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Golden Glow Newsletter
November/December 2016 GOLDEN GLOW Golden Glow Page Published by Schuyler County Office For the Aging and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Office for the Aging (OFA) 323 Owego St., Unit 7 Montour Falls, NY 14865 (607) 535-7108 www.schuylercounty.us Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) 607 North Franklin Street Watkins Glen, NY 14891 Schuyler County Office for the Aging Director, Tamre (Tammy) Waite (607) 535-2050 x204 www.cs-cc.org Director, Sue Larson Nutrition Reservations: (607) 535-7470 OFA Transportation Requests: (607) 535-3555 “Your Connection to Long Term Services and Supports, REGARDLESS OF AGE.” DIRECTOR’S CORNER By: Tamre S. Waite Return Address: November/December 2016 LABEL Schuyler County Office for the Aging 323 Owego Street, Unit 7 Montour Falls, NY 14865 Vol. 43 No. 6 Standard Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID Watkins Glen, NY Permit No. 14 OFA/NY CONNECTS INSTITUTES NEW PROCESSES: Many of you are familiar with the fact that we have a screening process that we utilize in order to best serve individuals calling or stopping by and asking for help in a particular area. By the time you read this, you will have experienced a bit of a change in the screening if you have called our office in the past several weeks. To help facilitate an understanding of the new process, I’d like to take this opportunity to describe the transition. Several years ago, OFA took on the role of the local Aging and Disabilities Resource Center (ADRC) called NY Connects. This meant that we started serving individuals of any age who had a need for long term services and supports. This could be the person with a traumatic brain injury or someone recently diagnosed with ALS or Parkinson’s Disease or the parents of a child diagnosed with autism or the informal caregiver of an elder. The possibilities for needing long term services and supports are vast. As the ADRC, it is our job to provide information & assistance, provide referrals, and link individuals with services and supports that will best meet their needs. Over the years, this process has evolved to include specific requirements such as Options Counseling (ensuring you are provided with all the options available with guidance on making an informed decision best suited to you or your loved one), dementia screening, assisting with access to public benefits, providing information and referrals to evidence-based health and wellness programs and much more. We have recently gone through another transition. Anyone new to OFA is processed under NY Connects to ensure we have done a complete screening to best evaluate your needs and connect you to the best options for your needs. The new screening tool is more in-depth so we can be certain that all areas of need are captured. In addition, we have migrated our data into a new tracking system which is a statewide data collection system. What this means is that your name, address and phone number are logged into a system accessible across counties within the state of NY, but only those who have a need to contact you or assist you would be utilizing your contact information. This way, for example, if you should move from Schuyler County to Chemung County, your listing is available to those in your new county of residence so they may more readily help you. Only those who have permission can access your information. This could include the local Office for the Aging or another agency where there has been a referral. Referrals will only be made with your permission. In the past, you were able to place a call to our office, and we would ask a few screening questions and provide information, assistance and referrals best suited to your need. We would collect demographic information that was reported (without your name) to our grantors (NYS Office for the Aging and federal Administration on Aging/Administration for Community Living). This helped paint a picture of those being served according to age, gender, income, ethnicity and so on. It also helped to ensure we were outreaching to those most in need and attempting to serve the hardest to reach people groups. We are continuing to do this but with some changes that you will notice. When you call our office, we will now be asking for your consent to capture the information you provide, as well as your consent to share this information on a need-to-know basis and consent to refer to other agencies that can help you. Having your consent is something we’ve done formally for the EISEP and Caregiver programs but informally for other services until now; we are, at this point, formalizing the process for every service or program. If you meet with a staff person face to face, you will be asked to sign the consent form. If we speak to you via phone, we will ask for your consent verbally and follow up with a letter confirming the conversation. We want to be sure you understand how your information is collected and utilized to best help you. For instance, we may ask for your permission to share some or all of your information in order to speak with another staff member in an attempt to coordinate a plan for you. We may ask to be able to refer so that we can send your information to another agency that can reach out to you in follow up and provide services and supports to meet your needs. Often times, this means referring from NY Connects to Office for the Aging. It could potentially be the same staff person who does your intake and then assists you following the referral to an OFA program. One thing to keep in mind is that we don’t always immediately have services available. We will make every attempt to find a solution to your problem or need, but sometimes it simply isn’t there, or it may take some time to coordinate. We ask that you be patient as we continue to search other avenues and find the best match for your situation. There are occasionally requests that we cannot meet due to the nature of that request. If you are uncomfortable with providing your information to have it go into the statewide data system, rest assured that you will always have the option to decline having your information captured. We may still be able to answer your questions, but we will not be able to refer you or share your information with other agencies or staff who may be able to help. It may make the follow up process trickier, because we would not have a way to tap back into a log of what we did to assist you. If you called again, we would have to start from scratch, because there would be no record. This information is shared simply to make you aware and not to influence your decision. We want you to do what is most comfortable for you, and we will do our best to serve you. The Office for the Aging office Also, please know that if you have provided consent for us to capture and share your information and/or refer, you always have the option to change and meals will be closed on… your mind and request that the consent be revoked. Staff can assist you with the revocation process. If, at any time, you have questions or concerns related to this change, November 11 for Veteran’s Day please feel free to contact me or any of my staff. As always, we are here to November 24-25 for Thanksgiving serve you. