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OFFICE for the AGING

January—March 2019

Senior ScoopSenior ScoopSenior ScoopSenior Scoop

AARP Foundation Tax Aides will be available beginning in February 2019 to help individu-als with their tax returns. Beginning on January 15th, you can contact Office for the Aging

to schedule an appointment with tax volunteers. This year AARP will only have volunteers to assist with taxes in our Oneonta office.

Oneonta– 607-432-9041

What you need: 1. Proof of health insurance for yourself, your

spouse and any dependents 2. Last year’s tax return

3. Current years W-2s and tax forms 4. Property and school taxes paid 5. Mortgage interest paid

6. Charitable contributions documentation

7. Sale of stocks, bonds etc., including date pur-chased and date sold with the price

8. All other papers you have that you feel are im-portant

Tax Season is fast approaching!

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE DISENROLLMENT PERIOD

For those with a Medicare Advantage Plan who are not happy with the plan or need to change plans for another reason, the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) provides an opportunity for enrollees to 1) return to Original Medicare with or without a stand –alone prescription drug plan OR 2) select a different Medicare Advantage Plan for 2019 if they choose.

This period runs from January 1st through March 31st. Changes that are made during the MADP go into effect the first day of the following month. For help with this, please contact Office for

the Aging for an appointment in Cooperstown at (607) 547-4232 or Oneonta at (607) 432-9041.

Planning for the Future: Will, Power of

Attorney & Health Care Proxy

Monday, February 11th at 2 pm

Richfield Springs Public Library, 102 Main Street

Learn more about creating a will, establishing a Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy, why each is important and what decisions and power each provides.

Medicare 101

Monday, March 11th at 2 pm

Richfield Springs Public Library, 102 Main Street

This session will include an overview of Medicare health insurance including an explanation of Parts A, B, C & D, advantage plans, supplement plans and how they all fit together. Information will also be available about the NYS EPIC program and Medicare Savings Program.

TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE

Written by: James Lee, Office for the Aging Caseworker

Do you ever worry about how you will get to a doctor’s appointment or how you might get your prescriptions from the pharmacy? How or when you can get groceries?

If you answered “yes” to any or all of these, then you know how an increasingly large part of Otsego County’s senior population feels. In concerns shared by our county’s senior population, transportation is one of the greatest challenges to independence.

Office for the Aging is working with Rural Health Network of South Central New York and Getthere to expand transportation options for our area seniors. Although currently in the beginning stages of devel-opment, we are hoping to implement a volunteer driver program to provide door-to-door transportation for non-emergency medical appointments for Otsego County residents.

Volunteer drivers will receive a background check and helpful training, as well as reimbursement for mileage based on the current federal reimbursement rate.

The time commitment from each volunteer is up to the volunteer themselves. You can identify ahead of time the days of the week that you’re available to drive, or you can determine your availability per each request and turn down any proposed assignments if you are not available. Your level of commitment is entirely up to you!

Volunteers also have the opportunity to identify the area in which they are willing to transport. Some volun-teers may only be comfortable transporting within their local area, while others may be willing to transport both locally and long-distance, such as to medical appointments in Albany, Utica or Binghamton.

All scheduling will be coordinated by a central dispatch. The driver will be informed of the transport need and then they can make the decision to accept the “assignment” or decline, in which case the dispatcher will move on to the next volunteer.

Potential passengers will also be screened based on need and suitability.

There are many Otsego County seniors who are no longer able to drive, yet have limited or no alternative op-tions for transportation. We are seeking generous and compassionate people to help their neighbors get to medical appointments.

For more information on this initiative, or to set up a presentation regarding volunteer transportation in your community, please contact Jim Lee at Office for the Aging at (607) 547-4232 or Getthere at 1-855-373-4040.

SENIOR SCOOP January—March 2019

OTSEGO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

Written by: Dennis Clark, Director

Otsego County has two staff members available to assist Veterans needs: Dennis Clark, Director of Veteran Services and Sid Loeffler, Veterans Service Officer. Our role as County Veterans Officers is to simplify the complex system for services and supports available to Veterans from the Veterans Administration. As a Vet-eran, you served your country honorably, and your local County Veterans Service Officer wants to help guide you and your family, and ensure you obtain all of the benefits to which you (or your family members) are en-titled.

