Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of November 20
Thanksgiving week office hours:
Mon 11/20-Wed 11/22 – regular office and Friendship Center hours
Thu 11/23 – office and Friendship Centers closed
Fri 11/24 – office open regular hours; Friendship Centers closed
Clients of the OFA Home Delivered Meals program receive meals in advance of the long holiday weekend.
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,” an on-demand ride-sharing service that’s been expanding nationwide, including in Dutchess County.
The service is aimed at Dutchess County older adults (age 60+) who are not eligible for transportation via Medicaid, and have no other means of transportation to non-emergency appointments.
During the pilot phase of this program, OFA and GoGo are providing a limited number of free non-emergency medical trips for Dutchess County older adults, wherever local Uber and Lyft drivers are available.
To register for your first GoGo ride, call OFA during business hours at 845-486-2555. Once registered, you’ll receive further instructions on how to sign up for rides.
OTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Dutchess County Public Transit operates an ADA Complementary Paratransit Service for qualified individuals within Dutchess County and the City of Poughkeepsie. The service is available to eligible individuals who live within three-quarters of a mile of a regularly scheduled bus route and who cannot use the regular fixed route service. The service is available on the days and during the hours that the fixed route operates. Complementary paratransit service is defined as next day service. Reservations can be scheduled up to seven days in advance. Callers on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays will be connected to a voicemail box. Please leave your name and phone number, and you will be contacted within 24 hours to arrange your transportation. When scheduling a reservation, please provide the dispatcher with complete addresses for all pick-up and drop-off locations, and any special needs. Dutchess County Public Transit may provide the service with any appropriate vehicle. For more information, call 845-473-8424 or visit www.dutchessny.gov/publictransit, which includes maps of all Dutchess County Public Transit bus routes.
VA Castle Point (845-831-2000 extension 5145) transports veterans to appointments at Veterans Hospitals.
Pawling Resource Center (845-855-3459, www.pawlingresourcecenter.org) serves Town and Village of Pawling older adults.
North East Community Center (518-592-1399 extension 101 or nedt@neccmillerton.org) provides transportation services for residents of Amenia, Dover, North East/Millerton, Stanford and Washington/Millbrook, via the Care Car; and also coordinates the Northeast Dutchess Transit Program serving Pine Plains, Stanford and Washington/Millbrook.
Friends of Seniors (845-485-1277, friendsofseniors.org) provides non-emergency medical transportation (and other services) for the frail elderly (60+). As of August 2023, Friends of Seniors services have been taken over by Catholic Charities Community Services of Dutchess County.
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
OFA / RHINEBECK PODIATRY LUNCH EVENT (Wed 11/29) – FILLING UP FAST
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.
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
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
OFA CLERICAL, MEALS PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS WANTED
We’re printing the Winter 2023-24 edition of the OFA THRIVE60+ newsletter and will need volunteer assistance at OFA’s Poughkeepsie headquarters over the next two weeks to get the nearly 2,000 newsletters folded, labeled and ready for mailing.
If you can come to OFA to help out on any or all days from Tuesday, November 21 to Friday, December 1st (except Thanksgiving Day, of course), please email bjones@dutchessny.gov and we’ll let you know what dates and hours are available when you can help the effort.
From our Nutrition division…There is an ongoing need for OFA volunteer helpers at our central kitchen in Poughkeepsie, on Thursday mornings from approximately 9 to 11 am. The next available Thursday will be November 30th. If you can help on that or any Thursdays, contact OFA at 845-486-2555 or email jdennis@dutchessny.gov.
Additionally, volunteer drivers are wanted anywhere in Dutchess for our weekday Home Delivered Meals program. Mileage reimbursement is available for drivers who use their own vehicles. For more information, contact OFA at 845-486-2555 or email jdennis@dutchessny.gov.
AS FOR THANKSGIVING DAY VOLUNTEERING…
Because OFA offices and Friendship Centers are closed on Thanksgiving Day, here are some other options in Dutchess County that may be operating on Thanksgiving and/or on the days leading into Thanksgiving, for prospective volunteers:
Your local houses of worship
Local community response groups (for example, Red Hook Responds)
Dutchess Outreach (845-454-3792)
North East Community Center (518-789-4259 or neccmillerton.org) is looking for volunteers in Millerton on Monday 11/20 from 10am-noon and Wednesday 11/22 from 12-2 pm.