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work through the transition. December 26 for Christmas Office Closings Page 2 Golden Glow November/December 2016 OFA’s SILVER SPOON CAFÉ MENU Meals served at 12:00 p.m. (except Breakfast days) Dates Mon Note: Menu subject to change. Tue Wed For reservations call 535-7470 Thu Fri NOV 1 THROUGH NOV 4 All Meals served with 2% or Fat Free Milk 1 Election Day Lunch Chicken parmesan with pasta Carrots Whole wheat dinner roll 2 Pork BBQ on bun Baked beans Spinach Coleslaw Brownie Grape juice 3 Beef stroganoff over rice Broccoli Whole wheat dinner roll Sunshine salad Cranberry juice 4 Spinach cheese bake Baked potato Squash Whole wheat bread Fruit cup Apple juice NOV 7 THROUGH NOV 10 7 Stuffed peppers Lima beans Whole wheat dinner roll Pudding w/ topping Grape juice 8 Roast beef w/gravy Mashed potato California mixed vegetable Whole wheat bread Apricot apple salad Cranberry juice 9 Turkey tetrazzini Green beans Whole wheat dinner roll Banana strawberry fluff Apple juice 10 Pork loin w/supreme sauce Mashed potato Buttered beets Whole wheat bread Rosy applesauce Orange juice 11 NOV 14 THROUGH NOV 18 14 Sliced baked ham Sweet potatoes Buttered corn Chick pea salad Cranberry juice 15 Sweet & sour chicken over rice Oriental mixed vegetables Dinner roll Melon cup V-8 juice 16 Beef stew Angie’s salad Biscuit Warm cinnamon applesauce Orange juice 17 Thanksgiving Day Dinner 18 Vegetable lasagna Tossed salad Garlic bread Fruit salad NOV 21 THROUGH NOV 23 21 Baked chicken Brussels sprouts Mashed potato w/ gravy Kidney green bean salad Cantaloupe 22 Macaroni & cheese Harvard Beets Dinner roll Grapes Pineapple Juice 23 Spanish rice Cauliflower Toss salad w/ dressing Dinner roll Pudding w/ topping juice Roast turkey w/ dressing Peas & carrots Whipped potatoes w/gravy Fruit Cup Roll Pumpkin pie 24 Thanksgiving Day 25 Veteran’s Day Holiday (OFA Closed) (OFA Closed) Happy Thanksgiving! NOV 28 THROUGH NOV 30 28 Stuffed shells Broccoli Dinner roll Fruit cup Orange juice 29 Baked fish Mornay Rice pilaf Vegetable medley Whole wheat dinner roll Pineapple w/ mandarin oranges Apple juice 30 Greek baked chicken Baked potato Squash Whole wheat dinner roll Apple brownie juice All Meals served with 2% or Fat Free Milk DEC 1 THROUGH DEC 2 1 Scalloped potatoes w/ 2 Turkey Divan ham Mixed vegetables Peas w/ pearl onions Brown rice Whole wheat dinner roll Muffin Pear salad Banana juice Cranberry juice DEC 5 THROUGH DEC 9 5 Chili con carne Cottage cheese Corn bread Cinnamon applesauce Juice 6 Chicken w/ cheesy mushroom sauce Brown rice Green/wax bean mix Bread pudding Juice 7 Salisbury steak w/ gravy Mashed potato Beets Whole wheat bread Carrifruit salad 8 Stuffed chicken breast w/ gravy Spinach Molded cucumber salad WW dinner roll Peaches 9 Ham loaf w/cranberry glaze Steamed potato Carrots Pineapple tidbits Fresh orange DEC 12 THROUGH DEC 16 12 Baked chicken w/ gravy Mexican style corn Mashed potatoes Pea & beet salad Pear salad 13 Pork cutlet w/ supreme sauce Parsley potatoes Angie’s salad Fruit fluff 14 CHRISTMAS 15 Pasta w/ meat sauce Tossed salad Juice Garlic bread Apple crisp 16 Cheese strata Harvard beets Corn, black bean, citrus salad Peaches Juice DEC 19 THROUGH DEC 23 19 Swiss steak w/ tomato sauce Winter squash Fruit Brown rice Apple Brownie 20 Shepherd’s pie Capri vegetables Cornbread Tropical fruit cup Pudding w/ topping 21 Chicken & gravy 22 Pork w/ mushroom gravy Mashed potato Succotash Whole wheat dinner roll Applesauce Grape juice 23 Goulash Broccoli Peaches Pudding w/ topping DEC 27 THROUGH DEC 30 26 CHRISTMAS DAY Merry Christmas!! 27 Chicken stew Whole wheat dinner roll Beet & onion salad Pineapple & mandarin oranges 28 Macaroni & cheese 29. Turkey rice casserole Italian green beans Whole wheat dinner roll Fruited gelatin Cranberry juice 30 Baked fish w/ lemon and dill Spinach Baked potato Carrifruit salad Cookie Orange juice (Closed) DINNER Baked ham w/ raisin sauce Broccoli w/cheese sauce Yams Coleslaw Dinner roll on a biscuit Carrots Tossed salad w/ dressing Cookie Scalloped tomatoes Tossed salad Whole wheat bread Fruit ambrosia November/December 2016 Golden Glow NUTRITION GUIDELINES FOR DIABETES MANAGEMENT F or most people, general guidelines for diabetes are as follows: Aim to maintain a healthy weight Exercise moderately for about 30 minutes at least five times per week Get your carbohydrates mainly from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and low-fat or skim dairy products Limit saturated fats, trans fats, and dietary cholesterol Consider using sugar substitutes Do not use low-carbohydrate diets to control diabetes Cookies Crackers Fried foods Margarine Look for the words “partially hydrogenated” on the ingredients label to identify foods that contain trans fats. Limiting these types of foods may help prevent heart or circulatory problems as a result of your diabetes. Fat is also very high in calories. Eating too much fat makes it very difficult to maintain a healthy weight. CARROT COOKIES Weight If you currently have prediabetes, controlling your weight can help prevent you from getting type 2 diabetes. If you already have diabetes, controlling your weight can help you improve your blood sugar levels. A healthy eating pattern, combined with regular physical activity, can help people who are overweight lose weight and keep it off. Frequently, this will also lead to improvements in blood lipid levels. Ingredients: 1 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup oats 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 1/4 cups shredded carrots 1 1/2 cups raisins 1/2 cup applesauce 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup honey Diets for weight loss Individuals must find a healthy eating pattern that they can continue for a lifetime in order to successfully achieve weight loss and weight maintenance. No best diet exists because different things work for different people. However, changing eating and exercise behaviors is essential for successful weight loss. Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350°F 2. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, oats, cinnamon, carrots and raisins. 