Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc. A private, not-for-profit agency LIFESPAN Volume XVI No. 6 Serving Montgomery County Older Adults since 1975 November/December 2013 Office Closings: Community Breakfast Mon., Nov. 11, Veterans Day The Montgomery County Office for Aging recently held its Annual Thurs., Nov. 28 and Fri., Nov. 29, Community Breakfast and Public Thanksgiving Holiday Hearing sponsored by CDPHP at the Wed., Dec. 11, Office closing at 12 pm Rolling Hills Country Club in Fort Johnson. It was a well-attended event Tues., Dec. 24, Office closing at 12 pm in which the agency presented its Wed., Dec. 25, Christmas Holiday proposed 2014-2015 budget and had guest speakers from Mobile Geriatrics Wed., Jan. 1, New Year’s Day and Catholic Charities. OFA Executive Director, David Jordan presents Sharlene Cornacchia of CDPHP Caregiver of the Year with a certificate of appreciation for sponsorship of this annual event. Joanie Caska has been recognized a doctorate degree in Literary Studies as Caregiver of the Year by the and hopes to teach at the college level. Montgomery County Board of Joanie has been able to work from We Have a Supervisors at its meeting on Oct. 22. home in her writing business which Joanie moved back into her specializes in online web content, Holiday Gift childhood home to be with her mother editing and proofreading. She has been and has been caring for her for the past forced to scale back her work due to Idea for You seven years. What the demands of began as general caregiving. Since Calendars make great gifts for assistance has she is unable to your employees and/or loved ones. If gradually evolved leave her mom you need a gift for someone who has into direct help with alone, Montgomery everything, then you may want to all activities of daily County Office for consider purchasing a lottery living, including Aging, Inc. has calendar. Who wouldn't enjoy a housekeeping, been assisting her whole year with 365 opportunities to personal care and through the win multiple cash prizes of up to companionship. Caregiver Respite $250 each? The Office for Aging still Joanie has proven program. By having has some 2014 lottery calendars for to be an exemplary a home health aide only $20 each or buy 5, get one free. Joanie Caska in her flower garden caregiver by her come in once a A limited quantity will be available for consistent patience and dedication. week to take over her responsibilities, purchase, so get yours today! Call A graduate of Canajoharie High Joanie is able to get a much needed OFA at 843-2300 for more School, she also graduated from SUNY break. She uses this time to work at information about the calendar or Cobleskill, and from SUNY Albany with home, visit the library, go hiking, or stop by 135 Guy Park Avenue, a degree in American Literature. She take a ride in the country. Amsterdam to ensure yours today! plans to continue her studies, pursuing 2 - November/December 2013 From the Advocacy Begins at Home Director Reauthorizing the Older Americans Act Yorkers who want to live independently will demonstrate a commitment to in the least restrictive setting. David Jordan good planning for handling the growth 5. Supports families and Executive Director of the older population. The 2010 U.S. caregivers. The value of the services Census reported a 15% increase in that family caregivers provide to help The Older Americans Act (OAA) New York State’s overall 60-plus older adults live independently is should be reauthorized this year and population. estimated at $450 billion a year just in the nick of time: the U.S. 2. Reach older New Yorkers nationally, according to AARP’s Public expects an unprecedented wave of before they end up on Medicaid. Policy Institute. growth in the population of citizens Area Agency on Aging programs are Source: The Association on Aging in over the age of 60. The Older pre-Medicaid programs that help older New York is in partnership with the Americans Act was originally New Yorkers avoid the spend-down to National Association of Nutrition and established in 1965 with the goal of Medicaid. These services can be Aging Services Programs created this providing health and human services provided to older New Yorkers at one- document for policymakers who might for Americans, particularly as they tenth the cost of a nursing home. be wondering why they should grow older. 3. Access to community-based reauthorize the Older Americans Act. The reauthorization provides an programs. The national Aging opportunity for Congress to ensure the Services Network, which is Montgomery County Aging Network in the U.S. can comprised of the Administration on Office for Aging, Inc. The Designated Area Agency on Aging continue to support a valuable and Aging, State Office for Aging, Area ever-expanding population of older Agencies on Aging, and community Staff

