot problems such as osteoarthritis, cracked heels, gout, fungal infections, and diabetic neuropathy, along with tips on foot care, foot exams, footwear and foot orthoses.
The forum takes place on Wednesday, November 29th at 11 am, at The Pavilion at Brookmeade (34 Brookmeade Dr., Rhinebeck), with a free lunch to follow. Space is limited; reservations are required and can be made by calling OFA during business hours at 845-486-2555.
OFA SENIOR LEGAL CLASS IN EAST FISHKILL (Wed 11/15)
When’s the right time for a senior and their family and caregivers to plan for the legal issues that could face them in later life?
Any time is good, and the sooner the better. You can start on Wednesday, November 15th, at OFA’s “Senior Legal Class” event, at the East Fishkill OFA Friendship Center, 890 NY 82 in Hopewell Junction, from 1 to 2 p.m., with attorney Paul Weinberger.
Space is limited, so sign up in advance by calling OFA during business hours at 845-486-2555.
OFA HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING – WAITLIST SPOTS AVAILABLE
Appointments with Office for the Aging counselors from HIICAP (Health Insurance Information, Assistance and Counseling Program) are now fully booked through the December 7th end of the Medicare Open Enrollment period; however, a few spaces may remain if there are cancellations. Call OFA during business hours at 845-486-2555; if no appointments are available here, we can connect you with a New York State HIICAP counselor.
Ellessdie Chapel Wreath Lighting Ceremony and Concert (Mon 11/27)
You are invited to attend a free celebratory wreath lighting ceremony at the historic Ellessdie Chapel at Bowdoin Park (85 Sheafe Rd., Poughkeepsie) on Monday, November 27th at 6:00pm.
The evening will include a music performance by The Handman String Quartet, with light appetizers, and drink. The evening will conclude with a candlelit procession outside, lighting the beautiful chapel wreath. All are welcome to attend.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 2024 DUTCHESS COUNTY EXECUTIVE BUDGET
The Dutchess County Executive’s 2024 budget, including related information, is available at this link. Specific info applying to the Office for the Aging is at pages 37-38 and 647-665 of the main budget document within the link. A legislative vote on the budget is expected in the late fall.
Other news:
Tips on exercising safely in cold weather.
A guide to advance care planning from the National Institute on Aging.
How to spot a text-message scam.
A look at the universe via the James Webb telescope.
Fall is the time of year for the most car-deer collisions, and early November is the peak of the “rut” or breeding season when bucks will pursue does regardless of you and your car being in between them. Here’s how to avoid them, and what to do if you can’t.
If you’re a baseball memorabilia fan with a few million to spare…this is quite the auction coming up.
This week’s birthdays:
11/11: Singer/songwriter/Hudson Valley resident Marshall Crenshaw (70)
11/12: Singer-songwriter Neil Young (78)
11/13: Former Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde (60)
11/14: US astronaut Fred Haise (Apollo 13) (90)
11/15: Singer/songwriter/actress Petula Clark (91)
11/16: NASCAR driver Terry Labonte (67)
11/17: Director/producer/screenwriter Martin Scorsese (81)
And the Bad Joke!
What’s the loudest color?
YELLow.