3. In a small bowl, stir together the applesauce, oil and honey. 4. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. 5. Drop by teaspoonful onto 2 greased cookie sheets to make 36 cookies. 6. Bake 10 minutes. Enjoy! To lose weight, a deficit (decrease) of approximately 500 calories per day is generally recommended. A combination of eating and drinking fewer calories, and burning more calories through physical activity can create this deficit, and help you lose weight. Generally, about 1 hour per day of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, along with small calorie restrictions will produce weight loss. Starches It is true that everyone, including those with diabetes, should try to get most of their carbohydrates from foods that also contain other nutrients, such as whole-grain breads and cereals, legumes, low-fat or skim milk, fruits, and vegetables. A healthy diet can include refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, white rice, and regular pasta, as long as you also include whole grains and monitor portion sizes. You can substitute sugary foods and drinks for other carbohydrates in your meal plan every now and then. On your birthday, for example, you could substitute a small piece of birthday cake for the roll you usually eat at dinner. Remember, most sweets, such as cakes, cookies, pies, and candy, will raise your blood sugar more quickly, and they have very few valuable nutrients. It is best to get most of your carbohydrates from the more nutritious foods previously mentioned. Carbohydrates are important to good health. In fact, your body needs at least 130 grams (g) of carbohydrates each day to work correctly. Foods that contain carbohydrates often are good sources of energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. One key to diabetes management is choosing most of your carbohydrates from whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and low-fat or skim milk, rather than avoiding carbohydrates altogether. Sugar substitutes These sweeteners do not cause weight loss or improve blood sugar levels, but they allow you to enjoy sweetened beverages and foods with fewer calories. Aspartame (Equal®), saccharin (Sweet’N Low®), sucralose (Splenda®), and stevia (Truvia®) are among the most readily available sweeteners. Sugar-free foods often commonly contain sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and xylitol. These substances contain calories and count as carbohydrates, although they are counted differently. If you enjoy these, a registered dietitian nutritionist can help you add these sweeteners into your meal plan. Some people may experience unpleasant side effects from consuming sugar alcohols, so try a little at a time, if you have never eaten foods containing sugar alcohols before. Page 3 Want to learn more? Schedule a nutrition counseling appointment with our registered dietitian for help managing your diabetes call 607-535-7470 YOUR HEALTH IS WORTH A SHOT S taying healthy is about more than eating right, staying active, and getting enough sleep. Vaccinations, also sometimes called vaccines or immunizations, are also an important part of staying healthy. Facts to know about vaccines: 1. They protect against dangerous diseases 2. They are safe 3. They are important for people of all ages to get 4. Talking to your doctor about vaccines can help protect you and your family 5. What vaccines you need depends on your age and your health What vaccines do adults need to talk to their doctor about? 1. Flu (Influenza) 2. Pneumonia (Pneumococcal) 3. Hepatitis B 4. Shingles (Herpes-Zoster) 5. Whooping Cough (Pertussis) How do vaccines work? Infections are caused when germs, like viruses or bacteria, get in your body and multiply. Your body then has to activate its immune system to try to fight off the infection. If your immune system wins, your body will typically remember how it fought off that germ for the next time it tries to invade. Vaccines work by “imitating” a germ, so your body learns how to defend Fat People with diabetes are at risk for heart disease. For that reason, you should against it without having to be exposed to the germ and without you having to get sick. This means that when that germ tries to invade, your immune limit your intake of saturated fat and trans fat, which can raise your blood system can quickly respond and destroy the germ because it already learned cholesterol and increase your risk for heart disease. how to do it. You can learn more about vaccination at: https://www.cdc.gov/ vaccines/adults/rec-vac/index.html and Saturated fat is usually found in animal foods, such as: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/vaccine-decision/index.html#preventFatty cuts of beef, pork, and chicken disease. Processed meats, such as bacon, sausage, and luncheon meats Whole milk Whole-milk cheeses Trans fats may be found in fried foods, and snack foods including: Commercial baked goods How can I get the vaccines I need? Talk to your doctor about what vaccines you need. Don’t worry about the cost—most health insurance plans fully cover the cost of vaccination. Many vaccines are also available at your local pharmacy. Page 4 Golden Glow NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH N ovember is National Family Caregivers Month, therefore we at the Schuyler County Office for the Aging would like to honor the many contributions that family caregivers make to the quality of our community. The generous support provided by caregivers to loved ones who are chronically ill, elderly or disabled are among our community’s most important natural resources. Through their selfless actions, they bring comfort to those in need, enrich their own life and reflect the true spirit of our community. The term caregiver refers to anyone who provides assistance to someone else who is, to some degree, incapacitated and needs help performing the daily tasks essential to living a normal life. This would include persons providing care for a husband who has suffered a stroke, a wife with Parkinson's disease, a mother-in-law with cancer, a grandfather with Alzheimer's disease, a loved one with traumatic brain injury, or an elder who is very frail. Current statistics show that 43.5 million people care for someone 50+ years of age and 15 million care for someone who has Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. We at the Office for the Aging have the privilege of meeting and interacting with some of these very special caregivers. Their stories are varied and diverse but there is always a common theme: they care. Unfortunately, this does not come without a cost to each of them. On average, caregivers spend 20.4 hours per week