1. health and fitness

Broome County Office for Aging
Senior News
March
Senior News
Kathleen Bunnell, Director
Barbara J. Fiala, County Executive
1
MARCH 2010
Volume 38 Number 3
Visit Our Website at www.gobroomecounty.com/senior
Mission In Motion Mobile Mammography
While most women
understand and appreciate
the need for annual women’s
health screenings such as
mammograms, access to
these services often poses
a problem for many women
throughout our area. Busy, working women find it difficult to take time
for these tests, while many women in rural areas do not have transportation to facilities where these services are offered.
Lourdes Mission In Motion Mobile Mammography brings comprehensive
health care to women where they live and work. Women schedule their
appointments directly through Lourdes Central Scheduling Department.
Lourdes will bill the patient’s insurance carrier directly.
Mammogram results are sent directly to the patient’s health care provider,
regardless of the provider’s or the patient’s affiliation with Lourdes.
Women are eligible to use the Mission In Motion Mobile Mammography
van if they:
• Have no current breast problems or symptoms.
• Had a biopsy over one year ago with benign results and no further problems.
• Are of an eligible age for a mammogram, typically 40 or older.
Pre-registration is required for a mammogram. Please bring the order
from your primary care provider if available.
Visit us at one of the following locations during the month of March:
Newark Valley Fire Station, 7151 Route 38, Newark Valley
Lourdes Primary Care Associates, 276 Robinson Street, Binghamton
Lourdes Family Practice, 500 5th Ave, Owego
Lourdes Primary Care Associates, 415 E. Main Street, Endicott
Broome Senior Center, Whitney Point
Lourdes Primary Care Associates, 153 Oakdale Road, Johnson City
Greene Community Services Bldg. 29 N. Chenango Street, Greene
Lourdes Center for Family Health, 13293 Routes 38, Richford
Waverly Methodist Church, 158 Chemung Street,
Call Lourdes Central Scheduling at (607) 798-5723 to make an appointment or to find a location near you.
The Start Of March Madness
The first public basketball game was played on March 11, 1892.
In December 1891, Canadian-born James Naismith, a
physical education teacher at the YMCA (Young Men’s
Christian Association) training school, took a soccer ball and
a peach basket into the gym and invented basketball. In 1893,
James Naismith replaced the peach basket with iron hoops and
a hammock-style basket. Ten years later came the open-ended
nets of today. Before that, you had to retrieve your ball from
the basket every time you scored.
Continued on page 2
Medicare
Advantage Open
Enrollment Period
Is Now In Full
Swing
Attention Medicare beneficiaries:
Now is the time to join, drop or
switch your Medicare Advantage
plan. The Medicare Advantage
Open Enrollment Period runs January 1st to March 31st. But before
you make any changes to your
current situation, consider these
Medicare Advantage basics:
What is a Medicare Advantage
Plan? There are two ways you can
receive your Medicare coverage:
(1) through Original Medicare,
which allows you to go to any doctor, hospital or other health-care
provider that takes Medicare and
you pay a deductible and a part of
the cost of the services you receive;
or (2), you can get your Medicare
coverage through a “Medicare
Advantage” plan. (These plans
are sometimes called “Medicare
Health Plans.”)
Locally, there are more than 45
different Medicare Advantage
plans available in 2010, with three
major kinds to choose from: Health
Maintenance Organization (HMO)
Preferred Provider Organization
(PPO), and Private Fee-for-Service
Plan (PFFS).
All Medicare Advantage plans are
private plans that provide Medicare
benefits. If you join one, you will
receive your Medicare coverage
through a private company, not
the federal government. Although
Medicare Advantage plans are
private plans, they are required by
law to cover all medically reasonable and necessary care/services
that are covered by Medicare Parts
A and B.
Some plans may also offer services
that Medicare doesn’t cover, such
as eye glasses, hearing aides, and/
or health club memberships. MediContinued on page 3
IT-214 Real
Property Tax or
Rent Rebate
You may be eligible for a rebate
from New York State on real
property taxes or rent you paid for
your residence during 2009 if you
meet the following conditions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Household gross income was
$18,000 or less.
You occupied the same NY
residence for at least 6 months.
You were a NYS resident for
all of 2009.
You couldn’t be claimed as a
dependent on someone else’s
federal income tax return.
Your residence was not
completely exempted from real
property taxes.
The current market value of
real property owned (house,
garage, and land) was $85,000
or less.
If a homeowner, you or your
spouse paid real property taxes
and any rent you received for
nonresidential use of your
residence was 20% or less of
the total rent received.
If a renter, you or a household
member paid rent for your
residence and the average
monthly rent was $450 or less,
not counting charges for heat,
gas, electricity, furnishings or
board.
You can apply for the credit by
filling out a Form IT-214, Claim
for Real Property Tax Credit for
Homeowners and Renters. If you
file a NYS Income Tax Return for
2009, you can submit the IT-214
with your tax return. If you don’t
have to file a NYS return, you can
submit the IT-214 by itself no later
Continued on page 2
Senior News
March
Aging With Attitude
IT-214
continued from page 1
Stay connected…and never act your age!
A column dedicated to encouraging social connections.
than April 15, 2013. Only one
credit is allowed per household.
The IT-214 rebate is separate
from the Senior Citizen’s Partial
Real Property Tax Exemption
and the STAR Program. Eligible
households may apply for all three
programs in one year.
What Causes Stress And What Stress Causes
What causes stress, with some exceptions, is pretty universal. When we
are unable to cope with the environment as well as we would like we bring
about stress. For example, if we worry that we will not get something that
we want or that we may get something we do not want we generate some
level of stress.
If you didn’t file Form IT-214 for
previous years, you may still be
able to apply for:
Year
Last date to file
2006
April 19, 2010
2007
April 15, 2011
2008
April 16, 2012
Need help applying for the rebate?
Contact the NYS Department of
Taxation and Finance at www.
nystax.gov or call 1-800-462-8100
(to get forms) or 1-800-225-5829
(for personal income tax information center). You can also visit an
AARP Tax Aide site which is a
volunteer-run tax counseling and
preparation service offered during
the tax season. Its counselors can
answer most tax issues faced by
middle and low-income taxpayers,
with special attention to those age
60 and older. To locate Tax Aide
sites in Broome County, call the
Office for Aging’s Senior Resource Line at 778-2411.
Daylight Savings
Time Begins
Most of the United States begins
Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m.
on the second Sunday in March
(3/14) and reverts to standard time
on the first Sunday in November.
In the U.S., each time zone switches at a different time.
Many fire departments encourage people to change the batteries in their smoke detectors when
they change their clocks because
Daylight Saving Time provides a
convenient reminder. “A working
smoke detector more than doubles
a person’s chances of surviving a
home fire,” says William McNabb
of the Troy Fire Department in
Michigan. More than 90 percent
of homes in the United States have
smoke detectors, but one-third are
estimated to have dead or missing
batteries.
2
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
March Madness
continued from page 1
James Naismith was born in Ramsay township, near Almonte, Ontario, Canada and attended McGill
University in Montreal, Quebec.
After serving as McGill’s Athletic
Director, James Naismith moved
on to work at the YMCA Training
School in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891. The game of basketball was inspired by a children’s
game James Naismith knew called
duck-on-a-rock, in which players throw a small rock at a “duck”
placed on top of a large rock in
an attempt to knock the “duck”
off. While at Springfield, James
Naismith invented basketball as
a sport to play indoors during the
cold Massachusetts winters. The
first game of basketball was played
with a soccer ball and two peach
baskets used as goals. After changing the peach baskets for open
hoop nets, James Naismith soon
wrote thirteen official rules for the
game.
