OFFICE for the AGING Senior Scoop January—March 2018 COLD WEATHER IS HERE! HEAP IS OPEN! The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps low-income HEAP Income households pay for the cost of heating their homes. The season Guidelines 2017-2018 opened on November 13th and runs through March 15, 2018*. Monthly Gross Household Income For those age 60 and older not receiving SNAP (Food Stamp) bene- Cannot Exceed: fits, contact the Office for the Aging at (607) 547-4232 to obtain an # of Gross application or additional information. people Monthly in the Income Those currently receiving SNAP, age 60 and older, should contact home the Department of Social Services at (607) 547-1700 to apply for benefits. 1 $2,318 Those receiving HEAP may also be eligible for an emergency HEAP benefit if you are 2 $3,031 in impending danger of running out of fuel or having your utility service shut off. 3 $3,744 * Tentative HEAP closing date 4 $4,457 New Medicare Cards to Arrive Between Tax Season Will Soon Be Here April 2018 and April 2019 Our AARP Foundation Tax Aides are available to provide FREE tax assistance and preparation. Beginning January 15th, you may contact the Office for the Aging to schedule an appointment with tax volunteers in Oneonta or Cooperstown. Oneonta — 432-9041 Cooperstown — 547-4232 APPOINTMENTS ARE LIMITED What you need: What you should know about the new Medicare cards: 1. Proof of health insurance for yourself, your spouse and any dependents 1. Your card will have a new Medicare number that’s 2. Last year’s tax return unique to you, instead of your Social Security 3. Current year’s tax forms number. This will help to protect your identity. 4. W-2s and tax forms for 2017 2. The cards will automatically be mailed to all 58 5. Property and school taxes paid million current beneficiaries. You don’t need to do 6. Mortgage interest paid anything special to receive one. 7. Charitable contributions 8. Sales of stocks, bonds, etc., including date 3. The new card won’t change your Medicare purchased and date sold with the price coverage or benefits. 9. Social Security numbers of applicants and 4. There's no charge for your new card. dependents 10. All other papers you have that you feel are important Page 2 SENIOR SCOOP JAN—MAR 2018 WINTER SAFETY TIPS With the temperatures dropping and snow in our keep you warm. Strenuous activities like shoveling forecast, Office for the Aging wants to ensure our may put too much strain on your heart, especially if readers are prepared for winter condi- you have heart disease. Shoveling can also be tions. Health in Aging offers many dangerous if you have problems with balance different precautions for older adults to or have "thin bones" (osteoporosis). take during the cold winter months. Monitor Your Mobility Be Sure to Bundle Up! It's easy to slip and fall in the winter, espe- All parts of your body should be covered cially in icy and snowy conditions. If you're when you go out in the cold. This can still able to drive, remember that road condi- help protect against serious health tions and weather make it important to be concerns like hypothermia and frostbite. especially vigilant behind the wheel dur- Hypothermia occurs when your body ing the winter months. temperature drops to a dangerous level, often when Keep Warm But Keep Safe you're out in the cold for an extended time and your body begins to lose heat. Frostbite occurs when During the winter months, it's common to use your body experiences damage to the skin that can a fireplace or other heating sources like natural gas, go all the way down to the bone. Not surprisingly, kerosene and other fuels. Be sure your fireplaces, extreme cold can cause frostbite. stoves and gas appliances are properly vented and cleaned before using them; otherwise, they can Stay Safe While Shoveling Snow leak dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide—a When it's cold out, your heart works double time to deadly gas that you cannot see or smell. 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 volunteers 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 significant 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! A special THANK YOU to all of the community groups who supported local seniors this holiday season. Your time, compassion and hard work are greatly appreciated! Shoeboxes for Seniors SUNY Oneonta Food vs. Fuel Project Fly Creek Quilters Susquehanna Quilters Page 3 SENIOR SCOOP JAN —MAR 2018 CONGREGATE DINING HOME DELIVERED MEALS Did you know that Otsego County Office for the Aging provides a delicious hot meal at 7 sites through- Seniors who are unable to get to one of our Dining out the county? Centers and who require assistance with meals, may be eligible to receive home delivered meals. A There is a suggested donation of $3.50 for seniors age week’s worth of frozen meals are available for 60 and over. Guests under 60 can also receive a meal weekly delivery from our Central Kitchen. for $8.60. If you do not regularly attend, Home delivered meals are just call 24 hours in advance to available to residents age 60 reserve a meal. and older, regardless of income. A suggested donation of $3.50 per meal is requested, but no one will be denied a CENTRAL KITCHEN meal due to the inability to (607) 547-6454 donate. For more information or to Senior Dining Centers: request meals, contact Otsego County Office for the Aging at Nader Towers (607) 547-4232. 2 Mitchell Street, Oneonta Daily Monday through Friday Weather Related Program Closings Elm Park Church In the coming months, there may be times that the 401 Chestnut Street, Oneonta weather impacts our ability to transport meals from our Central Kitchen throughout the county. Daily Monday through Friday New Lisbon Town Hall In the event that inclement weather makes driving 908 County Hwy 16, Garrattsville too dangerous, it may be necessary to close senior dining centers and cancel home delivered meals 3rd and 4th Wednesdays of the month for that day. Please note, based on weather Unadilla Village Apartments patterns, it is possible that some dining sites in one 71 Clifton Street, Unadilla part of the county may be open, while other parts of the county are closed. Closings are determined 4th Wednesday of the month based on local school closings. Veteran’s Club (315) 858-2026 201 Lake Street, Richfield Springs Meal delivery cancellations will be announced on the following radio stations: WDHI 100.3 FM, Daily Monday through Friday WDLA 1270 AM or 92.1 FM, WIOX 91.3 FM, The Old School WZOZ 103.1 FM, WSRK 103.9 FM, WBKT 95.3 FM, WTBD 97.5 FM, WKXZ 93.9 FM. Cancella- Genesee Street, Cherry Valley tions can also be found on television channel Monday and Wednesday each week WKTV Channel 2. Milford Methodist Church NEW To help ensure our drivers are able to deliver 113 N. Main Street, Milford SITE! meals safely, please be sure to have your drive- 4th Wednesday of the month way, walkways and stairs clear of snow and ice. Page 4 SENIOR SCOOP JAN —MAR 2018 ARE YOU A CAREGIVER? them or to make time to go to lunch with a friend. It is ok to take a trip to Are you a caregiver of a loved the mall and shop for yourself. It is one? Whether it be a friend, even ok to just read a book in bed or neighbor, relative or spouse, in the park. Time for yourself is im- there may be respite options portant... just as important as it is for available to help you get a few you to be there for your loved one. hours to yourself... a few hours to re-group and relax or do Funding may be available to help something for you. provide this break for you. Respite is available in the form of in-home As a caregiver, many feel over- aides, Adult Day Care programs and to care for them or to let some- whelmed, but don’t reach out short-term respite in a long term care one else into “their world”. to others to ask for help in the facility. care of their loved one. In It is important to know that care- YOU ARE NOT ALONE! many cases, caregivers feel givers need a break too. It’s that it is easier to care for their important to know that it is ok to Contact Office for the Aging to learn loved one alone, rather than ask for help. It’s ok for you to more about the respite options try to teach someone else how take a trip to the store without available to you. WHAT IS NYCONNECTS? NY Connects is your trusted meals or health insurance. Applica- your medical, social and functional place to go for free, unbiased tion assistance is also available to needs that arise from aging or dis- information about long term access programs such as Medicaid, ability.