Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
- Exercise for Independence
- Senior Walking Groups
- Increase Your Balance
- VA Open House (7/1)
- Urgent Blood Drive (7/10)
- Women With Cancer Support Group (7/7)
- More Aging News Online
The Office for the Aging is seeking volunteer drivers to deliver meals Monday through Thursday just before the noontime hour from one of several Dutchess County locations (including the City of Poughkeepsie & Fishkill). Most drivers deliver one or two days a week on a route that takes one hour or less. Volunteer drivers use their own vehicle, but can be reimbursed for mileage. If you think you may be able to help, call (845) 486-2555 or email agingservices@dutchessny.gov for more information.
Golden Living . . . News for Senior Citizens
Mary Kaye Dolan-Anderson, Director
Dutchess County Office for the Aging
EXERCISE FOR INDEPENDENCE
Regular readers of this column are probably well aware of the health benefits of physical exercise. Research continues to show the risk of disability as you age can be greatly reduced by performing 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
Two recent studies continue to bear this out. A large Norwegian study that tracked the exercise habits of almost 6,000 men for over 50 years, found those who exercised regularly, reduced their risk of death by 40% compared to those who were more sedentary. In addition, a Tufts University study published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reported elderly people who walked and did basic strength training exercises on a regular basis were less likely to become physically disabled compared to those who did not exercise regularly.
The great thing about exercise is, it can be done for little or no cost. You don’t have to join a gym as the Office for the Aging offers a Senior Exercise Program in virtually every municipality in Dutchess County. Each class meets twice a week and is led by a volunteer. To find out more, call our office at (845) 486-2555 or online at:
http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/6727.htm
SENIOR WALKING GROUPS
Another way to get in your regular exercise is to join one of the two Senior Walking Groups that meet each week at 9 AM. On Tuesday mornings, you can join the group that meets at the Washington Street entrance to the Walkway Over the Hudson; or Friday mornings, join the friendly crew that meets at the Dutchess Rail Trail entrance behind Gold’s Gym in LaGrange. There is no need to register, just show up in time for the walk.
The Tufts University study found even in the very elderly, walking can help lower the risk of losing walking abilities by 18%. Loss of the ability to walk is obviously a major contributing factor to the possibility of needing assistance to stay independent or entering a nursing home.
BALANCE INCREASED AS WELL
Regular walking is a great way to improve balance. It keeps your joints and muscles strong and flexible, and stronger muscles are better able to stabilize the body. Because walking is a weight bearing exercise, it also strengthens the bones, which are then less likely to fracture in the event of a fall.
According to the MayoClinic.com, avoiding exercise such as walking because of a fear of falling just deconditions the body even further, which raises the risk of a fall even more. If you have fallen in the past, and are now limiting your walking because of a fear of falling again, you may be interested in the “A Matter of Balance” classes now being offered by the Office for the Aging through a sponsorship with HealthQuest. The two-hour class meets weekly for eight weeks and can help you regain your confidence so you feel comfortable resuming your normal activity. Volunteer leaders are also needed for classes throughout the county. For more information, call the Office for the Aging at the number above, or visit:
http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/agMBbrochure.pdf
Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 27 High Street, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601, telephone 486-2555, email: agingservices@dutchessny.gov website:http://www.dutchessny.gov/CountyGov/Departments/Aging/AGIndex.htm
VA Hudson Valley Open House showcases VA jobs, volunteers Summer of Service event seeks to deepen partnerships in community
Creating and building partnerships to grow the number of people serving Veterans in the VA nationwide is fueling an Open House event July 1 at the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System.
Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 1, the VA Hudson Valley Open House will include opportunities to gather information from the VA, Veteran Service Organization as well as county and state Veteran officers. The event will take place at the Castle Point campus inside the multipurpose room, 41 Castle Point Road, Wappingers Falls, NY. Everyone is invited to attend. A shuttle will ferry attendees from the lower parking lot to the event location.
Scheduled from VA Hudson Valley: Caregiver Program managers, County and State Veteran Service Officers; Homelessness, Human Resources, MyHealtheVet, nutrition and food services, OEF/OIF/OND Program, Patient Advocates, Video Telehealth, and Women’s Veteran Program. Also scheduled to appear are members of the Disabled American Veterans; the Marine Corps League; and others. Dozens of handouts will also be available.
For more information, call the VA Hudson Valley Public Affairs Office at (914) 737-4400 ext. 2255.
Northern Dutchess Hospital hosts urgent blood drive
Northern Dutchess Hospital will host a blood drive from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 10, to help the American Red Cross meet a critical demand.
The American Red Cross reached out to the hospital for help due to an urgent need for life-saving blood donations, said Trish Napolitano, hospital volunteer services manager. There are about 39,000 units of blood needed each day in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities throughout the country for patients with cancer and other illnesses, requiring surgery, in need of organ transplants and recovering from an accident or other trauma.
The blood drive will be held in the cafeteria conference room of the hospital, 6511 Springbrook Ave., Rhinebeck. To make an appointment, call Napolitano at 845-871-3471. Future blood drives are scheduled for Sept. 18, Dec. 4 and Feb. 5.
Cancer support groups meet at Health Quest facilities
Support Connections Inc. will host a support group session for women with breast, ovarian or gynecological cancers in July:
- Vassar Brothers Medical Center: 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 7.
Pre-registration is required. To register or learn more, women may call 914-962-6402 or 1-800-532-4290.
MORE AGING NEWS ONLINE:
Even Light Activity Can Boost Seniors’ Health
06/19/2015 02:00 PM EDT
Researchers suggest 300 minutes weekly of activities such as walking or gardening. Source: HealthDay
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP NEWSLETTER: www.midhudsonparkinsons.org/newsletter
REBUILDING TOGETHER NEWSLETTER: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/1057869/a5e8b794f2/520530691/feaa3e1a53/
THE NEW OLD AGE
At Home, Many Seniors Are Imprisoned by Their Independence
BY PAULA SPAN
Almost two million Americans over age 65 rarely or never leave their homes. They are more likely to be minority women, and in poor health.
AMERICAN SENIORS ENJOY MIDDLE CLASS LIFE: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/15/business/economy/american-seniors-enjoy-the-middle-class-life.html
ALZHEIMER’S NEWSLETTER: http://act.alz.org/site/MessageViewer?autologin=true&em_id=192144.0&dlv_id=221381&utm_campaign=enews-2015-06-29&utm_medium=email&WT.mc_id=enews2015_06_29&utm_source=enews-aff-118
Anti-depressant use during menopause ‘raises risk of broken bones’: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11472480
Diabetes Patients Could Replace Insulin Injections with Smart Insulin Patches:http://www.utahpeoplespost.com/2015/06/diabetes-patients-smart-insulin-patches/