The first ever college basketball
game was played on January 18,
1896, when the University of Iowa
invited student athletes from the
new University of Chicago for an
experimental game. Final score:
Chicago 15, Iowa 12, a bit different
from the hundred-point scores of
today.
In 1963, college games were first
broadcast on national TV, but it
wasn’t until the 1980s that sports
fans ranked basketball up there
with football and baseball.
With the current situations in the world, we certainly worry about what
is happening around us. We worry about war, having our water supply
contaminated, or a host of other potential dangers. According to the doom
and gloom of some newscasters’ comments, one could easily believe that
the end of the world is near. But, let’s put this into perspective. Many Seniors can recall the stress connected with World War II. We survived then
and undoubtedly we will now.
Some years ago the comedian Flip Wilson coined a famous phrase that is
appropriate for today, “What you see is what you get.” If we see the glass
as half-empty we can become depressed. But if we see the glass as half
full, the future looks brighter. We are not ignoring reality by taking a positive outlook rather; we’re putting things into perspective and coping.
Consider this. What if you go to the shopping center and buy a suit that
you think looks terrible. The next week, you buy a shirt or blouse that
also is ugly. Later you buy a pair of shoes to match the ugly suit and shirt.
Shortly, your closet is filled with very ugly clothes and you have nothing
suitable to wear. This is a result of attending to what you don’t want and
making bad decisions and bad choices. While this may sound foolish, too
often this is how we conduct our lives. We spend so much time attending
to what we don’t want, we fail to see what we do want. Assuredly, whatever we focus on and attend to will be exactly what comes to us.
To combat this warped attention, sit down with a pencil and paper and
write your list of what you desire for today. On a second list write down
what you want for this week. On a third list write what you want for this
month. Each morning review your lists and see what you can do to bring
about these events. The first and foremost thing to do is focus on the desirable events, and ignore the undesirable. Believe you will get what you
want -- because you will.
Life is too important to be taken so seriously. Relax!
Balance Clinic
Wednesday, April 14 from 1 – 4 pm
Northern Broome Senior Center, 12 Strongs Place, Whitney Point
The Broome County Office for Aging along with Aging Futures is offering
people 55 years and older the opportunity to participate in a free Balance
Clinic. People lose their balance for many reasons including medications,
vision and blood pressure, just to name a few. This clinic will help you
determine your risk for falls and give strategies to prevent future falls. The
clinic will take each person a little over one hour to complete.
Pre-registration is required so call the Office for Aging at 778-2411 to register (deadline is April 5). Call soon, the clinic will fill-up quickly.
Interesting statistics…
• More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United
States.
• The majority of these falls happen while people are doing regular
activities.
• Approximately 1.8 million people age 65 and older are treated in
emergency departments from non-fatal fall related injuries.
• Falls are the leading cause of injury and death in older adults.
• Falls are NOT a natural part of aging.
Senior News
March
Medicare Advantage
Enrollment
continued from page 1
care Advantage plans that include
Part D drug coverage are called
Medicare Advantage-Prescription
Drug plans, or “MA-PDs.” Other
Medicare Advantage plans that do
not include Part D drug coverage
are called Medicare Advantage Only or MA-Only plans.
Can Anyone Join a Medicare
Advantage Plan?
To join a Medicare Advantage
plan, you must have both Medicare
Parts A and B. Most plans also require that you live permanently in
the area served by that plan. Some
plans have additional restrictions.
If you do join a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll also have to
follow certain rules to be sure you
receive your Medicare coverage
and pay the least amount for your
health care services. For example,
some Medicare Advantage plans
require you to stay within a particular network of providers;
otherwise, they won’t cover you if
you go to a doctor’s office or a hospital outside of that network. Other
plans might cover you, but require
you to pay more out-of-pocket if
you get care outside of their network.
Other Questions About Medicare
Advantage Plans?
For help comparing the costs and
coverages of Medicare Advantage
plans available locally, for assistance with enrolling or dis-enrolling in a plan, and/or to discuss
special considerations for Medicare
beneficiaries of low-income, call
Action for Older Persons (7221251) to make an appointment with
a senior health insurance counselor.
This free, private, confidential
service is available to all Broome
County residents.
Making A Difference
By: Donna Gavula
Stephanie has a daily routine after her coffee, exercises, and the morning.
She calls a family member to see how they are doing, checks in on a
neighbor and then sees if anyone at the bus stop wants a lift to the post
office. Stephanie is making a difference each day without even realizing it.
It’s just in her nature.
What Stephanie doesn’t realize is that making a difference in the lives of
others can result in significant both physical and mental health benefits.
Studies show that helping others can diminish diseases and disorders.
Making a difference can enhance feelings of joy and can reduce the
unhealthy sense of isolation.
Have you ever heard of a “helper’s high?” It is the feeling of well-being
the body experiences after performing an act of kindness. As this initial
“feeling” is prolonged, your emotional well-being is improved.
Making a difference has no boundaries. No matter what your age or stage
of life, you can perform the simple acts of kindness. Even if you are homeor wheelchair-bound, you can find meaningful ways to touch the hearts of
others. It takes time and creativity and maybe talking to others to figure
out what is the right method for you.
A high school student made this observation. “The value of kindness
cannot be measured in human terms. An act of kindness enriches the heart
of both the giver and the receiver.”
How do you make a difference to others today, and how has that affected
your own life? Email us at [email protected] or write us at
Broome County Office for Aging, PO Box 1766, Binghamton, NY 13902,
and tell us your story. Inspire others to do their part in making our world a
better place to live.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Positive Aging
Academy
How are you doing with the dayto-day aspects of retirement?
Positive Aging Academy is a
6-week series that both presents
information and has built-in time
to discuss the topic of the week.
The topics are relevant--things like
what to do with the new-found
time or how to live on a fixed
income.
The series had a new topic each
week:
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Finch Hollow Nature Center
Brown Bag Lunch Program: Bears
Adults aged 50 and up are invited to participate in Finch Hollow Nature
Center’s “Brown Bag” Lunch Program Series. The next program will be
held on Thursday, March 11, from noon until 1:30 p.m. Participants will
bring along a “brown bag lunch” to enjoy in the company of fellow seniors,
with the program to follow. The program topic, “Bears”, will address some
fascinating facts about these large animals that are becoming more common in
the Broome County area. Coffee, tea and cookies will be provided. Admission
is free, but reservations are required. The Nature Center is located at 1394
Oakdale Road, Johnson City. For additional information or to reserve space
in this program call (607) 729-4231.
Weight Control Tip - Start Meals with Soup or Salad.
People tend to eat less when they precede a meal with a low
calorie soup or salad (with fat-free dressing).
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
3
Blue Zones: The factors that
contribute to longevity.
Memoir: The value of reflecting on your life and legacy.
Living on Purpose: Activities
and causes that satisfy, fulfill or
guide you.
Health through Social Connections: Revisiting the importance of relationships.
Money Issues: Know what you
value, then “money” will come.
Streamlining for Purposeful Living: How to downsize
life and leave more time for
purpose-driven activities.
Get the most out of retirement—
hear what others had to say. Get
inspired so the second half of life
is great.! One participant got his
dusty trumpet out of hiding, started
recording his life stories into a tape
machine, and joined a cooking
class for men.
Sign up for the next session at
778-2411. Classes are Wednesdays,
March 17 through April 21 from
3 to 5 pm at Town of Chenango
Offices, 1529 NY Route 12, Binghamton, just one half mile north of
Hillside Gardens.