If you have never registered with your County Veterans Service Agency, the first step is to call for an appointment, and bring in your military discharge (DD214 or “Report of Military Separation”) paperwork, as this document is required in order to receive any VA benefits. If you have lost or misplaced this document,

we can assist you in obtaining a new discharge from the National Personnel Records Center.

Otsego County provides transportation to Veterans who have appointments at the Albany VA Medical Cen-ter. Transportation is available Tuesday through Friday. Rides are scheduled by contacting our van driver, Steve Jaeger, at (607) 267-8571. We ask that Veterans seeking transportation contact Steve a minimum of two days in advance of their appointment.

Otsego County Veterans Service Officers act as liaisons between Veterans and their families in obtaining benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Our goal is to obtain maximum benefits, in minimal time.

Our services provided include:

⇒ Assist veterans in filing service-connected disability claims with the VA

⇒ Enrollment in VA Healthcare

⇒ Burial benefits and non-service connected pension benefits

⇒ Processing pension claims for eligible veterans and/or spouses

⇒ Advising veterans of discounts available

⇒ Assisting with retrieving military medical and personnel records

If you are in need of assistance, please call the Otsego County

Veterans Service Agency, at (607) 547-4224 or (607) 547-4245 and

we will schedule an appointment to assist you with your needs.

Our office is located in the Meadows Office Complex at 140 County

Highway 33W in Cooperstown. For those living closer to Oneonta,

you can also reach out to the Veterans Administration Office locat-

ed at 242 Main Street in Oneonta. The number to that office is 607-432-4190.


The Office for the Aging is seeking nominations for outstanding residents, age

60 and older, in Otsego County! If you know an exceptional senior, who volun-teers time or gives back to our community, please fill out a nomination form to recognize them! This is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the signifi-cant contributions older adults make each and every day in our community.

For information on award qualifications and to receive nomination forms, contact Office for the Aging at (607) 547-4232. Award winners will be recognized at our annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, as well as in Albany at the Older New Yorkers’ Day Celebration. The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 16th.

April 5th and 6th at the Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta. Event will take place from

10am to 3pm each day.

Rural Health Education Network of Schoharie, Otsego and Montgomery Counties (RHENSOM), is seeking Peer Leaders to facilitate their Living Well self-management program workshops. Peer Leaders are individuals who enjoy facilitating groups and have a chronic condition themselves. Trained Peer Leaders would need to facilitate one 7-week series consisting of weekly 2.5 hour sessions. Stipends are provided. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives. For more information, please con-tact RHENSOM at 607-547-6711.

Would you like to receive our newsletter? Please provide your email address by sending an email to: [email protected] to be added to our E-Newsletter distribution list. If you do not have an email address, please contact our office at (607) 547-4232 and ask to be added to our postal mailing list. Newsletters will be sent on a quarterly basis. You can also like us on Facebook @otsegocountyOFA.

Office for the Aging would like to recognize the following groups for their generous donations to local seniors. Donations included gift boxes, fuel cards, food, handmade placemats and lap quilts for our home-

bound seniors. THANK YOU!! Your time, compassion and generosity made a significant difference in the lives of local residents.

SUNY Oneonta Food vs. Fuel Project

Fly Creek Quilters

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!!

Shoeboxes for Seniors

Susquehanna Valley Quilters

CDPHP


Understanding Memory Loss

Sunday, January 27th at 2 pm

Main Street Baptist Church

Blue Fields Café

40 Walnut Street, Oneonta

RSVP: 607-267-8954

Understanding Alzheimer’s

Wednesday, February 6th at 3 pm

Huntington Memorial Library

62 Chestnut Street, Oneonta

RSVP: 607-547-1650

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

Wednesday, February 13th at 4 pm

Village Library of Morris

152 Main Street, Morris

RSVP: 607-547-1650

Understanding & Responding to

Dementia Related Behaviors

Wednesday, March 6th at 3 pm



RSVP: 607-547-1650

Effective Communication

Strategies

Wednesday, April 3rd at 3 pm



RSVP: 607-547-1650

Understanding Alzheimer’s

Wednesday, May 8th at 2 pm

Richfield Springs Public Library

102 West Main St, Richfield Springs

RSVP: 607-547-1650

The Importance of Exercise for Seniors Information from www.asccare.com/importance-exercise-seniors

Exercise has countless benefits for those of all ages, including a healthier heart, stronger bones and improved endurance and flexibility. For seniors, there are additional benefits, like the fact that regular exercise reduces the risk of chronic diseases, lowers the chance of injury and can even improve

one’s mood.

