Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of February 12
Note: The Office for the Aging and all OFA Friendship Centers are closed on Monday, February 12th in observance of the NYS Lincoln’s Birthday holiday, and on Monday, February 19th in observance of President’s Day.
A HALF-CENTURY AND COUNTING
For more than 50 years, the Dutchess County Office for the Aging (OFA) has worked to enhance the lives of local older adults and help them age gracefully.
Check out our website, dutchessny.gov/aging, and you’ll read the mission statement that guides us daily:
“The Office for the Aging plans, coordinates and provides an array of community-based services to older adults and persons who require assistance in the long-term care system, in an effort to promote independence, dignity and quality of life. We offer an array of programming that provides socialization, recreation, and fitness opportunities for older adults to remain active and energized. Through its distinctive role of committed advocate and community partner, the agency strives to ensure clients’ needs will continue to be met now and in the future.”
Put plainly, OFA wants people to age in the ways they want to age, for as long as they’re mentally and physically able to. For older adults, that usually means “aging in place” at home. With that goal in mind, here’s a rundown of OFA services:
- Information and referral about issues of concern to older persons;
- Advocacy and case assistance in applying for Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), and other programs;
- Home delivered meals for homebound older adults;
- OFA Friendship Centers, featuring nutritious, hot meals along with activities at our eight centers located in Beacon, East Fishkill, Millerton, Pleasant Valley, Pawling, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, and South Amenia;
- Transportation services, including rides to Friendship Centers and grocery shopping where available, as well as contracting for non-emergency medical transportation;
- Legal services, focusing on issues of concern for older adults, including wills and power-of-attorney documents;
- Long term care services through our NY Connects unit, providing a single point of entry for a variety of community and home based services;
- Energy assistance for help with fuel bills and emergency fuel/utility terminations via the Home Energy Assistance Program – dutchessny.gov/ofaheap has details;
- Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) to assist seniors navigating the intricacies of Medicare and health insurance;
- Case management, to provide home care needs assessment;
- Senior exercise classes to exercise the body and the mind, including Bingocize, Tai Chi and the “Stay Active and Independent for Life” (SAIL) remote exercise class; details are available at dutchessny.gov/seniorexercise;
- Award-winning “A Matter of Balance,” a program designed to help reduce falls in the elderly; the next eight-week session begins in March and limited spots are still available;
- Volunteering opportunities throughout Dutchess County in programs including Home Delivered Meals, Friendship Centers, Friendly Calls, Senior Exercise, OFA events, health insurance counseling and more. A printable application is available at dutchessny.gov/ofavolunteer.
- Caregiver services, including workshops, counseling and assistance, case management, and services for grandparents raising grandchildren. See dutchessny.gov/ofacaregiver for more information, and if you’re a caregiver who needs help having “the conversation” with an older adult you care for, please contact us.
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
“FRIENDLY CALLS” ORIENTATIONS COMING TO NORTHEASTERN DUTCHESS IN FEBRUARY
There’s been an upswing in interest in becoming an OFA “Friendly Calls” caller from prospective volunteers in northern and eastern Dutchess County. Rather than have prospective volunteers make the long winter drive to and from OFA headquarters in Poughkeepsie for an orientation session, we’re bringing the orientation out to northeastern Dutchess on the following schedule:
Wednesday, February 28th, 11 am – South Amenia OFA Friendship Center, 229 South Amenia Rd. (South Amenia Presbyterian Church), Wassaic
Thursday, February 29th, 11 am – NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex, 28 Century Blvd., Millerton
Let us know you’re coming to either orientation by emailing bjones@dutchessny.gov, or call 845-486-2555 during business hours – so if we get snowed out, we can let you know.
If you’re part of a civic organization or seniors’ group that’s interested in Friendly Calls or any other OFA presentation, contact OFA using the information above. We can travel to any suitable venue in Dutchess County.
We also have orientations coming up at OFA headquarters in Poughkeepsie – keep reading!
UPCOMING “FRIENDLY CALLS” ORIENTATIONS AT OFA
Prospective “Friendly Calls” volunteers who can get to OFA’s Poughkeepsie office (114 Delafield St., right off Route 9) can sign up for one of the following orientations sessions at OFA, which last approximately 45 minutes:
Wednesday, February 14th, 10 am
Tuesday, February 20th, 11 am
Thursday, February 22nd, 3 pm
Email ofa@dutchessny.gov or call 845-486-2555 to sign up.
If you can’t make it to any of the above dates/times but you are available during the business day on weekdays later on in February or in March, reach out to OFA Outreach Coordinator Brian Jones at bjones@dutchessny.gov, and we’ll do our best to work with your schedule.
HELP WANTED – SUBSTITUTE OFA FRIENDSHIP CENTER SITE MANAGERS
The Office for the Aging is searching for qualified Substitute Site Managers for our eight Friendship Centers throughout the county.
To apply and find out more, click here and look for the “Site Manager” listing. The application deadline is Thursday, February 29th.
NEW LOCATION FOR RHINEBECK OFA MEDICARE CLASSES
Starting this month, OFA’s “Medicare 101” class that takes place at 4 pm on the fourth Monday of every month in Rhinebeck moves to the Starr Library at 68 West Market St. The next Rhinebeck class takes place on Monday, February 26th.
Medicare 101 classes also take place on the third Wednesday of every month at 10 am the Poughkeepsie Galleria Community Room. There’s also a Medicare class taking place at Adriance Memorial Library in Poughkeepsie on Wednesday, March 6th at 9:30 am.
For more information and to reserve a seat at any OFA Medicare class, call OFA during business hours at 845-486-2555. A full schedule of all OFA events is available at dutchessny.gov/calendar.
FREE TAX-PREP – APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE
February traditionally kicks off tax-filing season (no need to put up decorations), and the Hudson Valley CA$H Coalition is beginning another season of free tax preparation service for low- and moderate-income individuals and families in Dutchess, Orange, and Putnam Counties.
AARP Foundation IRS-certified volunteers run the service. In Dutchess County there are 14 free tax-prep sites in Dover Plains, Fishkill, Hopewell Junction, Hyde Park, Poughkeepsie, and Wappingers Falls. This year there will be a new tax site at the Tivoli Library. Between Orange and Putnam Counties, there are an additional 18 tax-prep sites.
To schedule an appointment, call the 211 United Way Hudson Valley Helpline, or 800-899-1479 from 9a-4p weekdays. Appointments are available from this month through mid-April, while they last.
For additional information, visit hv-cash.org.
Other aging news:
A New York Times piece on the experiences of a spouse going into a nursing home, and their partners.
Was Alzheimer’s disease present in ancient Greece and Rome?
Tips on avoiding romance/companionship scams.
King Charles III is being treated for cancer.
Anybody ever ski Mt. Beacon?
This week’s birthdays:
2/10: Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz (74)
2/11: Pianist/composer Sérgio Mendes (83)
2/12: Guitarist/songwriter Steve Hackett (74)
2/13: Actress Kim Novak (91)
2/14: Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg (82)
2/15: Actress/producer Jane Seymour (73)
2/16: Actor/director LeVar Burton (67)
Uh-oh. Here comes yet another Bad Joke.
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Hike.
Hike who?
One does not expect
The Office for the Aging
To write poetry