Senior News
March
TRIPS
TRIPS
Broome West
March 18
Tioga Downs, NY
April 22
Mount Airey Casino, PA
First Ward
March 17
Irish Festival at Turning Stone
April 20
“Joseph” at Sight & Sound
May 3
Monticello Gaming & Raceway
May 18
Penn’s Peak
Johnson City
March 18
St Patrick’s Festival, Erhardt Resort
March 23
“Joseph” at Sight and Sound
April 17-25
New Orleans
April 19
Polka Palooza, Woodland Resort
May 25
Joanne Castle at Villa Roma
June 22
“Drowsy Chaperone” at Merry-GoRound
Dinner at Sherwood Inn, Skaneateles
July 15
Wonders of Rochester
Artisan Works, Strong Museum
of Play, Lake Ontario Luncheon
Cruise
July 26-30
Ottawa
Equipment Demos
Announced
Don’t be intimidated any longer!
The exercise room is open during
the hours the center is open and
is available to you at no charge!
Check out the new recumbent bike
which has been added to the collection of machines there for your use.
Stop in to the Broome West Senior
Center exercise room during any of
these times to learn how to use the
fitness equipment.
Monday, March 8, 10 – 11:30 am
Tuesday, March 16, 10 – 11:30 am
Monday, March 22, 1 – 2 pm
Monday, March 29, 1 – 2 pm
Did you know that both Eastern
Broome and Northern Broome
Senior Centers also have fitness
rooms? Check them out as soon as
possible! Eastern Broome is open
from 9 am – 2:30 pm and Northern
Broome is open from 9 am – 4 pm.
This is a great opportunity to get
exercise during these cold months,
don’t miss out!
Stretch Band
Exercise Class
Join us for a new kind of exercise
class that uses resistance band tubing! Stretch bands can improve
flexibility, endurance, strength, and
tone of muscles. What more could
you ask for from a 6 ft long piece
of rubber tubing?
4
EVENTS at the CENTERS
Potato Bar!
March 10, 11 and 12 at Participating Senior Centers
You can enjoy a Baked Potato w/Fixings including
broccoli, chili, light sour cream, cheese, chives and bacon bits.
It comes with a salad, dessert and beverage.
All that for just $3.00 if you age 60+ and only $4.00 for those who are
not yet age 60. Participating centers are Broome West, Johnson City,
Eastern Broome (10 & 12), Greenman (10) and Northern Broome.
No reservations needed for the Potato Bar so stop by and give it a try.
Another perk of the potato bar is that potatoes are very good for you.
They are fat and cholesterol free; a good source of vitamins, potassium,
fiber, and antioxidants; and low in sodium. Be sure to eat the skins too,
they contain many of the vitamins, minerals, and fiber in potatoes!
The Shape of Pasta
Wednesday, March 3, 11:30 am
East Side Senior Center
Learn how pasta shapes get their
names, why some have ridges, which
ones are best for soups and more.
Nutrition tips as well.
Joan Sprague/OFA is the speaker.
Friday, March 19
Oak Street Senior Center
Celebrate the Green twice this year.
We’ll have corned beef and cabbage.
Wear your green. Celebrate for the
first time or celebrate again!!
St Patrick’s Day Breakfast
Saturday, March 20, 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Eastern Broome Senior Center
Come on over for a delicious homemade meal with dessert, then relax
and enjoy the music of Bluestone
Creek Ramblers from 1 to 2:15 pm.
Take-out also available. Proceeds
benefit senior center activities,
entertainment, and outreach efforts.
Adults: $4.00; under 12: $2.50; and
under 5: free.
Spaghetti & Meatballs Dinner
Saturday, March 6, 8 am – 11 am
Join us before the parade! Also
enjoy these special activities: digital
piano music by Charles Russell, Red
Hat Society bake sale and Senior
Club basket raffle. Pay at the door,
reservations not necessary.
SALE: Inside Garage Sale
Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday
March 9, 10 & 11, 9:30 am – Noon
Vestal Senior Center
You are invited to our spring
fundraiser. New and used items!
39th Anniversary Dinner Dance
This is an excellent way for both
beginners and seasoned fitness
veterans to exercise your muscles.
And as you get stronger, you can
start using a more resistant band to
keep building up your strength.
All fitness levels are welcome; just
wear your sneakers and comfortable clothes. If you do not have
a stretch band yet, they will be
provided. So grab a friend or come
meet some new friends and let’s
get a great workout after lunch!
Stretch Band Exercise will be
Tuesdays, beginning March 9,
from 1 – 2 pm at the Vestal Senior
Center.
An Old Irish Toast
May you never forget what is worth remembering,
or remember what is best forgotten.
St. Patrick’s Day “Again”
Thursday, March 25, 5 - 8:30 pm
First Ward Senior Center
Beef tenderloin dinner catered by
Cline’s Catering at 5. Dancing to
the music of The Night Sounds from
6:30 to 8:30. Tickets are $15 and
must be purchased prior to March
22nd. For information call 797-2307.
Bag Auction
Thursday, March 11, 1 pm
Deposit Senor Center
Find a bag; put a fancy item inside;
fancy-up the bag and bring it to the
center. We will auction it off to
benefit the center. Public is invited.
“Pot o’ Gold”
Sweepstakes Game
Friday, March 12, 11 am
North Shore Nutrition Center
Toss “gold” coins into a pot and win
Irish Sweepstake scratch-off tickets.
All are welcome to play.
St. Patrick’s Sing-a-long
Monday, March 15, 11:00
Johnson City Senior Center
Our Guitar Players have been
practicing and are ready to show
their skills.
Open House
Saturday, March 27, 10 am to Noon
Northern Broome Senior Center
Come and tour our modern facility
and find out about programs and
activities. Visit our exercise room
and library (where computer classes
are held). Learn about the nutrition
program and volunteer opportunities.
Refreshments will be served and
door prizes awarded every half hour!
Bus Trip to Mt. Airey Casino
Thursday, April 22
Departing Shafer’s Bus in Endicott
This trip costs only $40 per person
and includes $25 Free Play and $10
for food. Come join us for a fun
day! You may sign up at Broome
West. Full payment at time of
registration guarantees your seat. For
information, please call 798-0826.
Senior News
March
Caregiver
Corner
Alternative Treatment for Chronic
Prostatitis
... ideas and information for
people caring for others.
Should you try acupuncture to relieve the pain of chronic prostatitis? Results from a recent study provide the answer.
The Benefits of Vibrational
Healing and Other Therapeutic
Modalities
The Caregiver Chat Discussion
Group will host Sara Delafield
who is the manager of the Center
of Community Health at United
Health Services. Sara is also a
Holistic Health Practitioner at
Painted Dreams Healing Arts
Center which is located here in
Binghamton. Sara will share with
us what Vibrational Healing is and
how it can work with traditional
medicine to heal the mind, body
and spirit. Sara will also review
other healing modalities such as
Therapeutic Touch, Aromatherapy,
Light Therapy and how colors can
affect our mood and energy levels.
Her discussion will also include
interactive exercises to help us gain
insight in to the state of health of
our inner self.
The Caregiver Chat will meet on
Monday, March 1st from 1-3 p.m. at
the Stay Healthy Center—Oakdale
Mall. Contact Judy Bobinski,
Facilitator, with questions. She can
be reached by calling the Broome
County Office for Aging-778-2411.
Weight Control Tip Know Your Portion Sizes.
There’s a difference
between serving size and
portion size. A serving is a
standard amount of food
containing a set amount of
calories; a portion is what
you actually put on your
plate. So a portion could
be a lot more than a single
serving -- and therefore
contain a lot more calories
than you might expect.