As we age, our muscle mass begins to decrease. When we enter our for-ties, adults can lose 3-5% of muscle mass with each subsequent decade of

life. Muscle is an essential contributor to our balance and bone strength; it keeps us strong. Without it, our mobility

and independence become compromised.

Exercise is also a key for cognitive function. Scientists have found that brain neurons- the special cells that perform all the necessary function to keep you alive, as well as help you think and improve your memory- all increase after a few weeks of regular exercise. In fact, some researchers found that when individuals walk three or more times a week, the occurrence of dementia was 35% lower than those seniors who were not involved in any type of physical activity.

It is never too late for seniors to start engaging in a regular exercise routine. The key is to find something you enjoy doing, and start at a level that is easy to maintain. As always, be sure to check with your medical provider before starting an exercise regime.

Group Location Days/Time Contact Name Contact #

Wells Bridge Wells Bridge Fire House Monday & Friday @ 10am Bev Kuhr 607-988-9534

Laurens Laurens Presbyterian Church Monday & Thursday @ 10am Rose Nelson 607-432-5028

Schenevus Schenevus First Baptist Church Tuesday & Friday @ 10am Gina Crosby 607-638-6024

Oneonta Elm Park United Methodist Church Monday & Friday @ 1:30pm Helen Smith 607-433-2142

Hartwick Hartwick Community Center Monday & Thursday @ 9:30am Jean Finch

Gladys Weeks 607-547-8735

607-293-7771


Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults Article from: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/features/older-emergency/index.html)

Follow these easy steps to make sure you’re protected.

Natural disasters, such as heavy rain storms, flooding and blizzards, may force you to evacuate your home or shelter-in-place at short notice. It is important to know what to do in case of an emergency well before disaster strikes.

If you are an older adult living in the community, you may face some challenges during an emergency. For example, you may have mobility problems, or chronic health conditions, or you may not have any family or friends nearby to support you. Support ser-vices that are usually available, such as help from caregivers or in-home health care and meal delivery services may be unavailable for a period of time. In addition, older adults may experience challenges that come with advanced age, such as hearing or vision problems or cognitive impairment, which may make it difficult to access, understand, and respond to emergency instructions.

What you should do:

Create a Plan:

Work with your friends, family, and neighbors to develop a plan that will fit your needs.

⇒ Choose a contact person who will check on you during a disaster and decide how you will communicate with each other (for instance, by telephone, knocking on doors). Consider speaking with your neighbors about developing a check-in system together.

⇒ Create a list of contact information for family members and friends. Leave a copy by your phone and in-clude one in your Emergency Supply Kit.

⇒ Plan how you will leave and where you will go during an evacuation. If you are living in a retirement or assisted living community, learn what procedures are in place in case of emergencies. Keep a copy of exit routes and meeting places in an easy-to-reach place.

⇒ Create a care plan and keep a copy in your Emergency Supply Kit. What would someone need to know to care for you if you were unable to tell them?

⇒ If you have medical, transportation, or other access needs during an emergency, consider signing up with your local county registry. Otsego County uses Hyper-Reach, which can be found on the Otsego County Emergency Services Webpage at https://secure.hyper-reach.com/comsignupw.jsp?id=40002.

If you would like to be added to Hyper-Reach and do not have access to the internet, please call NY Connects at 607-547-4390 and they can assist you in getting registered with Otsego County Emergency Services.

Create an Emergency Supply Kit:

Keep your kit in a safe, dry air and water tight container that will be easy to access in an emergency situation.