Americans and their caregivers. Area providers was established by the act Kelly Casler Meeghan Lyons Agencies on Aging (AAAs) design, to ensure Americans have access to Sharon Heroth Jennifer Moyer fund, and coordinate programs that community-based programs and a Mary Ellen Houlihan Stephen Prohaska enhance the community support continuity of care so they may David Jordan Elizabeth Smitka Lynn La Salle Jason Walrath system designed to maintain older maintain their independence. adults in their homes, postponing the 4. More New Yorkers will be able Board of Directors need for more medically intensive and to live independently long into old * Emeritus costly health care services. age. Agencies on Aging serve the Sheriff Michael Amato* Charles S. Pedersen* 5 Reasons to Reauthorize the needs – nutritious meals, caregiver Peter Capobianco Vincent Rossi Older Americans Act Today! support, transportation, in-home Joan Conboy Dorothy Savarese 1. The Age Wave. Every eight personal care services, health Ronald Dievendorf Thomas Sorbero Ted Madej Michael Wancewicz seconds in America someone turns 65. insurance counseling – of older New Donald Massey* Roberta Winsman Thomas Mickle* Barbara Wool Dolores Partyka Heading South for Winter? Advisory Council A number of Montgomery County address, or do not have second class residents spend their winter in mail forwarded, please notify us. Marie Austin Elizabeth Niski Evelyn Bianchi Claritza Reyes Malavé warmer climates, changing their We’ll send your mail to the temporary Joan Cimino Jacob Sammons address at the post office for the address during the time you are Sandra DiGiandomenico Undersheriff Jeffrey Smith months they are away. When we there, and after notification, to your David Dybas Lynne Van Eps receive returned mail with an address permanent address when you return. Anne Keiley Nancy Vertuccii Dolores Muselbeck Sheila Wheeler change, we don’t know if it is a To avoid missing one issue of temporary or permanent change. If LIFESPAN, please call 843-2300 or LIFESPAN is published bi-monthly by the you receive LIFESPAN and leave for write to the Montgomery County Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc. an extended vacation of several Office for Aging, Inc., 135 Guy Park and funded by Title III B of the Federal Older months and change your mailing Ave., Amsterdam, NY 12010. Americans Act. November/December 2013 - 3 Bon Dietary Supplements Supplements are available without a minerals, check the % Daily Value Appétit! prescription and usually come in pill, (DV) for each nutrient to make sure powder or liquid form. Common you’re not getting too much. Too much Tracy Hojohn supplements include vitamins, of certain supplements can be harmful. Registered Dietitian minerals and herbal products, also Manufacturers are also responsible for known as botanicals. People take the product’s purity, and they must When you reach for that bottle of these supplements to make sure they accurately list ingredients and their vitamin C or fish oil pills, you might get enough essential nutrients and to amounts. However, there is no wonder how well they work and if they maintain or improve their health. But regulatory agency that makes sure that are safe. The first thing to ask yourself not everyone needs to take labels match what’s in the bottles. You is whether you need them in the first supplements. It’s possible to get all of risk getting less, or sometimes more, place. More than half of all Americans the nutrients you need by eating a of the listed ingredients. All of the take one or more dietary supplements. variety of healthy foods, but ingredients may not even be listed. supplements can be useful for filling in To make it easy to find reliable CAFÉS gaps in your diet. Some supplements information, NIH has fact sheets on may have side effects, especially if dietary supplements at http:// Bring a friend and have lunch taken before surgery or with other ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/. NIH at one of our cafés. Lunch is medicines. Supplements can also also recently launched an online served Monday through cause problems if you have certain Dietary Supplement Label Database at Friday at 12 p.m. health conditions. Speak with your www.dsld.nlm.nih.gov. This free Call 843-2300 or 673-2000 health care provider FIRST if you’re database lets you look up the to make a reservation or to thinking about taking dietary ingredients of thousands of dietary cancel a reservation. supplements. Dietary supplements are supplements. It includes information regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug from the label on dosage, health Daily sites Administration (FDA) as foods, not as claims and cautions. Deciding whether drugs. Just because a supplement is to take dietary supplements and which Amsterdam promoted as “natural” doesn’t ones to take is a serious matter. Learn Garden Towers Café necessarily mean it is safe. The herbs about their potential benefits and any 52 Division St. comfrey and kava, for example, can risks they may pose. ALWAYS speak (New Amsterdam Apartments) seriously damage the liver. Make sure to your health care provider first and