5
Like other forms of chronic pain, chronic prostatitis is a complex condition with no simple solutions. Successful management depends on treating
the original source of the pain as well as the neurological and psychosocial problems that often accompany it.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
The Buzz on
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, which your body creates through sun exposure, helps
you absorb calcium and prevents
the brittle-bone disease osteoporosis. But with a host of new research linking vitamin D deficiency
to other conditions, the nutrient’s
potential benefits have multiplied,
says Gerald Mullin, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Johns
Hopkins Medical School.
A European study of 752 women
age 75 and older, published in Neurology, found that participants with
low vitamin D levels performed
worse on cognitive function tests
than those with normal vitamin
D levels. Another study of 3,400
men and women 645 and older
found that participants with vitamin D deficiency were three times
more likely to die of coronary heart
disease than those with adequate
levels of the vitamin. Other studies
have linked vitamin D deficiency
to some cancers.
As you age, your skin becomes
less adept at converting ultraviolet
light from the sun into vitamin D.
Ask your doctor for a blood test to
check you vitamin D levels. If deficient, take a supplement and aim
for 800 IU of vitamin D a day.
As a result, your doctor may prescribe several different types of medication. Some men also benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, which can
help improve coping strategies and psychological well-being.
But what if you’ve tried medications and they haven’t helped? Should you
give acupuncture a try?
Results from a small study in The American Journal of Medicine suggest
that acupuncture may provide relief to men with chronic prostatitis. The
study compared the potential benefits of acupuncture versus sham (inactive) treatments in 89 men who had symptoms of chronic prostatitis for
three or more of the past six months and who had a score of 15 or higher
on the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index.
The men were randomly assigned to receive two acupuncture treatments
or two sham treatments a week for 10 weeks. The sham treatments were
nearly identical to genuine acupuncture needle insertions except for the
location and depth of placement.
True acupuncture was nearly twice as effective as the sham procedure in
relieving chronic prostatitis symptoms. Moreover, patients treated with
acupuncture were more than twice as likely as the men given the inactive
treatment to experience long-term prostatitis relief. Few of the men experienced complete resolution of their symptoms.
This study supports findings from other trials showing a benefit from acupuncture for chronic prostatitis. More study is needed before the treatment
can definitively be recommended, but if nothing else has worked for you,
a trial of acupuncture might be worth considering.
Source: Johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Be A Balance Coach
Here’s a volunteer idea for you, or to pass along to a friend, relative or
neighbor.
Broome County has been trained to conduct an evidence-based program
called “A Matter of Balance.” It’s an 8 week series, 2 hours each session
to help older people learn how to be safe when they might feel wobbly. It
teaches them how to fall safely. The class will be offered free to the public
at various sites throughout Broome County. The class is taught by two
volunteers who are trained to become Coaches.
The coach training is two half days and will be held Thursday, March 25th
from 1:00 – 5:00 pm and on Friday, March 26 from 9:00 am 1:00 pm at
the Broome West Senior Center at 2801 Wayne Street in Endwell.
If you are looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity “A Matter of
Balance” is for you. See what participants of the class have said:
- 97% are more comfortable talking about their fear of falls
- 97% feel comfortable increasing their activity
- 98% would recommend A Matter of Balance to others
- 99% plan to continue exercising
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Call Rita at 778-2411 to register for the coach training.
Senior News
March
Dented Food Cans
Is it safe to eat food from a dented can? It depends on how deep the dent
is. A small dent in the can is no cause for alarm, if the seal has not been
broken. But if the seams along the side and ends have been damaged, the
food may be spoiled. Certainly, if the can is leaking or bulging, or if there
is a sharp dent along any of the seams, don’t buy it – or throw it out if you
own it. Finally, if liquid explodes out of the can when you open it, that’s a
sign of contamination, possibly by the bacteria that cause botulism, which
can be deadly. Don’t even taste food you think may be spoiled.
Source: Wellness Letter, May 2008, University of California, Berkley
Medigap:
When You Have the Right to Buy
If you have Original Medicare and do not have supplemental insurance
from a former employer, you may be able to buy a supplemental coverage
policy called a “Medigap.” Medigaps fill gaps in Original Medicare by
covering deductibles, coinsurances and some additional benefits.
It is important to know when you have the right to buy a Medigap
policy. If you miss your window of opportunity, your costs may go up
and you may not be able to buy a Medigap at all. If you are 65 or older,
you have a right to buy a Medigap at certain times. When you have this
right, known as “guaranteed-issue,” an insurance company cannot deny
you insurance coverage or place conditions on a policy, must cover your
pre-existing conditions, and cannot charge you more for a policy because
of your health status. You have guaranteed-issue rights to buy a Medigap
in all states:
1. For six months beginning the month you are both 65 or older and
enroll in Part B (your Medigap “open enrollment period”); and
2. Within 63 days of when your coverage from a current or former
employer is terminated through no fault of your own.
People who join a Medicare private health plan (like an HMO, PPO or
PFFS plan) may also have guaranteed-issue rights if their plan terminates,
if they leave the plan’s service area or if they want to return to a Medigap
within 12 months.
There are additional circumstances that may qualify you for guaranteedissue rights to Medigap, and some states have stronger protections, including for people with Medicare who are under 65. To learn more about
Medigap policies in your state, call your State Department of Insurance or
your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
To learn more about Medigaps, and to view a list of questions to ask
before purchasing a Medigap, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor
at www.medicareinteractive.org. Medicare Interactive Counselor is a
resource provided by the Medicare Rights Center, the largest independent
source of health care information and assistance in the United States for
people with Medicare.
6
Getting Ready For Hip or Knee
Replacement Surgery
Considering hip or knee replacement surgery? Because hip or knee
replacement surgery is rarely an emergency, you have plenty of time to
set your house in order before you go to the hospital. Here’s no-nonsense
advice from Johns Hopkins doctors.
The weeks before hip or knee replacement surgery are a good time to
check your health insurance coverage to avoid any unpleasant surprises
later on. This includes inquiring about or verifying coverage issues such
as:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Need for a second opinion on your hip or knee replacement
surgery
Hospital and health care providers’ status as “in-network” or
“preferred”
Deductibles for hospital services
Limits on length of stay
Coverage for hospital rehabilitation services
After-care services for your hip or knee replacement surgery, such
as physical or occupational therapy (Ask whether the therapists
must be from an approved list and how many visits or sessions are
covered.)
Equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches, and
whether they must be obtained from approved vendors
Home health care coverage, what type, and for how long
Coverage of follow-up visits with your physician
Ask your doctor to explain the hip or knee replacement procedure, the
type of device being implanted, and what you should expect in terms of
rehabilitation. You should discuss pain management, time on crutches or a
walker, length of physical therapy, type of home assistance required, time
off from work, restricted activities, and time until you can resume full
activities.
Prepare your home for your recovery. Take a look at the rooms in
your house to identify potential problem areas. To increase safety and
convenience:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Remove throw rugs and small items from the floor. Tape down
electrical cords. Rearrange furniture to create wide pathways to
accommodate a walker or crutches.
Set up a bedroom downstairs.
Place kitchenware and other frequently used items within arm’s
reach. Buy a long-handled grabbing device.
Consider installing handrails and grab bars in the bathroom and
shower. A shower bench and elevated toilet seat are also helpful.
Place a sturdy high-backed chair with arms in the room where you
will spend most of your time.
Set up a recovery center. Place a table and wastebasket near your
chair. Include a phone, T.V. remote control, tissues, medications,
water pitcher and glass, and reading material. Use a carpenter’s
apron or shoulder bag to carry items around the house.
Make or buy frozen casseroles, soups, and other easy-to-prepare
foods.
