Home Energy Assistance Program...The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that assists low income households with the cost of heating their homes during

Saratoga County Office for the Aging November 2019

For the month of November the Office for the Aging will be closed in observance of the following holidays. Veterans Day Monday, November 11, Thanksgiving Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29.

(518)884-4100 (518)885-5381 (518)863-6112 (518)587-8653 (518)654-9003 (518)798-0231

Have you done your Yearly Medicare Plan Review? Each fall you should review your current health and prescription drug coverage. Review any notices from your current plan about changes for next year. Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15, 2019 through December 7, 2020 There’s never been a better time to check out Medicare coverage. There are new benefits available including lower prescription costs, wellness visits and preventive care.

Ways to get the help you need 1. Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to use the Medicare Plan Finder. 2. Look at your most recent “Medicare & You” handbook to see a listing of plans in your area. 3. Call 1-800-MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227) and say “Agent”. Help is available 24 hours a day including

weekends. 4. The Saratoga County Office for the Aging offers personalized health insurance counseling. Appointments are

required. If you need an appointment call 884-4100.

Home Energy Assistance Program The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that assists low income households with the cost of heating their homes during the winter months. The 2019 - 2020 Regular HEAP program begins November 12, 2019. Emergency HEAP will open on January 2, 2020. The tentative closing date for HEAP is Mid-March . The Saratoga County Office for the Aging will be accepting walk in applications for persons 60 years of age and older as well as those under 60 and disabled beginning November 13, 2019. Households that received a HEAP benefit last year will automatically be mailed an application for this year’s program. If you would like to receive an application you may call the HEAP desk at 884-4111. Applications will be mailed out when the program opens. The office will not have applications until November 12, 2019. If any member of your household is on SNAP (formally known as food stamps), please contact your SNAP case worker at 884-4155. The HEAP program provides a once a year benefit which is credited directly to your heating account. Regular benefit amounts are based upon the house holds monthly income and commodity used to heat your home. This year’s guidelines are as follows: Household Size Maximum Monthly Income 1 $2,494 2 $3,262 3 $4,030 4 $4,797

From Our Dietitian: Prediabetes November is Diabetes Awareness Month! Perhaps you know of someone with prediabetes or you yourself have been diagnosed with prediabetes. It is estimated that 1 in 3 American adults have this disorder which puts them at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes as defined is when an individual has higher than desirable blood sugar but lower than the criteria for a diabetes diagnosis. Generally, prediabetes is diagnosed when fasting blood sugar levels fall between100-125 mg/dl, 2 hours oral glucose tolerance tests show blood sugars between 140-199 and/or A1C (average blood sugar control over past 3 months) levels are in the 5.7 to 6.4% range. Two things occur in both prediabetes and type 2 diabetes that lead to elevated blood sugar levels: certain tissues are resistant to the action of insulin and the body has lost some ability to produce its own insulin. Over time this ability to produce even less insulin may lead a person from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. Persons with prediabetes have a 5-10% chance of developing type 2 diabetes over 5-10 years. The effects of having prediabetes and diabetes both extend throughout the body. Someone with either of these conditions is more likely to have high blood pressure, elevated serum lipid levels, increased blood clotting, low grade inflammation and blood vessel dysfunction if blood sugars are not properly controlled. There are many risk factors for type 2 diabetes that we cannot control such as family history of disease, increase risk for males and for women who have had gestational diabetes, older age, as well as being a certain race such as African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American. Having these risk factors does not mean that you will develop diabetes. Fortunately, we can decrease our risk for developing diabetes and heart disease by following good lifestyle habits and controlling weight. Studies have demonstrated that even with a small weight loss of 7% body weight, risk of developing diabetes can decrease by as much as 58% initially. Sustaining this weight loss over a 15-year period showed a continued 27% lower risk in one study. With weight loss often comes the added bonus of healthier blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. By developing healthy eating patterns such as a whole foods diet with plenty of plant foods or a Mediterranean diet helps to lower risk for type 2 diabetes, heart attack and stroke. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommend limiting processed foods, and emphasizing legumes, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The ADA also reports that higher intakes of nuts, berries, coffee, tea and yogurt have been associated with a reduced risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Physical activity even without weight loss helps to improve insulin resistance. The ADA recommends 150 minutes of moderate physical activity such as brisk walking each week. Maintaining or building muscle tissue with resistance training is also important as muscle is where we store blood sugar after eating. Aim to sit less and break up periods of inactivity with as little as 3 minutes of walking or other light activity to stimulate muscles. Be sure to check with your health care provider before engaging and/ or changing your physical activity levels to assure activity is safe for your age and health conditions. Lastly, aim to stop smoking and go to bed on time. Smoking increases the risk for developing both heart disease and