Basic Supplies for your Emergency Supply Kit:

∗ Water (3 gallons) ∗ Food (at least 3 day supply) ∗ Battery powered radio

∗ Flashlight and extra batteries ∗ First Aid Kit ∗ Whistle (so you can signal for

help)

∗ Dust Mask

∗ Moist toilettes and garbage bags ∗ Wrench or Pliers so you can turn

off utilities ∗ Manual can opener for food

∗ 3 days worth of prescription medications

∗ Pain reliever ∗ Family documentation, insurance

policies, Power of Attorney, Will, Healthcare proxies

∗ Sleeping bag or warm blankets ∗ Change of clothes ∗ Pencil and paper


Office for the Aging Transportation

Otsego County Office for the Aging provides non-emergency medical transportation to and from pre-scheduled medical appointments. Transportation is also available for monthly grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions or necessary non-medical appointments.

Door to door transportation is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, Monday through Thursday, between 9am and 4pm. Trans-portation should be requested as soon as possible, with as much advance notice as possible. Not all requests can be accommodated due to schedule conflicts, limited availability and resources. It is recommended that appointments be scheduled between the hours of 10am and 2pm in order to allow time for the driver to get to your home and arrive timely to your destination. Riders must be aged 60+ , be a resident of Otsego County, and have no other trans-portation available to them including friends, family or neighbors. Riders must be able to independently enter and exit the vehicle and navigate self in and out of home and at destination. There is no cost for transportation, but a suggested donation of $5.00 per trip is requested.

For more information, or to request transportation, please contact Office for the Aging at 607-547-4232.


Sepsis—What to Know

Information from www.seniorliving.org

Sepsis occurs when the body tries to fight off an infection or type of inflammation. When a severe infection invades the bloodstream, the body releases chemicals in an attempt to get rid of the infection and repair the body. At that point, the entire body becomes inflamed and can lead to Sepsis and organ failure. While Sepsis can occur in anyone at any age, older adults are especially susceptible because their bodies may already be weak and unable to fight off infections as well as a younger person. It is estimated that there are more than one million cases of Sepsis in the United States and about one quarter of them are fatal. If Sepsis is caught early enough and treated, patients can survive.

Treating Sepsis

The key to effectively treat Sepsis is to do it quickly. Any delay can be the difference between life and death. IV Antibiotics are needed to treat Sepsis. This needs to start upon diagnosis to prevent further complications.

How to Avoid Sepsis

Since Sepsis is a condition that results from the body responding to an infection, the only way to avoid Sepsis is to avoid the infections that cause it. Here are some ways to do so: Get vaccinated. Since Sepsis cases can stem from the flu and pneumo-nia, it is important for those at risk to get vaccinated. According to a CDC study, 35% of Sepsis cases were a result of pneumonia. In order to lessen the risk, a pneumonia vaccine as well as a flu shot is recom-mended. Clean skin wounds promptly. Cleaning skin wounds, especially for those who are diabetic, can help to reduce the risk of Sepsis. Treat urinary tract infections promptly. The CDC found that a quarter of Sepsis cases resulted from a urinary tract infection. Treating these in a timely manner can reduce the risk of the infection spreading.

If you suspect you or a loved one is developing Sepsis, seek medical attention immediately. Taking the wait and see approach can have deadly consequences.

Susan Barnhart– Aging Services Specialist

Jane Belrose– HEAP Examiner

Cindy Burch– Caseworker

Alicia Chase– Long Term Care Coordinator

Angela DeDominicis– Caseworker

Melinda Frost—Aging Services Specialist

Joy Gray– Senior Aging Services Aide, HEAP

Richard Hamilton– Caseworker

Lawrence Hammond– Business Office Manager

James Lee– Caseworker

Glenn Linsenbardt– Account Clerk Typist

Tamie MacDonald– Director

Joseph Mayoka– Caseworker

Mandy Rogers– Coordinator of Aging Services

Tonya Southworth– Aging Services Specialist

SENIOR SCOOP JANUARY—MARCH 2019

Otsego County Office for the Aging

140 County Highway 33W, Suite 5

Cooperstown, NY 13326

(607) 547-4232

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE APPRECIATED!

The Office for the Aging depends on contributions from community members to provide many of the important services we offer to local residents. State and federal funding only covers a small portion of the services we offer such as home delivered meals, Medicare insurance counseling, Tai Chi classes and this newsletter. If you would like to contribute to OFA to support these services, please forward your contribution to:

Otsego County Office for the Aging

140 County Highway 33W, Suite 5

Cooperstown, NY 13326

MEET THE STAFF

office for the aging senior scoopsenior scoop center/n-r...tions for transportation. we are seeking...

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