Above all, don’t hesitate to ask friends and neighbors for help
with groceries, transportation, or other tasks. With your new hip or
knee, you’ll be able to return the favor down the road.
Source: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts 7/6/09
Weight Control Tip - Divide and Conquer. Research shows that
the bigger the plate, bag, or container of food, the bigger your
eyes -- and it appears that the eyes have more control over how
much you eat than your stomach.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
March
Senior News
Marci’s Medicare Answers
7
Bet You Didn’t Know
Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center
(www.medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and
assistance for people with Medicare. To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114. To
subscribe to “Dear Marci,” the Medicare Rights Center’s free educational e-newsletter,
simply e-mail [email protected].
To learn more about the services that Medicare will cover and how to change plans, log
on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center’s website at
www.medicareinteractive.org.
The origin of the name Stella Ireland Road dates back over 150 years to
when the road’s original name was Stella to New Ireland Road. Stella was
named after the daughter of an early postmaster of the area that today we
call Prospect Terrace. New Ireland was an area near the Greater Binghamton Airport where a large settlement of Irish farmers located in the 1840’s
and 1850’s. Over the years residents have continually shortened the name
until today only Stella Ireland remains.
Dear Marci,
I’m at risk for osteoporosis. Does Medicare cover bone density tests?
Shirley
Kirkwood Shootout
Dear Shirley,
Yes. If your doctor believes you are at risk for osteoporosis and orders
the test, Medicare will cover 80 percent of the cost of one bone mass
measurement (sometimes called “bone density tests”) every two years (24
months), after you pay your annual Part B deductible. Medicare will also
cover follow-up measurements or more frequent screening if your doctor
prescribes them. Bone mass measurements show if you need medical
treatment for osteoporosis, a condition that causes “brittle bones” in many
older adults. Those at high risk for the disease include people who have
a family history of the disease, have spinal abnormalities, have certain
conditions (such as thyroid disorders) or have taken certain medications
for a prolonged period of time (such as a steroid anti-inflammatory).
Marci
Our first apartment was over a two car garage on Willow Road in Kirkwood. Willow Road was west of Joe O’Brian’s “Dance Land” and east of
St. Mary’s church, in an area that was not really rural and not really suburbia. There was a lawn big enough to play football on; long enough that I
could not throw a pass from the creek end to the road end: and our neighbor on the other side of the lawn was a New York State Trooper Barracks.
Normally we went to sleep feeling well protected.
By: Don Litchko
Sometimes living next to the Trooper Barracks was exciting – not often
you can be sitting on your living room couch – looking out your picture
window – and see a Police helicopter drop out of the sky unexpectedly on
your lawn – and feel the down draft rattle the glass - but we could – every
now and then. It would get the whole neighborhood excited.
A helicopter landing was mild excitement compared to the night I got up
to use the bathroom and looked over towards the barracks. It was about
one in the morning on a snowy night:
Good Vision In A Downpour
How to achieve good vision while driving during a heavy downpour......
We are not sure why it is so effective but it works, try this method when it
rains heavily. It’s useful......even driving at night.
Most motorists would turn wipers on HIGH or FASTEST SPEED during heavy downpour, yet the visibility in front of the windshield is still
bad. In the event you face such a situation, just try putting on your SUNGLASSES..(any model will do), and behold, a miracle! All of a sudden,
your visibility in front of your windshield is perfectly clear, as if there is
no rain. Make sure you always have a pair of SUNGLASSES in your car,
as you are not only helping yourself to drive safely with good vision, but
alsomight save your friend’s life by giving him this idea..
Try it yourself and share it with your friends! Amazing, you still see the
drops on the windshield, but not the sheet of rain falling. You can see
where the rain bounces off the road. It works to eliminate the “blindness”
from passing semi’s spraying you too. Or the “kickup” if you are following a semi or car in the rain.
There were seven or eight cruisers parked near the barracks – two had
lights flashing. From my elevated view I could see two troopers hiding behind two differed cars – another officer was laying on the ground – flat on
the ground in the snow – looking under the vehicles. Two other officers
were on the opposite side of the barracks – the guy in front was peeking
around the corner and using his right hand – motioning to the other to
remain back and be still.
It was most obvious to me that they were bringing in a bad guy and he
must have escaped when getting out of the car. Not knowing if he had
access to a gun – I quickly checked to make certain our doors were locked
– than ran back to the window – at the same time thinking maybe I should
get my Winchester out of its case in our closet; just in case someone tried
to break in.
Just as I was about to go and get it one officer raised his head over the
hood of a car - and got shot – I saw it all – didn’t hear a sound – but to
this day I can remember seeing his hat fly in the air and across the car
behind him.
Then all heck broke loose – there was yelling – men running and ducking – some trying to find cover – others brazenly standing up and firing at
will. Additional officers stormed out of the barracks.
I witnessed some of New York States finest having the darndest snow
ball fight ever. Apparently I woke up right at the shift change – and there
was some rivalry between the guys going out and the guys coming in. A
couple were pretty good shots, but a little slow when it came to reloading.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Weight Control Tip - Emphasize What You Can Eat, Not What
You Can’t. Positive thinking extends to weight management, too.
After all, diets often fail because we feel deprived. By focusing
on what you can eat, you’ll feel better about your weight loss
program than if you focus on all you’re missing.
March
Senior News
8
Sudoku Answers
Eat Right To Extend Your Life
Face-lifts, Botox injections, and other anti-aging procedures are all the
rage — yet doctors still haven’t developed a surgical procedure that will
add years to your life (angioplasty doesn’t count). “With enough money,
you can always look good on the outside,” says Ralph Felder, M.D., Ph.D.,
coauthor of The Bonus Years Diet. “Reversing the aging process internally
is much more difficult.” And while a healthy diet won’t necessarily make
you look like Demi Moore, it can extend your life.
To get some perspective on what proper nutrition and diet can mean for
your health, think of your body as an engine — a machine. The higher the
octane of the fuel you put into it, the better it’s going to run. Now consider
what might happen to your internal machinery after ten years of fueling up
on double burgers, fries, and milkshakes: painfully slow blood flow, and
hardened arteries. Not pretty.
Here’s the good news: By changing your diet and starting to eat right, you
can increase your chances for enjoying a longer life. Here’s how to start:
Quit focusing on the obvious culprits (think steak with béarnaise, buttery
mashed potatoes, and full-fat ice cream) and start loading up on healthful
foods. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal,
eating seven “super” foods daily (red wine, dark chocolate, fruits,
vegetables, garlic, fish, and nuts), in the appropriate portion sizes can
reduce your heart disease risk by 75 percent and add an average of six
years to your life.
Slash your calorie intake. Since the 1930s, studies have shown that calorie-restricted diets improve the health and extend the life spans of rodents.
Now researchers are learning that slashing calories may have similar
beneficial effects in humans. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, for instance, found that two markers of longevity (fasting insulin level and body temperature) were lowered in humans through
prolonged calorie restriction.
Nutritionists consistently report that a Mediterranean-style diet — including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and a daily glass of red wine
— promotes longevity. In fact, studies show that this type of diet lowers
blood pressure, reduces inflammation, and protects against serious health
conditions ranging from cancer to stroke. In two separate studies, researchers found that “going Mediterranean” not only protects against Alzheimer’s disease but also enables people who have the disease to live an average of four years longer. The more closely participants adhered to the diet,
the greater the benefit they saw.
Emphasize a plant-based diet. You’d be hard pressed to find a nutrition
expert who would argue against eating more fruits and vegetables. Plant
foods are loaded with antioxidants, powerful disease-fighting chemicals
that help counteract damage from free radicals, oxidation, stress, pollution,
and other environmental toxins. They’re loaded with flavonoids, phenols,
polyphenols, and thousands of other chemicals we haven’t even discovered yet — and all of them help prevent disease.