OFA HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING – WAITLIST SPOTS AVAILABLE
Appointments with Office for the Aging counselors from HIICAP (Health Insurance Information, Assistance and Counseling Program) are 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.
HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES AT BOWDOIN PARK
Dutchess County Parks will host an array of festive activities this holiday season at Bowdoin Park, located at 85 Sheafe Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie, including a wreath lighting and classical music concert, piped holiday music, and a special session of the popular archery program.
Dutchess County Parks Director Susanne O’Neil said, “Bowdoin Park during the colder months is a scenic place to stroll and take in the winter views. What better way to enjoy the holiday season than with festive music and twinkling lights. Plus, our popular archery classes are a unique gift idea for that outdoor enthusiast on your list. We hope you’ll join us this season as we help keep everyone’s holiday spirit merry and bright.”
The festivities kick off on Monday, November 27th at 6pm with a free classical music performance by The Handman Quartet inside the historic Ellessdie Chapel at Bowdoin Park. The event will feature light refreshments and the performance will be followed by a ceremonial lighting of the wreath hung on the chapel’s steeple.
Comprised of violinists Rachel Handman and Stephen Minor, violist Elizabeth Handman, and cellist Chris Santos, The Handman Quartet is a group of musicians with backgrounds that range from Broadway and Carnegie Hall performances to local symphonies to co-director of Arlington High School’s orchestra program. The group performs numerous concerts throughout the year in a wide array of musical genres.
And starting at 3pm on Saturdays, December 2nd, 9th, and 16th visitors can enjoy holiday music piped from the Chapel as Melodies at Dusk returns to the park.
If you’re looking for a fun gift idea for outdoor enthusiasts, registration for this year’s Gift of Archery session will open on December 12th. The program is designed for all skill levels ages 8 and up. Registration is $70 and includes five sessions held alternating Wednesday evenings starting January 10th in the Bowdoin Park auditorium. Equipment is provided and registration is required by calling 845-298-4602.
Kevin McCurdy’s Holiday Spirit Festival, located on Bowdoin Park property across Sheafe Road from the main park entrance, also opens Friday, November 24th. For more information and tickets, visit holidayspiritfestival.com.
For more information on Dutchess County Parks, visit dutchessny.gov/parks.
DUTCHESS PRIDE FRIENDSGIVING DINNER
The Dutchess County Pride Center (710 South Dr., Hopewell Jct.; dutchesspridecenter.org) is hosting a “Friendsgiving” dinner on Friday, November 24th, from 6-8 pm. Vegan and gluten-free dishes will be available. RSVP to dcpridecenter@gmail.com.
Other news:
Eight things that can be done to slow aging by up to six years.
(Video) How to fight loneliness.
The needs of rural older adults are similar throughout the nation. Here’s one look from Idaho.
The MIT Aging Brain Initiative Symposium met in October. If you can follow the advanced science they were discussing, please help us out!
The complexity of one’s work is associated with better late-life cognition.
How to take a 107-year-old friend on a road trip… without leaving the house.
This week’s birthdays:
11/18: Guitarist/songwriter Kirk Hammett (Metallica) (61)
11/19: Talk show host/actor Dick Cavett (87)
11/20: Novelist Don DeLillo (87)
11/21: NBA Hall of Famer Earl “The Pearl” Monroe (79)
11/22: Director/actor Terry Gilliam (Monty Python) (83)
11/23: Former MLB pitcher Luis Tiant (83)
11/24: Drummer/songwriter Pete Best (The Beatles, for a little while) (82)
As the family gathers for Thanksgiving, they’ll surely want you to share a Bad Joke. Lots of them! Or maybe not. Anyway…
Which side of a turkey has the most feathers? The outside.
Why did the turkey stand on stilts? Because nobody eats flamingo for Thanksgiving.
What’s a turkey’s favorite month? Anything other than November.
What’s a turkey’s favorite dessert? Peach gobbler.