Canajoharie to consider the dose and possible decide together what might be best for Café Arkell interactions with medication you’re you to take, if anything at all. already taking. For vitamins and Source: National Institute of Health 55 Montgomery St. (Arkell Center) Join us for Lunch St. Johnsville The Montgomery County Office for To make a reservation or cancel a Westside Café Aging hosts special holiday lunches for reservation, please call 843-2300 or 16 Washington St. Montgomery County residents age 60 673-2000. There is a suggested (Community House) and over. Spouses and guests are also donation of $3, however, your desire Monthly site welcome to Thanksgiving Special and/or ability to donate is strictly enjoy these personal and Amsterdam Wed., Nov. 20 Christmas Special holiday meals at Roast Turkey confidential. Wed., Dec. 18 Inman Café any of our cafés Mashed Potatoes Guests under Roast Beef (Inman Senior Center) listed at left. Glazed Carrots the age of 60 will Mashed Potatoes 53 Guy Park Ave. Lunch will be Cranberry Sauce be charged $7.95 Peas & Mushrooms Dinner Roll Every Third Friday served at noon. for the lunch. Dinner Roll Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake 4 - November/December 2013 LegalEase When Legal Capacity Fails attentive and with precaution. Self- A guardian or attorney-in-fact should Del B. Salmon dealing must be avoided at all costs. keep a detailed balance sheet of all Legal Services The standard that the law applies is income in and all expenses out. All Representative a “reasonable person” standard. The monies belonging to the incapacitated question that is asked is whether a individual must be kept in separately Decision Making for an Incapacitated reasonable person would determine identifiable accounts in the name of the Person in New York State that the behavior was reasonable incapacitated person. Avoid at all costs Part 4 of 4 under the circumstances. co-mingling money by placing funds in This Article concentrates on the A guardian or attorney-in-fact the personal account of the ethical responsibilities of a Guardian who acts responsibly and in good guardian or attorney-in-fact. as well as the standards used to make faith under the circumstances Older individuals often do decisions for a person lacking can justify his or her actions and not have checking capacity. has little to worry about. Such a accounts. While it may When a person acts on behalf of, or fiduciary should be careful to seem convenient to deposit for the benefit of, another person that avoid an “appearance of funds from the incapacitated person acts under the law in a impropriety.” An appearance of person’s savings accounts into the “fiduciary” capacity. The term fiduciary impropriety is a situation which may be guardian or attorney-in-fact’s checking is founded upon a trust or confidence. legal, but has the appearance of being account for the purpose of paying bills, A fiduciary relationship imposes upon suspect. it is wrong. It is wrong because it is co- an individual the legal requirement to A gift of a car, without monetary mingling of assets and creates the act in good faith in a relationship of consideration, to a relative in a appearance that the guardian or trust and confidence for the benefit of guardian or power of attorney situation attorney-in-fact is benefiting him or another. is an example of an appearance of herself. What does this legal “gobblety-goop” impropriety. The sale of that car to the Older individuals and incapacitated mean? It means that a guardian or same relative for “fair market value,” as individuals need honest, diligent and attorney-in-fact (power of attorney) evidenced by an appraisal or responsible individuals to act on their must act with care and diligence rather appraisals, would avoid that behalf in their best interest. There is an than with negligence. It means that this appearance and would be deemed immeasurable intrinsic reward for such person’s conduct must be careful, reasonable. unselfishness. HIICAP Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Any help you get from relatives, There’s No Cost or Obligation to Hotline friends and others to pay for household Apply Meeghan Lyons expenses—like