Source: Everydayhealth.com 8/17/09
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
St. Patrick’s Day
Luncheon
Wednesday, March 17
(3/18 at Deposit Senior Center and
3/19 at Oak Street Senior Center)
at participating
Broome County Senior Centers.
Wear your green and join us for
this special lunch of corned beef,
O’Brien potatoes, cabbage &
carrots, and a shamrock cake.
A variety of St. Patrick Day
inspired activities will be
happening at the centers.
Lunch reservations are needed –
please call a participating center
to make your reservation and find
out what special activities you can
enjoy (phone numbers are listed in
the activity section of this paper).
Just $3.50 age 60+; $4.50 for
people under age 60.
We hope to see you on the 17th!
Positively Getting
Older
We hear much about the negatives
of aging - the pull of gravity and
wearing down of systems. Here are
a few of the positives:
•
Creativity learned early, does
not diminish with age.
•
Stimulating living causes brain
cells to grow more branches.
•
We are sexually more relaxed.
•
Our ability to cope increases
and stress levels decrease.
•
We take more responsibility for
our health.
•
We understand ourselves with
better perspective.
•
We are more confident and care
less what other people think.
•
We know better what it takes to
satisfy ourselves.
•
Our capacity to love increases,
as does curiosity and altruism.
•
Levels of anxiety diminish.
•
Gratitude deepens.
•
Sense of humor is heightened
so keep your Aging Funny
Bone tuned.
Source: Seniorresource.com
Help For Your
Memory
We’ve all forgotten a name, where
we put our keys, or if we locked
the front door. It’s normal to forget
things once in a while.
Changes occur in all parts of the
body, including the brain, as people
get older. As a result, some people
may notice that it takes longer
to learn new things. They don’t
remember information as well as
they did, or they lose things like
their glasses. These usually are
signs of mild forgetfulness, not
serious memory problems.
Some older adults also find that
they don’t do as well as younger
people on complex memory or
learning tests. Scientist have
found, though, that given enough
time, healthy older people can do
as well as younger people do on
these tests.
In fact, as they age, healthy adults
usually improve in areas of mental
ability, such as vocabulary.
The following are tips to help improve your memory:’
• Learn a new skill.
• Volunteer in your community, school or place of worship.
• Spend time with friends and
family whenever possible.
• Engage in physical activity
and exercise.
• Use memory tools such as
big calendars, to-do lists, and
notes to yourself.
• Put your wallet or purse,
keys and glasses in the same
place each day.
• Get lots of rest.
• Eat well.
• Don’t drink a lot of alcohol.
• Develop interests or hobbies
and stay involved in activities that help both mind and
body.
March
Senior News
County Resident
Prescription Discount Program now provides vision and hearing benefits
Broome County recently announced that the Broome County Resident
Prescription Drug Discount Card Program, offered through a partnership
with ProAct Inc., has recently been expanded to include vision and hearing benefits.
All county residents are eligible to participate regardless of age or income.
With the expanded program, participants will be able to save on hearing
aids, contacts, glasses and even Lasik eye surgery. The program also covers discounts on medication for pets if that medication is also prescribed
for humans.
Vision and Prescription Benefits
The Eye Benefits Provider Network offers significant savings on eye exams, eyeglasses, contact lenses and eye care prescriptions. Local providers include Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Sterling Optical, Empire Vision,
Walmart Vision Center and Boscov’s Vision Center as well as other vision
centers across the country. For vision and prescription benefits, participants should visit www.nyrxdiscountcard.com to print a card or they can
call 1-877-776-2285 and ask that a Broome County ProAct card be mailed
to them. The same card is good for both vision and prescription benefits.
Participants may receive discounts of up to 50% on frames and lenses and
up to 20% on eye exams.
Hearing Services Benefits
The discount hearing benefits are provided through EPIC, Hearing Health
Care. EPIC has a national network of local ear physicians and audiologists. Participants will receive discounts on testing, evaluations and hearing aid fittings by licensed audiologists and brand name hearing aids and
products. Participants do not need a card for hearing benefits and need
only call 1-866-956-5400 and mention that they are an Eye Benefits Member through ProAct’s Discount Card to find a provider and to set up an
appointment. Currently, the only participating provider in Broome County
is Southern Tier Hearing Services in Vestal.
LASIK Benefits
For LASIK procedures, participants should call 1-877-201-3852 and
mention that they are an Eye Benefits Member through ProAct’s Discount
Card to set up an appointment and to find a local provider. No card is
needed for this benefit and participants may receive up to 50% off the
national average pricing. Currently, the closest participating provider is
located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
There are no enrollment forms to fill out, no membership fees, no income
requirements and absolutely no cost to the user for this program. The
card cannot be used in conjunction with other insurance programs. Users should contact their providers to calculate the difference in savings
between using their current insurance and the ProAct plan. In some cases,
the users will see some savings on their out-of-pocket expenses related to
the Medicare Part D Donut Hole.
9
“No country in the world, in the history of the world, has endured
the hemorrhage which the island endured over a period of a few
years for so many of its sons and daughters. These sons and
daughters are scattered throughout the world and they give this
small island a family of millions upon millions…in a sense, all of
them who visit Ireland come home.”
John F. Kennedy
The Irish In America
4.8 million Immigrants from Ireland have been lawfully admitted to the
United States for permanent residence since fiscal year 1820, the earliest
year for which official immigration records exist. By fiscal year 1870,
about half of these immigrants were admitted for lawful permanent
residence. Thirty four and one half million U.S. residents claim Irish
ancestry. This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland
itself (4.1 million). Irish is the nation’s second most frequently reported
ancestry, trailing only those of German ancestry.
John F. Kennedy was the first President of Catholic Irish heritage, but
there had been several Presidents of “Scotch-Irish” ie Protestant Irish,
ancestry. The first was Andrew Jackson, followed by James K Polk, James
Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Chester Arthur, William McKinley, Woodrow
Wilson and Harry S Truman. There is also some thought that President
Obama is of Irish decent. Ronald Reagan was of Catholic Irish ancestry
(originally O’Reagan) but his family converted to Protestantism after
moving to America.
A Few Famous Irishmen:
• Eamon deValera, one time Prime Minister and President of Ireland was
born in Brooklyn, NY in 1882.
• The hand of Irish-born Charles Thomson wrote the Declaration of
Independence and nine men of Irish ancestry signed it.
• John L. Sullivan was the first national sports hero in America and
became the heavyweight champion in 1882, when boxing was illegal in
most states. He represented hope for many of the Irish, who were for the
most part poor and on the bottom of America’s social ladder at
the time. He was undefeated for a ten year period, until he met his
match at the age of 34, against “Gentleman Jim” Corbett in 1892.
• Davy Crockett fought under Andrew Jackson (also of Irish descent),
served in Congress and died when the Alamo fell in Texas.
• Henry Ford was the son of an Irish immigrant who married during the
American Civil War. He started the Ford Motor Company and the rest is
history.
• Henry McCarty: (changed his name to William Bonney AKA “Billy
The Kid.” ) Made into a legend through the fiction of Hollywood, “The
Kid” accepted a pardon, but was double-crossed in the process. He
escaped only to be killed at the age of 21, in the dark and unarmed .
• Marrion Morrison: (who changed his name to John Wayne.) John
Wayne has become a legend of American Film, mostly Westerns. He is
best remembered by his role in “The Quiet Man”, filmed in Ireland and
co-starring Maureen O’Hara.