providing care. Those who live with their care recipient spend 39.3 hours per week caring for that person. For many caregivers, their own life has been put on hold due to a loved one’s condition. They are unable to do “the usual things” they once could because of their present commitment to care for another. Sadly, some caregivers lose connections to friends at a time when they could use one most. It is also important to mention that researchers have long known that caregiving can have harmful mental health effects due to the stress and emotional burden of caregiving. New studies now show that caregiving can also have serious physical health consequences. Many caregivers find themselves so busy caring for others that they neglect their own routine health care, or delay seeing a doctor until new problems are in an advanced state. It is important to recognize the caregivers in our community – men and women, spouses, adult children, siblings, neighbors, friends – who step up and into the lives of loved ones who need help and support. These are the unsung heroes, who rearrange their lives and schedules, add to their workload and responsibilities, and put aside their own needs in order to be there, and to care for others. With an estimated 3 million caregivers in New York State, who provide more than 2.6 billion hours of care, certainly everyone knows someone who is a caregiver. We ask that you take a few minutes during the month of November to reach out and thank a caregiver; let them know the sacrifices they make and the care they provide are truly appreciated. References: Family Caregiver Alliance, National Center on Caregiving, www.caregiver.org , Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org, New York State Office for the Aging, www.aging.ny.gov/caregiving , North Carolina State University, “The Burdens and Blessings of Caregiving”, www.ces.ncsu.edu , National Family Caregiver Association, www.nfcacares.org Schuyler County Office for the Aging Elder Caregiver Support Program 607-535-7108 November/December 2016 VOTER REGSITRATION Who May Register to Vote? Anyone who is a U.S. citizen and who will be 18 years of age by December 31 of the same year may register. Only those individuals who are 18 years of age by election day are eligible to vote. A person must be a resident of the county or the city of New York at least 30 days before an election. What is the deadline to register? An application must be delivered or mailed to the County Board of Elections 25 days before the election in which you wish to vote. Schuyler County Office for the Aging, an agency voter registration site, will transmit any completed registration forms to county boards for those age 60 and older. Do I need to update my registration? Every time a registered voter moves or if they change their name, they must update their registration. How are individuals notified about approval of their pending application? The county board of elections notifies applicants whether their application has been accepted or rejected, If a person does not receive a confirmation notice within six weeks or before the election, they should contact their county board of elections. How does a voter know where to vote? The registered voter’s confirmation notice includes the address if their polling place, their election district number, and the accessibility status of the polling place for the elderly or disabled. Often times, the county board of elections mails postcards, with the polling site information, to the registered voter. What if a person is already registered but wants to change party affiliation? They may change party affiliation using a voter registration application. The new enrollment will be effective the Tuesday following the next general election. Will a voter have to serve jury duty if they register to vote? Maybe, but the jurors are also selected from the tax rolls and lists of licensed drivers. Must a voter enroll in a party to vote? They do not have to enroll in a party to vote in a general election. However, they must be enrolled in a party to vote in the primary election. A person may vote in the primary election of the party in which they are enrolled. What if a polling place is not accessible? The election board may move a voter’s records to an accessible polling place at their request, or the voter may vote by absentee ballot. What if a voter is away on election day? If they will be absent from their county of residence on election day, or unable to go to the polls due to illness, business or travel, they may vote by mail-in absentee ballot. Applications for Absentee Ballots are available at every county board of elections as well as at the agency voter registration site (Schuyler County Office for the Aging for those age 60 and older). If you are 60 years old or older and need assistance with an application, need one delivered to you or have any specific questions, please call the Schuyler County Office for the Aging and ask to speak with Patty. If you want to know for sure that you are registered, just call the local Board of Elections at 607-535-8195. November/December 2016 Golden Glow Page 5 Alzheimer’s Association Holiday Sing Bring your voices and holiday spirit to join in holiday festivities: Monday, December 5, 1:30-2:30pm Silver Spoon Café, Human Services Complex, Montour Falls Accompaniment by singer, songwriter, and pianist, Jose Gomez. Open to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, caregivers, friends and family members. Refreshments will be served. Free!!!!! Please RSVP to 607-378-6605 ________________________________________________________________________________________________ In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, the Schuyler County Office for the Aging, Elder Caregiver Support Program, invites CAREGIVERS to attend the Save the Date 10TH ANNUAL CAREGIVER RECOGNITION EVENT When: Wednesday, November 30th 5:00 - 8:00pm Where: Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, Keuka Room, 16 N. Franklin St. Watkins Glen, NY If you are a caring for a loved one in Schuyler County who is age 60 or older, please join us for this free dinner event that is designed to provide empowerment, support and education. Come share your story and renew your spirit. For more information or to register, call 535-7108. Reservations are required, as seating is limited. Deadline for registration is November 18th. Caregivers & Company Tuesday, November 8th, 3pm - 4pm Watkins Glen School Apartments This support group is being hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association for caregivers of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. The group has been designed to provide emotional, educational and