food, mortgage, rent, It’s easy and free to apply for “Extra Client Services heating fuel or gas, electricity, water, Help.” You or a family member, trusted Representative and property taxes—does not count as counselor, or caregiver can apply income. online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ Medicare’s “Extra Help” program Many People Qualify and Don’t prescriptionhelp or call Social Security helps people with limited income to Know It at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users should pay for their prescription medications. The changes that took place in 2010 call 1-800-325-0778). All the Making ends meet should not mean allowed more people than ever to information you give is confidential. going without your medications. If you qualify for “Extra Help.” Even if you Medicare beneficiaries can also have limited income and resources, were previously turned down for “Extra receive assistance in their local Medicare’s “Extra Help” program sets it Help” due to income or resource communities from their State Health up so this year you might pay no more levels, you should reapply. If you Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), than $2.60 for each generic drug and qualify, you will get help paying for Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), the $6.50 for each brand name drug. The Medicare prescription drug coverage Aging and Disability Resource Centers Centers for Medicare & Medicaid premiums, copayments, and (ADRC) and many tribal organizations. Services estimates that more than 2 deductibles. To qualify, you must make For information about how to contact million people with Medicare may be less than $16,755 a year (or $22,695 these organizations go to eligible for the subsidy, but are not for married couples). Even if your www.eldercare.gov. currently enrolled to take advantage of annual income is higher, you still may To learn more about Medicare these savings. A recent law changed be able to get some extra help. Your prescription drug coverage, visit how your income and assets are resources must also be limited to www.medicare.gov, or call 1-800- counted: $13,070 (or $26,120 for married MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY Life insurance policies do not count couples). Resources include bank users should call 1-877-486-2048. as resources. accounts, stocks, and bonds, but not Source: U.S. Department of Health your house or car. and Human Services. November/December 2013 - 5 Information Home Energy Assistance Program Corner older or who are disabled can call OFA In past years, the HEAP program at 843-2300 to request an application offered a clean and tune component Kelly Casler packet. The packet will be mailed after and Heating Repair and Replacement Client Services Nov. 18 and will include all the component; those programs will NOT Representative information that you will need to be offered this year. complete the application. The income For more information, please contact The 2013 – 2014 Regular HEAP guidelines for the 2013 – 2014 have OFA at 843-2300. Program will open Nov. 18, 2013 and been updated and are as follows is scheduled to close Feb. 1, 2014. Family size: Gross monthly income: The 2013 – 2014 Emergency HEAP 1 $2,175 Election Help Program will open Jan. 2, 2014 and is 2 $2,844 The Montgomery County Board of scheduled to close Mar. 17, 2014. If 3 $3,513 Elections is seeking registered voters you participated in HEAP last year, you 4 $4,182 to be Election Inspectors. were mailed an application at the end 5 or more, contact the OFA For more information please call the of Aug. Any individual aged 60 and Board of Elections at 853-8180. Senior Picnic held at Fairgrounds The Montgomery County Office for Band, a pulled pork lunch provided by would like to thank all of our many Aging held its Senior Picnic, sponsored OFA’s meal contractor, Trinity Services volunteers for their time and efforts in by CDPHP, on Fri., Sept. 20 at the Group and many received prizes that making the picnic a successful event. Fonda Fairgrounds. Attendees enjoyed were donated by local merchants, a BINGO, more than 30 exhibitors, 50/50 raffle and entertainment by the Bill Brust Big basket raffle. We