Prescription drug discount cards are available at local pharmacies and at
certain county departments including the County Clerk, the Binghamton
and Endicott DMV’s, County Public Library, Health Department, Social
Services and Workforce New York. Residents can also print their own
card by visiting the County’s homepage, www.gobroomecounty.com and
clicking on the ProAct card at the bottom of the page.
Questions regarding how to obtain a membership card or other questions
on the program should be directed to Christopher Marion in the County
Legislature’s office by email at [email protected] or by phone at
778-2129. Questions related to the specific benefits should be directed to
the phone numbers listed above.
ProAct Inc. is a Pharmacy Benefit Management Company based in Central
New York and a division of Kinney Drug.
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Senior News
March
10
Look What’s Happening at the Centers!
785-1777
3/20
Lunch served at Noon
3/22
BROOME WEST
.......................................
2801 Wayne St., Endwell, NY 13760
Center Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm
Breakfast for Lunch: Every Monday 10:30am – 12:30pm
Sandwich and Soup Bar: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 11:15am – 12:30pm
Weekly Activities (call for info and times): Daily: Exercise Equipment, Wii Play,
Cards, Billiards, Table Shuffleboard, Bingo Mon: Quilting, Chorus Tues: Oil
Painting Class Wed: Scrabble, Floor Shuffleboard Thur: Tai Chi, Social Connections, Ping Pong Fri: Line Dancing M/W: Bonesaver Class M/W/F: Walking
Club, Progressive Pinochle T/Th: Stay-well Chair Exercise
Special Activities
3/3
Medicare Advantage Plans w/Cathy Tulloch (AOP), 11:00 am
3/8
Exercise Equipment Demo w/ Jocelyn, 10-11:30 am
Special Breakfast: Cheese Strata, 10:30 am-12:30 pm
3/10 Advanced Directives Program (AOP), 11:00 am
3/10, 11 & 12 Baked Potato Bar, 11:15 am-12:30 pm
3/15, 22 & 29 Broome West Chorus Practice, 1-3pm
3/16 Exercise Equipment Demo w/Jocelyn, 10-11:30 am
3/17 St. Patrick’s Day Party w/ Irish Dancers, 11 am-1 pm
3/22 Special Breakfast: Belgian Waffles, 10:30 am-12:30 pm
Exercise Equipment Demo w/Jocelyn, 1-2 pm
3/24 “The Shapes of Pasta” w/Joan Sprague, 11:15 am
3/29 Exercise Equipment Demo w/Jocelyn, 1-2 pm
DEPOSIT
3/24
3/25
3/26
3/29
3/31
Spaghetti and Meatball Fundraiser Dinner, 12:30 – 2:30 pm
The Bluestone Creek Ramblers, 1:00 – 2:15 pm
Audibel Hearing Care, appointments appreciated, 9:30 – 11:00 am
Harpursville’s Jazz Band, 10:45 or 12:30 – call for time
“Heart at Home” w/Twin Tier Home Health, 10:45 am
Game Day, 1 – 3 pm, Dinner anytime from 3 – 4 pm
Movie and popcorn, 10:00 am
Senior Sounds, live music, 11:00 am
“Alzheimer’s 101” w/Michael Massurin, 10:30 – 11:30 am
EAST SIDE
723-4292
................................................
Lunch served at Noon
254 Robinson Street, Binghamton, NY 13904
Center Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Weekly Activities: Shanghai Rummy, Pool, Scrabble and Craft Classes.
Please call center for days and times.
Special Activities
3/3
“The Shape of Pasta” w/Joan Sprague, 11:30 am
3/17 St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon & Celebration, 11 am – 1 pm
Medicare Advantage Plans w/ Cathy Tulloch (AOP), 11:30 am
Information & Assistance Rep. Lucia Esposito, 12 noon
3/22 Spring Time Celebration, 11 am
3/24 & 25
AARP Driver Safety Program, please pre-register, 9:30 am – 2pm
3/29 Birthday of Coca Cola: Coke Floats at Lunch, 12:30 pm
467-3953
...................................................
14 Monument Street, Deposit, NY 13754
Lunch served at Noon
Center Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Weekly Activities (call for info): T/Th: Cards 9 - 12 (Pinochle, Rummy, Kings
in the Corner), Scrabble 9 - 12, Live Piano Music 10:30 Thur: Chorus 11 - 12
Special Activities
3/2
3/4
3/10
3/11
3/16
3/18
3/23
3/25
3/30
Site Council, 11:45 am
Blood Pressure Screenings, 1 pm
Ice Cream Day, 1 pm
Meadow Park Luncheon, 12:30 pm
Nickel Bingo, 11:15 am
Bag Auction, 1 pm
Southern Tier Food Bank (Waiting Area), 12 pm
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration w/Senior Sounds, 11 am
Information & Assistance Rep. Lucia Esposito, 12 pm
Bingo, 1 pm
Birthday Celebration, 12 noon
Volunteer of the Month, 12 pm
EASTERN BROOME
............................
27 Golden Lane, Harpursville, NY 13787
FIRST WARD
797-2307
.............................................
226 Clinton St., Binghamton, NY 13905
Center Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Lunch served at 11:45
Weekly Activities: Pool, Shuffleboard, Cards, Osteoporosis Exercises, Exercises
w/equipment, Bingo, RSVP Sewing & Knitting, Art, Ceramics, Chorus,
Computers, and Monthly Blood Pressure Screening. The Craft Store is open from
9:30 AM - 2:00 PM. Please call for days and times.
Special Activities
3/3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10
Spring Craft Store Sale, 9 am – 2 pm
3/4
Medicare Advantage Plans w/ Cathy Tulloch, 11 am
3/5
Men’s Club Fish Bake, 4 – 6 pm
3/10 “Fabulous Flake of Oxford” Snowflake Design Presentation, 12:15 pm
3/17 St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon
3/18 “Heart at Home” Managing Cardiac Care at Home, 11 am
3/24 Information & Assistance Rep. Lucia Esposito, 11:30 am
3/25 39th Anniversary Dinner Dance, 5 – 8:30 pm
3/30 “Shower of Hope,” bring a baby gift, 1 pm
693-2069
Lunch served at Noon
Center Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Breakfast: Every Tuesday 8 - 9:30 a.m. and Every Thursday 10:30 a.m. – Noon
Sandwich and Soup Bar: Wednesday & Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
– Take-outs available
Weekly Activities (call for info and times): Daily: Exercise Equipment, Computers, Coffee Hour Thurs: Acrylic Painting Class, Bonesaver Class Fri: Movie &
Popcorn M/W/F: Cards T/Th: Senior Stretch Class
Special Activities
3/1
Medicare Advantage Plans w/Cathy Tulloch (AOP), 11:00 am
3/3
“All About Potatoes” w/Michele Constable, 12:30 – 1:15 pm
3/5
Wii Bowling – Practice & Play, 10:45 – 11:30 am
3/8
March Birthday Party w/Bob Jensen, 11:30 am
Information & Assistance Rep. Lucia Esposito, 11:30 am
3/10 Site Council Meeting, 11:00 am
3/12 Rainbow Table Raffle, 9:30 am
Movie & Popcorn, 10:00 am
Yankee Trade, 12:30 pm
3/15 Storytelling (family & community) w/Eileen Ruggieri, 10:45 – 11:30 am
3/17 St. Patrick’s Day Party w/ReBecah Kilbury, 10:45 – 11:30 am
3/19 Wii Bowling – Practice & Play, 10:45 – 11:30 am
GREENMAN
..............................................
37 Pine St., Binghamton, NY 13901
Center Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm.
772-7166
Lunch served at 11:45
Reservations for Lunch are needed by noon the day before.