type 2 diabetes. Getting enough sleep is good for energy, motivation and focus. Getting too little sleep seems to

negatively affect body weight and blood sugar control which increases risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The Office for the Aging hosted a luncheon honoring its volunteers along with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program members at the Saratoga Casino Hotel on September 29, 2019. Approximately 160 guest enjoyed the gathering that included: appreciation gifts, door prizes and a split the pot raffle. The lucky winners who won $210 each are: Linda Gaulin of South Glens Falls and Roger Dillon of Moreau

Got an Hour? WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

Saratoga County Office for the Aging is recruiting volunteers to assist with the Home Delivered Meals Program to deliver meals throughout Saratoga County to homebound seniors.

Please call (518)363-4020 or (518) 363-4033 for details.

Saratoga County Office for the Aging is funded by Title III of the Older Americans Act, New York State Office for the Aging, the County of Saratoga and local Municipalities

Remember to change your clocks back one hour on November 3

*Beware of False Social Security or Medicare Advertisements*

Scammers have become more aggressive and sophisticated in the digital age. With millions of people relying on Social Security and Medicare, scammers target audiences who are looking for legitimate program and benefit information. Scammers sometimes try to scare people into giving out their personal information. Never give someone who called you any personal information unless you absolutely know who they are. The law that addressed misleading Social Security and Medicare advertising prohibits people or non-government businesses from using words or emblems that mislead others. Their advertising can’t claim that they represent, are somehow affiliated with, or are endorsed or approved by Social Security or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Medicare ). People are often misled by advertisers who use the terms” Social Security” or “ Medicare.” Often, these companies offer Social Security offers the same services free of charge. These services include getting: A corrected Social Security card showing a person’s married name; A Social Security card to replace a lost care; A Social Security Statement; and A Social Security number for a child. If you receive misleading information about Social Security, send the complete ad, including the envelope (if applicable) to: Office of the Inspector General Fraud Hotline, Social Security Administration, P.O. Box 17768, Baltimore, MD 21235 You can learn more about how we combat fraudulent advertisers by reading our publication What You Need to Know About Misleading Advertising at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10005.pdf. You can also view and share out anti-fraud information at www.socialsecurity.gov/antifraudfacts as well as this YouTube video www.youtube.com/watch>?v=8N96ORODZm8. Remember, our information is easy to email and post on social media. Please let your loved ones know about these types of scams. Sharing this article with friends and family can save them from financial and emotional hardship. Most Social Security services are available online by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov, and by calling Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 TTY. Remember, visit www.ssa.gov/agency/emergency/ for up-to-date information about Social Security Office Closings and Emergencies. Subscribe to state or territory specific updates! Reprinted from The Social Security Star, September 2019

Volunteer of the Month October

Bert Parker A big shout out to Bert Parker, our October Volunteer of the Month! Bert is a Home Delivered Meal Volunteer out of our Saratoga Springs site. He is a GE Retiree, resident of Saratoga Springs for approximately 20 years, and has been delivering meals in Saratoga since 2015. We are delighted to have such a dedicated volunteer as part of our team to serve seniors in Saratoga County. Thank you for everything that you do!