social support for caregivers through regularly scheduled meetings. ***The group will meet the second Tuesday of every month. *** For any additional questions, or to RSVP, please call Schuyler County Office for the Aging at 607-535-7108 Page 6 Golden Glow COMMON PHONE SCAMS - AVOID BEING A VICTIM (Reprinted with permission from the New York State Office of the Attorney General, www.ag.ny.gov, December 7, 2015 Collection Scam – The caller will claim to be an agent or police IRS/Tax officer from the Internal Revenue Service or Attorney General’s Office calling about a past due tax balance that is owed. The caller will tell the victim that unless the debt is paid immediately, a team of officers will come to the victim’s home that day to arrest the victim. The scammer will also request that the “IRS Tax Warrant” be paid with a Green Dot Card Money Card or Western Union MoneyGram. These scammers often use caller ID spoofing so that the victim’s caller ID box says “Internal Revenue Service” or displays the phone number of the Internal Revenue Service. Sometimes scammers will also ask victims for personal information such as a Social Security number in order to commit identity theft. November/December 2016 ROAD SCHOLAR PROGRAM FOR CAREGIVERS T he Road Scholar Program is a nonprofit educational travel organization which provides lifelong learning opportunities for adults 50 and older. Participants report that they benefit from the unique combination of study, travel, and friendship - a combination that is especially helpful for caregivers experiencing isolation and feelings of depression, stress and anxiety. At Road Scholar, they acknowledge the weighty responsibility all adults, who serve as family caregivers for ill or disabled relatives, carry. The warm, welcoming and friendly nature of their learning adventures provide a muchneeded respite from the emotional and physical demands of being a caregiver. A few examples of a Road Scholar program include: “Steamboat Adventure: Voyage the Length of the Mississippi”, “On the Road from Ashville to Nashville: The Quintessential South”, “Explore the Coast of Maine Under Sail: Maritime and Natural History” Grandparent Scam – Typically, this scam comes in the form of an urgent phone call. The caller claims to be “your favorite grandson” or just says “it’s me”… prompting the grandparent to supply the needed name. While the emergencies vary, the scenario is usually this: The “grandson” is out of town and needs money fast -- to make bail, or to pay for automobile repairs or medical expenses. The caller begs the grandparent not to tell his parents, just wire the money immediately. Scammers know that parents and grandparents fear a call that tells them their loved one is in trouble. Each year, thousands of Americans get caught in the Grandparent Scam. Increasingly, scammers use actual relatives’ names and information gleaned from social media and other internet sites. The Road Scholar Program has created Caregiver Grants to provide financial assistance to eligible caregivers, to participate in their United States-based educational travel programs. Lottery Scam – The caller says you’ve won a foreign lottery and requests that you, as the “winner,” send a check or to wire money to cover taxes and fees. Legitimate contests never ask for money upfront. The caller may request your banking information in order to electronically direct deposit your winnings. This is an attempt to steal your identity and will wipe out your bank account. The callers often use a name that sounds like a government agency or official-sounding authority. Sometimes they will use an actual name of a government agency, like the Federal Trade Commission or the Attorney General’s Office. The scammers claim that the government “oversees” the integrity of foreign lotteries. This is a scam. You are eligible to submit an application for the caregiver grant if: your loved one is receiving Home Care, Hospice, visiting nurse, LPN services, or comparable or related services, your loved one is in Hospice, Adult Day Care, Memory-care, Nursing Home or comparable or related facility, you recently lost a loved one who was in any of the above situations, you live in the United States and are 50 years of age or older. Utility Scam – The caller claims to be a representative of a local utility provider. In some cases, the scammer has the victim’s correct account number. The scammer will then advise the resident that the utility bill is past due and must be paid immediately to avoid termination of service. The scammer will also request that the delinquent bill be paid with a Green Dot Card Money Card or Western Union MoneyGram. Suspects committing this scam have often obtained personal information via the internet, Facebook, Instagram or other social media. Tips To Avoid Falling Victim: Think Of The Telephone As A “One Way Street” - It’s okay to give out information over the phone if you made the call to a number you know and trust (such as your own bank). However, never give out personal information when you receive an unsolicited call. If you receive a call soliciting personal information, just hang up the phone, no matter what the caller ID says. If the caller says he’s from your bank and is checking on possible unauthorized withdrawals from your account, hang up the phone and then call your bank. If it was your bank that was trying to call, then it will be happy to confirm the call and will often provide requests to you in writing. If your bank says it wasn’t trying to reach you, that means the caller you hung up on was a scammer. Beware If A Caller Asks To Keep A Conversation A Secret - A legitimate caller will never request that a conversation remain a secret, and you should immediately be suspicious. Whether the caller claims to be from the government, a bank, or a family member, requests for confidentiality should raise a red flag. Just Say No! - You don’t have to be polite when you receive unsolicited phone calls. The safest thing to do is to say “no” and hang up. Legitimate callers will typically also provide requests in writing. It is better to be guarded than to fall victim. Attorney General Schneiderman reminds New Yorkers that in addition to being vigilant consumers, they should also report instances of fraud to his office. Consumers are encouraged to file complaints by visiting the Office’s website (www.ag.ny.gov) or calling 1-800-771-7755. Caregivers are eligible for a grant of up to $1,300 ($100 deposit required by the caregiver to reserve a spot) towards a Road Scholar program. Road Scholar takes care of lodging, meals, field trips, transportation and much more, during the program. The Caregiver Grant is applied to the cost of the program only. It does not cover the cost of transportation to and from the program. For more information, visit https://www.roadscholar.org/about/financialassistance/caregiver-grants/ or call them toll-free at (800) 454-5768, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time. 11 WAYS YOU ARE THE LEADER (Reprinted with permission from Caregiving.com, “11 Ways You Are the Leader” written by Denise M. Brown, www.caregiving.com/2016/05/11-ways-you-are-the-leader/, May 2016) Y ou can feel like the servant, the second-class citizen. You actually are the leader of your caregiving experience. Everyone can see you lead — I just want to make sure that you know that you do. Here’s how you lead: 1. You make difficult and heartbreaking decisions that would humble our world’s leaders. And, you make these decisions as often as you need. 2. You stay with the problem until you find the solution. That’s the kind of tenacity that Steve Jobs used to turn around Apple. 