Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of April 15th
WHY SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH MATTER
Promoting healthy choices in nutrition and physical activity can go a long way toward improving quality of life for older adults; but it’s non-medical factors that can cause health disparities to persist, even in cases where we continually make healthy choices.
We call these factors “social determinants of health”: the conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. These factors affect health and quality of life as surely as our choice of nutrition and activity level. Individually, older adults can be affected by poverty, limited access to health care, lack of education, and racism.
During April’s National Minority Health Month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) emphasizes several groups at risk of health disparities: people from racial and ethnic minorities; people with disabilities; members of the LGBT community; individuals with limited English proficiency; and rural communities.
It’s possible a reader might think none of the above applies to them, and they could even be right – until the moment their doctor retires and they’re scrambling to find a doctor who’s accepting new patients. That’s a social determinant of health that can affect us all. Throughout the U.S., Europe and other developed nations, the idea of limited access to health care is evolving. In the past we might have been able to assume that insurance coverage equals access to care, but that assumption is no longer as easy given the growing shortages of available workers throughout health care systems. Dutchess County’s over-60 population is close to 80,000 and growing, with the most recent Census figures showing another 22,500 in the 55-59 age group. Together that’s over a third of the county’s population. Among them are the health care workers with the most experience – and they’re retiring.
If that’s not an “uh-oh” moment, we don’t know what is.
As a result, the Office for the Aging’s key message becomes increasingly vital: get to know us before you need us. We want you staying independent as much as you want it, and we can help you anticipate and adapt to aging’s challenges.
If you want to tackle this at your own pace, start with a visit to www.dutchessny.gov/aging, and browse. There’s plenty to learn. If you’d like to drop us an email, use ofa@dutchessny.gov and we’ll get it to the right people.
If you’re internet-averse, or think you’ll do better by making a phone call, reach out to OFA at 845-486-2555 during business hours.
If you’re calling as a caregiver for a Dutchess County senior with limited English proficiency, know that they’re entitled to discuss their needs in the language in which they communicate most easily. We can arrange Language Line services for these discussions; call us to find out more.
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
JOIN OFA AT THE COUNTY HEALTH FAIR, SATURDAY 4/13
The Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health (DBCH) will host its third annual Y.O.U.R. (Young, Old, Urban, Rural) Health Dutchess County Health Fair on Saturday, April 13th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Falcon Hall at Dutchess Community College, 53 Pendell Road in Poughkeepsie. The Office for the Aging will join DBCH and dozens of other agencies and service providers at the health fair for resources and fun activities for all ages; fire and police safety; mental health and substance use services; a sensory friendly area; and indoor/outdoor exhibitors, raffles, giveaways and more.
There’ll be a free shuttle bus between the Dutchess County Transit Hub (11-13 Market St., Poughkeepsie) and Falcon Hall which will operate 10:30am – 2:30pm.
For more information, visit www.dutchessny.gov/healthfair, and click here for Poughkeepsie Journal coverage of the health fair.
OFA MON/WED TAI CHI CLASS STARTING 4/15 IN LaGRANGE
Sign up today!
Older adults in Dutchess County looking for a tai chi class have an option beginning next week – on April 15th in LaGrange.
Classes will be held in the morning, for ten weeks, on Mondays and Wednesdays. Registration is required. To register, call OFA during business hours at 845-486-2555.
OFA “FRIENDLY CALLS” ORIENTATIONS
Most orientations for prospective “Friendly Calls” volunteers take place at OFA unless otherwise indicated below. Orientations typically last 40-60 minutes. Pick one, and contact OFA at 845-486-2555 to set up your orientation:
- Monday, April 15th, 10 am
- Wednesday, April 17th, 1:30 pm
- Monday, April 22nd, 10 am
- Wednesday, April 24th, 1:30 pm
To register for any orientation, if you have more questions about “Friendly Calls,” or to arrange an orientation for your civic organization, call 845-486-2555 or email Friendly Calls program manager Linda Edgar at ledgar@dutchessny.gov.
We add orientation dates as we go. Check dutchessny.gov/calendar for the latest list, and see dutchessny.gov/friendlycalls for details on the program.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER OFA HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELOR
(Orientation Thu 4/25, 10am)
The Office for the Aging’s Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) is looking for dedicated counselors to help guide Dutchess County older adults through the sometimes-stressful process of making good health insurance and Medicare choices.
OFA is hosting a HIICAP Volunteer Orientation event at our Poughkeepsie headquarters (114 Delafield St.) at 10 am on Thursday, April 25th.
Because health insurance and Medicare issues can be complex, the HIICAP program involves ongoing volunteer trainings, so counselors remain current on insurance-related issues.
Let us know you can come to a HIICAP volunteering orientation by emailing jcarey@dutchessny.gov or calling 845-486-2555.
“HEAP” COOLING NEWS – AND NEW “HEAP” HEATING NEWS
There’s been another extension involving the 2023-24 New York State HEAP (home energy assistance) program. The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announced this week that the HEAP emergency benefit component will be extended to August 30th, or until funding runs out, whichever comes first. The regular HEAP benefit will still close as of April 12th.
New York State previously announced that the HEAP cooling component will open for applications on Monday, April 15th, and will close on Friday, August 30th, unless funding for the program is exhausted before that.
For information on HEAP for older adults in Dutchess County, contact OFA at 845-486-2555, email ofa@dutchessny.gov, or visit dutchessny.gov/ofaheap.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY (Saturday 4/27)
The Southern Dutchess Community Coalition in collaboration with the Beacon Police Department are hosting a Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27th, from 10 am to 2 pm, at the City of Beacon Recreation Center (23 W. Cedar St.).
For more information, contact SDCC Coordinator Michele Franks at sdcc@capedc.org or 845-765-8301 extension 116.
Can’t make it that day? There are 12 drop boxes at area law enforcement facilities, many of which are available 24/7. For more information, click this link from Dutchess County STOP-DWI. And of course, safe prescription drug disposal is available at every OFA Summer Picnic. A save-the-date schedule is available at dutchessny.gov/OFApicnics. Picnic reservations will open in May.
Other news:
Ageism in health care is more common than you might think.
The Japanese diet may help slow brain aging.
Looking for anti-aging drugs? Nothing much just yet for humans in the pipeline, but maybe there’ll be something for your dog.
This week’s birthdays:
4/12: Singer/songwriter/guitarist Vince Gill (67)
4/13: Singer/songwriter/minister Al Green (78)
4/14: Nuclear physicist Yuri Oganessian (91)
4/15: Actress/comedian Emma Thompson (65)
4/16: NBA Hall-Of-Famer/actor/author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (77)
4/17: Actor Sean Bean (65)
4/18: Comedian/writer/talk show host Conan O’Brien (61)
It’s another genuine, handcrafted, 100% groanworthy Bad Joke:
I remember the first time I saw a universal remote control. I thought “well, this changes everything!”