Forum Held From the seniors The Montgomery County Office for Enclosed is a check for my father’s Aging held a “Meet the Candidates” last meals from the Meals for the forum on Oct. 9 at the Public Safety Elderly. I want to thank you for Facility in Fultonville. providing these meals to him for the Topics discussed were relevant to past several months. I especially would the upcoming changes in government. like to thank the lady who delivered the We wish to thank all of the meals to him. He looked forward to her candidates who were in attendance. visits each day. She is a special lady. Don’t forget to vote on Tues., Nov. 5. GK., Amsterdam 6 - November/December 2013 November/December 2013 - 7

Happy Holidays from your friends

at the

Montgomery County Office for Aging

Hospice Care Focuses on the Whole Patient The quality of hospice care that sets suggest resolutions. Chaplains offer Beyond a doubt, the most important it apart from every other type of support during the patients’ pondering member of the team is the patient. The medical service is that the patient is of spiritual questions and convictions. dignity of decision-making is essential seen as a whole person: not only a Services are geared to the needs and so that the plan of care produces the physical being, but one with a mind desires of the patients and families—a quality of life the patient needs and and emotions, a person with values hospice aide may help with home desires. Family members also share and convictions. Body, mind and spirit needs, specialty therapists bringing art, thoughts on certain issues, but always add up to a complete person. music, massage or other physical it is the patient who has the final word. In order to deliver genuine care to treatment—can bring personalized With this teamwork, patients and such a multi-faceted being, hospice care. caregivers alike learn what’s vitally has a team of people. Medical Important to the hospice team are important about living. Not just for the specialists, doctors and nurses, of volunteers. Well-prepared volunteers last weeks or months, but for all of life. course, will be concerned with physical are paired with patients and their If you’d like more information about conditions causing pain and families to listen and share life’s getting hospice care for youself or discomfort. But they also know that the laughter as well as laments. It is a someone you love, contact The whole person is much more than that. companionship supportive to the Community Hospice at 843-5412. So the team includes social workers patient and filled with blessings for the to help with complicated feelings and volunteer as well.

Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc. gratefully acknowledges the following contributors:

Nita Bell Helena Solecki In memory of Frank Kardash Alan Brust David Thompson Frances Kardash Regina Cassetta Alessa and Stephen Wylie Peter and Madeline Duchessi In honor of Nancy Murphy/River Ridge A. Frances Dybas In memory of Mildred Bubniak Activities Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Fallows Anonymous Fran Copp In memory of Chester Blonkowski Richard Furman In memory of Donald R. Przybylo Glen Mohawk Senior Citizens Charlotte Blonkowski Marion Przybylo David Gomula In memory of Michael DiCapri Rev. Pascal Iannotti Mom, Dad and David In honor of Sally Rogers and family Thomas Jennings Bob and Dottie Stewart Bob and Corinne Kowalski In memory of my sister JoAnn Dillan Edward and Arlene Liebelt Joseph Tokarczyk In memory of Mr. and Mrs. E. Smida Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Makarowsky Betty Wojcik Mr. and Mrs. Walter Malkowicz In memory of members of the Good In memory of Richard J. Sponable, Sr. Peter and Patricia Marcucia Shepherd Church Edith Gourley Shirley Sponable Dolores Muselbeck Isabelle Pastalaniec In memory of Ada H. Hotaling In memory of Bernard “Skip” Stanley Dolores Pereicich Maria Sasso and family Betty J. Stanley Sylvia Raczynski Patrick and Dawn Riley In memory of John Pikul and In memory of Robert W. Snyder Daniel and JoAnn Ryczek Mary and Ralph Iannotti Robert and Helen Streeter Ann Sampone Mary Pikul In memory of Charles Wright Eileen Show Carl and Beverly Siegle Margaret Datz Non Profit Org. Montgomery County U.S. Postage PAID Office for Aging Albany, NY 135 Guy Park Avenue Permit No. 918 Amsterdam, NY 12010

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