3. You prevent WWIII on every holiday that the family gathers. You broker peace like the best of them. 4. You defend those who cannot defend themselves – like your caree — ensuring they receive the best care possible. You do now what Eleanor Roosevelt did then. 5. You diplomatically move through red tape and bureaucracy to receive what you and your caree need. You would inspire Jimmy Carter. 6. You set and stick to the budget, stretching the dollars better than any Fortune 500 executive. 7. You delegate with such grace that those who receive your orders think they just had a brilliant idea to help you. Our presidential candidates could take a page from your play book. 8. You motivate those who help you as well as your caree to do their best (Continued on page 7) November/December 2016 Golden Glow and be their best. Tony Robbins could take some training from you. 9. You receive what you need — whether it be a break or help or an idea — because receiving ensures you can continue to give. You could stand on the stage with Joel Osteen. 10. You may not swing a golf club as often as you’d like but you sure can swing a transport chair into the trunk of your car. If wheelchair pushing, closing and opening were an Olympic sport, you’d win the gold medal. 11. You inspire others to take control and to take command. Move over, Captain Kirk, we’ve got a family caregiver in charge of the USS Caregiving Enterprise. 12 REASONS YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS (Reprinted with permission from Caregiving.com. “12 Reasons You Will Get Through This” written by Denise M. Brown, www.caregiving.com/2016/05/12-reasons-you-will-get-throughthis/, May 2016) Y ou stand in the middle of it — the chaos, the drama, the blaming, the mistakes, the declines. You’re in it so thick that you can’t seem to see five feet ahead of you. You can’t help but think, “How am I going to get through this?” You will get through this; here’s why. 1. You didn’t cause the situation; you are simply doing your best to improve it. Because your focus is on better, better will find you. 2. While standing in the middle of it feels awful, it also gives you a complete view. You can see all sides, which means you’ll find the side that takes you to the other side. Page 7 Medicare Open Enrollment October 15- December 7 If you are on Medicare, it never hurts to do a yearly review of your coverage to make sure you are on the best drug plan, supplement plan, or Advantage plan to fit your needs. Have your drugs changed in the last year? Do you possibly have a major surgery coming up? Open Enrollment is the best time to look at your options and make changes for the coming year. You can call 1-800– MEDICARE or call to schedule an appointment with a HIICAP counselor! 1-800-701-0501 3. You’re looking for the right next step, understanding the right next step isn’t just about you. Because of this insight, you will not proceed selfishly. You’ll move forward with empathy and that empathy will garner you support. 4. You made it this far which means you have the tenacity and wisdom to continue. 5. You can’t be in the middle without having a forgiving heart. Grudges will cement you in quick sand. Your forgiveness will release you and lighten your load. 6. Because of what you’ve already been through, you understand the saying, “This too shall pass,” better than anyone. You will pass through because you know that only what’s truly important will remain. The rest simply disappears. 7. You can’t still stand without a sense of humor. Your ability to find the funny ensures you will ease the tension, which will clear the path for you. 8. You see through to find what’s truly valuable, avoiding the trap most fall into of only valuing what the ego wants to buy or take. You don’t get bogged down by what doesn’t matter which means you travel lightly, which means you can go the distance. 9. You understand the human spirit because you observe resilience. Because you’ve watched, you’ve learned. You are resilient. You will find your footing forward. 10. You’ve been the recipient of unfortunate unkindness. Interestingly enough, that keeps you kind. Your kindness will bring you unexpected help in ways you could never imagine. 11. You’ve also been the recipient of incredible kindness. And, that keeps you grateful. Your gratitude means you will receive just what you need when you need it. 12. You realize the importance of your mission which keeps you on your path. You also recognize that letting go is the only way to survive. Because you can let go, you can get through this. Because you can get through this, you will be amazed by all you gained by going through it. You only need to make it to one of our Medicare 101 classes to learn the basics of Medicare. You should be reviewing your Medicare drug coverage every year but it is also important to know about programs that can help pay for your Medicare and/or lower your prescription drug costs. Tuesday January 10th 10:30– 11:30am Friday February 10th 2:30-3:30pm Monday March 13th 12:30– 1:30pm The classes are free and open to the public. They are being held in the Human Services Complex, 323 Owego St, Montour Falls in Conference Room 115. Pre-Registration is required. Please call Schuyler County Office for the Aging/ NY Connects. (607) 535-7108 Page 8 Golden Glow Volunteers Needed! TAKE CARE TO GIVE CARE The theme for National Family Caregivers Month 2016 is “Take Care to Give Care” T he first rule of taking care of others: take care of yourself first. Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, but it is also physically and emotionally demanding. The stress of dealing with caregiving responsibilities leads to a higher risk of health issues among the Nation’s 90 million family caregivers. So as a family caregiver, remember to pay attention to your own physical and mental wellness, and get proper rest and nutrition. Only by taking care of yourself can you be strong enough to take care of your loved one. You really do need to “take care to give care!” Caregiving can be a stressful job. Most family caregivers say they feel stressed providing care for a loved one. With all of their caregiving responsibilities – from managing medications to arranging doctor appointments to planning meals – caregivers too often put themselves last. The stress of caregiving impacts your own health. One out of five caregivers admit they have sacrificed their own physical health while caring for a loved one. Due to stress, family caregivers have a disproportionate number of health and emotional problems. They are twice as likely to suffer depression and are at increased risk for many other chronic conditions. Proper nutrition helps promote good health. Ensuring that you are getting proper nutrition is key to help maintain your strength, energy and stamina, as well as strengthening your immune system. Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most powerful things you can do to take care of yourself and keep a positive attitude overall. Ensuring good nutrition for your loved one helps make care easier. As many as half of all older adults are at risk for malnutrition. Good nutrition can help maintain muscle health, support recovery, and reduce risk for re-hospitalization – which may help make your care of a loved one easier. Remember: “Rest. Recharge. Respite.” People think of respite as a luxury, but considering caregivers’ higher risk for health issues from chronic stress, those risks can be a lot costlier than some time away to recharge. The chance to take a breather, the opportunity to re-energize, is vital in order for you to be as good a caregiver tomorrow as you were today. © Caregiver Action Network • www.CaregiverAction.org • 202.454.3970 November/December 2016 A Long Term Care Ombudsman volunteer is educated and certified to visit a nursing home or adult care facility weekly, to talk with residents and their legal representatives, and identify concerns, issues, suggestions and complaints. When certified volunteers are asked by residents to act on their behalf, LTCO handle many complaints and concerns independently in discussion with facility staff. In 2015 the most frequent complaints handled by long term care ombudsman volunteers were: Most Frequent Complaints in NY Nursing Homes, 2015 Discharge / eviction (planning, notice, process); Medications—administration; Care plan / resident assessment—inadequate, failure to follow; Dignity / respect/staff attitudes; Failure to respond to requests for assistance. Most Frequent Complaints in NY Adult Homes, 2015 Medications—administration; Discharge / eviction (planning, notice, process); Dignity / respect/staff attitudes; Food service—quantity, quality, variation, choice, menu, utensils; Cleanliness, pests, general housekeeping; Resident Conflict, including roommates. For more information or to inquire about volunteering please contact: Suzanne Motheral, Long Term Care Ombudsman Coordinator Chemung, Schuyler & Tompkins Counties 607-274-5498 Application and 36 hour certification required and provided for qualified candidates. November/December 2016 Golden Glow VETERANS WEBSITE SHOWCASE VETERANS DAY - NOVEMBER 11 Reminder, Veterans Day is Friday, November 11, Veterans Day services will be held on the County Courthouse front lawn at 11 a.m. Veterans Day is a public holiday that is dedicated to honoring anyone who has served in the United States military. The holiday began as a day to remember the end of World War I and was declared a holiday by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Germany signed an armistice with the Allies that signaled the end of the war at 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918. Originally known as Armistice Day, the holiday became Veterans Day in 1954. When Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 a holiday, the primary intention was to have a day to reflect on the sacrifices of those who had served in the military during World War I. Observation of the holiday through parades and meetings was envisioned. Today, many Americans observe the day by attending ceremonies and parades that are dedicated to honoring the troops for their service. These often allow veterans to speak about their time in the service and give Americans the opportunity to personally thank veterans for their sacrifice. Some retail establishments and restaurant chains offer free or discounted meals for people who can prove their veteran status. Please make sure to thank a veteran for serving. “All gave some… Some gave all!” CONTACT THE VA ontact your Schuyler County Veterans Service Agency for assistance or to schedule an appointment by calling 607535-2091 or emailing [email protected]. * Note that the VSA has evening hours on Thursdays. C Monday Tuesday Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Thursday * Friday Page 9 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicideprevention/ Information on dealing with someone in crisis; signs & symptoms; risk factors; action steps; treatments and therapies; research; and more. http://nami.org/suicideawarenessmonth Crisis and information resources; awareness events; Suicide Prevention Awareness Month; get involved http://www.eatingwell.com/ Healthy recipes https://www.supertracker.usda.gov/ physicalactivitytracker.aspx My Plan; track food & activity; Recipes; favorite activity list; and more http://www.goodolddaysmagazine.com/ Current issue; updates; stories from readers; Annie’s Home Solutions 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. BULLETIN BOARD Thank you, volunteers! Thank you to the following volunteers who helped in preparing the last Golden Glow for mailing. Leona Sandusky Don Kelly Charles Keach Priscilla Kelly Sandy Monroe Gretta Preston Jim Preston Bev Davis Beverly Burnside If you would like to volunteer to help us with our next newsletter mailing, please call RSVP at 607535-2050. Volunteers meet 6 times per year at the Human Services Complex in Montour Falls to assist with preparing the newsletter for mailing. THANK YOU! T he following people graciously made monetary donations to the Office for the Aging and its programs. This is above and beyond the contributions received from consumers for services received. Anonymous- $50 Emma Smith- $105 Anonymous- $50 Bill & Pat Macnamara- $50 Rick & Evon Peet- $50 Anonymous- $6 Anonymous- $24 Anonymous- $6 Anonymous- $25 Pauline Gee- $25 Sherry Wheatcraft- $50 Page 10 Golden Glow November/December 2016 Hello Volunteers! Director’s Corner Our Annual Catholic