Sandwich and Soup Bar: Mon, Wed & Thurs, 11:30am -12:30pm
Weekly Activities (call for info and times): Mon Texas Hold’em, Floor Shuffleboard Tue: Exercise Class, Progressive Pinochle Wed: 30 Min. Computer Q&A,
Bingo Thur: Bonesaver Class Fri: Dominoes T/F: Ceramics
Special Activities:
3/6
St. Patrick’s Day “Before the Parade” Breakfast, 8 am – 11 am
3/17 St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, 11:45 am
3/20 Birthday Celebration
3/26 Information & Assistance Rep. Lucia Esposito, 11:30 am
Old Irish Saying
May those that love us, love us.
And those that don’t love us, May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts, May He turn their
ankles So we will know them by their limping.
Senior News
March
JOHNSON CITY
797-1149
........................................
11
OAK STREET
............................................
724-1220
30 Brocton Ave., Johnson City, NY 13790
Center Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Oak Street, Binghamton, NY 13903
Lunch served at Noon
Center Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wed., Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Weekly Activities (call for info and times): M: Knitting/Crochet, Medicare
Counseling, Line Dancing, Guitar Class T: TOPS, Bonesaver Class W: Quilting,
Pinochle, Chorus Th: Shuffleboard, Oil Painting, Legal Aid Counseling F: Movie
M/W: Bingo M/F: Watercolor
Weekly Activities (call for info and times): M/W/F: Gym Walking, M/W: Card
Game- Scat, T/F: Osteo-Exercise, Fri: Bingo
Lunch served at 11:45
Special Activities
Tuesdays
Meditation, 10 am
3/2
Senior Sounds, 11 am
3/3
Massage Therapy, 11 amPamper Yourself, 12:30 pm
3/5
Movie: “Public Enemy”, 12:30 pm
3/10 Members Birthday Celebration, 11:30 am
Information & Assistance Rep. Lucia Esposito, 11:30 am
3/11
Cobblestone Crossing at Dinner, 5 pm
3/12 Movie: (to be determined), 12:30 pm
3/15 St. Patrick’s Sing-a-Long & Guitar Concert, 11 am
3/16 Hearing Screening, 9:30 am
Advance Directives w/AOP, 12:30 pm
Red Hat Society, 6:30pm
3/17 Blood Pressure & Glucose Screenings w/Medicine Shoppe, 10am
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, 11 am
3/18, 19
AARP Defensive Driving, 1 pm
3/26 Rummage Sale. 9 am – 3 pm
3/27 Rummage Sale, 8:30 am -1 pm
3/30 EPIC Questions/Answers, 12:30 pm
NORTHERN BROOME
..............................
12 Strongs Place, Whitney Point, NY 13862
Center Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
692-3405
Lunch served at Noon
Soup & Sandwich Bar: Mon, Wed, Thurs & Fri 11 am – 12:30 pm
Weekly Activities (call for info and times): Mon: Computer Class Beg. & Int.,
Bingo Wed: Quilting Group, Shuffleboard, Thu: Osteo-Exercise, Wii Bowling
Fri: Bingo
Special Activities www.northernbroomeseniors.org
Tuesdays
Tai Chi, 9:30 – 10:30
Thursdays
Tai Chi, 4:30 – 5:30
3/3 & 10 Adaptive Chair Yoga, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
3/3
“Heart At Home” w/Twin Tier Home Health, 11:15 am
Information & Assistance Rep. Lucia Esposito, 12:00 pm
3/9
Evening Dining w/Bob Sea Live! after the 5 pm meal
3/10 “Medicare Advantage Plans” by Cathy Tulloch, 11:15 am
3/11
Rummage & Bake Sale, 9 am – 2 pm
3/12 Rummage & Bake Sale, 9 am – 1 pm. Bag Sale, 12:30 pm.
3/17 St. Patrick’s Day Party including Karaoke, 11 am
3/24 Senior Sounds, 11:30 am
3/27 OPEN HOUSE, 10 am – Noon
3/31 Brown Bag Auction, after lunch.
NORTH SHORE
........................................
772-6214
24 Isbell St., Binghamton, NY 13901
Lunch served at Noon
Center Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am - 1:45pm
Weekly Activities: Mon: Food Bingo, 10 – 11, Wed: Decorating or Crafts,
10:30 – 11:30, Thur: Joker Eno, 10 – 11, Fri: Bagel Breakfast, 8 - 11
Special Activities
* Chair Yoga (Basic Exercises), look for Posters
Mondays, Food Bingo, 10-11
Thursdays, Joker Eno, 10 – 11 am
3/4
Decorating for St. Patrick’s Day, 1 – 2 pm
Information & Assistance Rep. Lucia Esposito, 1 pm
3/5
Site Council Meeting, 10:30 am
3/11
Blood Pressure/Glucose Screening w/Joan Behill, 11 am – 12 pm
3/12 Pot o’ Gold Irish Sweepstakes Game, 11 am
3/16 Residents’ Meeting, 10 am
3/17 St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon w/Green “Beer” Punch, 11 am
3/26 Boat Races & Pistachio Ice Cream, 11 am
3/31 Breakfast for Lunch, 10:30 – 12:15 pm
Special Activities
3/1
Book Review w/Cheryl Ebert, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay, 11 am
3/2
Senior Soup for Our Kids Day, 11 am
“The Shape of Pasta” w/ Joan Sprague, 11 am
3/17 CENTER CLOSED – St. Patrick’s Day
3/19 St. Patrick’s Day Party (wear green!), 11 am
3/21 – 3/26
Spring Week: each day a new game with a Spring Theme
3/23 Information & Assistance Rep. Lucia Esposito, 11 am
VESTAL
...................................................
754-9596
Old Vestal Junior High School Cafeteria
Lunch served at Noon
201 Main St., Box #4, Vestal, NY 13850
Center Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Activities (call for info and times): Daily: Coffee Klatch M/W/F: Walking
Group M/W: Fitness After 50 Aerobics, Men’s Volleyball M/Th: Wii Open Play
T/W: Pinochle Tues: Quilting, Stretch Band Fitness Class Wed: Crochet, Computer Instruction, Painting, Writing Seminar Thur: Bingo (1st & 3rd) Fri: Pickleball, Chair Exercises, Chair Yoga, Ice Cream Cones
Special Activities www.tier.net/vsc
*New* Tuesdays starting 3/9 Stretch Band Fitness Class, 1 – 2 pm
3/3
Blood Pressures w/ Kay, 10:30 am
Audibel Hearing Screening, 10 am
3/9, 10 & 11 Inside Garage Sale, 9:30 am - Noon
3/12 Four Veggies Every Garden Should Have w/Tony Antes, Cornell Cooperative Extension, 11 am
3/16 & 17
Wee Bit O’ Irish Reading w/Peggy Mersereau, 11:30 am
3/17 Clann Na Cara Dance Group, 11:45 am
St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, Noon
3/19 Information & Assistance Rep, Lucia Esposito, 11:30
3/23 Breakfast for Lunch: Biscuits & Gravy, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Birthday & Anniversary Recognition, 10:45 am
Vestal Senior Citizen’s Club Business Meeting, 1 – 2 pm
3/24 *New* Crochet for Fun w/Rose, 9:30 – 10:30 am
March
Senior News
12
MARCH MENU
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Broome County Office for Aging
County Office Building
60 Hawley Street
PO Box 1766
Binghamton, NY 13902
Answers on Page 8
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Office for Aging
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NYS Office for Aging under
Title III of the Federal Older
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Direct mail subscriptions are
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Senior News
Editorial Policy
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reserves the right to review and approve
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Office for Aging can be reached by mail at
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