Charities Recognition Event was held yesterday, September 21, 2016 at the Harbor Hotel for all of our Schuyler County volunteers. We had a very nice luncheon and several awards were given out; RSVP had 27 volunteers reach hourly milestones in 2015 - 26 volunteers received either a bronze, silver or gold pin for service, and we had 1 volunteer reach the Lifetime Achievement Award threshold of 4,000 + hours during their volunteer career - RSVP was honored to present this award to David T. VanDyke. Please join us in commending David on his dedicated service to RSVP in Schuyler County! He has been an RSVP Volunteer since 2006. Congratulations David! Bone Builder classes will be beginning soon. In the Golden Glow is a chart with all the classes, locations and leaders. If you did not receive a Bone Builder application in the mail already, please call me (Sue) at this number (607) 535-2050 ext. 211 to request one. We do need to have paperwork on file before you begin a class. I am also still looking for volunteer drivers, Strong for Life Leaders, and rejuvenating this Fall - “Reading Buddies”. I don’t have a specific schedule for Reading Buddies as yet, but I am in talks with Watkins Glen Elementary School to see what a schedule will look like. We have a few interested teachers this year, but will have to work on scheduling to make it work for both the teachers and the volunteers. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, give me a call or drop me an email. [ 607-535-2050 ext. 211 OR [email protected] ] Happy Volunteering! With Many Thanks, Sue New Volunteer Opportunities Location Description Duration Office for the Aging Is looking for a computer literate individual to handle some basic Data Entry during the Medicare Open Enrollment time frame; hours will be at your discretion, and worked out with Kylie at OFA. Computer Skills and Confidentiality is a must for this position. FALL/ 2016 Transportation Drivers need to have a clean driving record, decent vehicle with current insurance, and a desire to help others. Patrons will be ambulatory, so no lifting is involved. Mileage is reimbursed, and you can take as many or as few trips as you desire. Looking for individuals that can commit to going into a school classroom and reading or listening one-on-one to children in the Elementary grades for at least 20 weeks of the school year. There is a Reading Buddy one day training to attend here in Schuyler before beginning this Schuyler County only at this assignment, but only if you have not been a Reading Buddy in the time past. ONGOING OCT/NOV 2016 Start date Support RSVP! Y our donation to Schuyler-Yates RSVP allows our volunteers to continue helping dozens of non-profit agencies and programs. Your financial support becomes even more critical as federal and state funding for RSVP continues to shrink. Your donation supports the efforts of volunteers who provide tax counseling for the elderly, deliver meals to homebound individuals, help young students improve their reading skills, lead osteoporosisprevention exercise classes and a variety of other activities at more than 60 sites across Schuyler and Yates counties. Any donation, large or small, supports over 300 RSVP volunteers. Mail this form to: Name: Address: Phone: Donation Amount: Schuyler-Yates RSVP 607 North Franklin St. Watkins Glen, NY 14891 Please make checks payable to “Schuyler-Yates RSVP” Would you like your donation to be recognized in our newsletter? Yes No Call 607-535-2050 with questions. November/December 2016 Golden Glow Page 11 Bone Builder Classes Tuesday Mornings Hector Presbyterian Church 8:30 am - 9:30 am Karey Solomon & Marion Webster Wednesday Mornings Hector Presbyterian Church 9:00 am - 10:00 am Sheryl Thurston, Bobbi Beckhorn & Nancy Davis Wednesday Morning - Men’s Group Hector Presbyterian Church 10:30 am - 11:30 am John Flowers, Bob Wirth, Colin McNaull Monday Mornings Catharine Court Apartments - Montour Falls 10:00 am - 11:15 am Diane Ballard & Max Spaulding Friday Mornings Silver Spoon Café - Montour Falls 9:45 am - 11:00 am Wendy & Bob Wirth Monday Mornings St. Mark’s Terrace - Dundee 9:30 am - 10:30 am Pat Van Lone & Marsha Stout Wednesday Mornings St. Mark’s Terrace - Dundee 9:30 am - 10:30 am Pat Van Lone & Marsha Stout Tuesday Mornings Clinton Crest Apartments - Penn Yan 10:00 am - 11:00 am Linda Howe & Kathy Sandberg Tuesday Mornings Tyrone Fire Hall 9:00 am - 10:00 am Eldene Brill & Marion Nicastro Mornings (day to be determined) Keuka Park Fire Hall 10:00 am - 11:00 am Lois Agliata If you are interested in joining a Bone Builder class, please call Sue Larson, RSVP Director, at (607) 535-2050; or email Sue at [email protected] Page 12 Golden Glow November/December 2016 LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN UPDATE Most Frequent Complaints in NY Nursing Homes, 2015 Discharge / eviction (planning, notice, process); Medications—administration; Care plan / resident assessment—inadequate, failure to follow; Dignity / respect/staff attitudes; Failure to respond to requests for assistance. Most Frequent Complaints in NY Adult Homes, 2015 Medications—administration; Discharge / eviction (planning, notice, process); Dignity / respect/staff attitudes; Food service—quantity, quality, variation, choice, menu, utensils; Cleanliness, pests, general housekeeping; Resident Conflict, including roommates. For more information or to inquire about volunteering contact: Suzanne Motheral, Long Term Care Ombudsman Coordinator Chemung, Schuyler, & Tompkins Counties 607-274-5498 Application and 36 hour certification required and provided for qualified candidates. To Make a Donation , Subscribe or Change Address Please clip and send this coupon along with your contribution payable to or address change to: Schuyler County OFA 323 Owego Street, Unit 7 Montour Falls, NY 14865 The Schuyler County Office for the Aging appreciates and gratefully accepts financial contributions to help off-set needs beyond available resources. I would like my contribution to go to: ____ Home Delivered Meals ____ Transportation Services ____ Legal Assistance ____ Health Insurance Counseling ____ Where it is most needed ____ In Memory Of _____________________ ____ Please acknowledge my donation in the Glow as anonymous. Tape current mailing label here Name ______________________________________________________ NEW Address _______________________________________________ City ______________________________ State ________ Zip _________ Phone ___________________ E-Mail _____________________________ I prefer to receive the Golden Glow by (circle one) USPS MAIL or EMAIL [ ] Permanent [ ] TEMPORARY In effect from ____________ to _____________ [ ] Please remove name from mailing list.
