January 2010 Seniors Todaycohoesseniorcenter.org/NewLetter/Newsletter2010... · emergency. The Emergency HEAP component of the 2009-10 HEAP Program is open effective November 2, 2009.

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COHOES, NYPERMIT #6

10 Cayuga PlazaCohoes, NY 12047

Hours of OperationMonday - Wednesday - Friday 9:00 - 4:00Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 - 6:30Saturday - Sunday Closedwww.cohoesseniorcenter.orgPhone: 518-235-2420

The mission of the Cohoes Multi-Service Senior Citizens Center, Inc. is to promote the dignity of older adults living in the community; and to provide the programs and services needed to support their living healthy and productive lives.

Seniors TodayJanuary 2010

A monthly publication of the Cohoes Multi-Service Senior Citizens Center, Inc.www.cohoesseniorcenter.org

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

HEAP may help you pay for Electricity, Propane, Natural Gas, Wood, Oil, Kerosene, Coal, or any other heating fuel.

HEAP is a federally funded program that issues heating benefits to supplement a household’s an-nual energy cost. HEAP also offers an emergency benefit for households in a heat or heat related en-ergy emergency. Additionally, HEAP offers a furnace repair and/or replacement benefit for households with inoperable heating equipment.

Regular BenefitThe HEAP regular benefit component assists low-income New Yorkers with the cost of heating their homes. The Regular Benefit component of the 2009-10 HEAP Program is open effective November 2, 2009.Emergency BenefitThe HEAP emergency benefit component assists qualifying low-income New Yorkers who are facing a heat or heat related energy emergency and do not have the resources available to resolve the emergency. The Emergency HEAP component of the 2009-10 HEAP Program is open effective November 2, 2009.Furnace Repair or ReplacementThe HEAP Furnace Repair and Replacement Com-ponent is available to help low-income homeowners repair or replace furnaces, boilers, and other direct heating components necessary to keep the home's primary heating source functional. The HEAP Fur-nace Repair and Replacement Component is open from October 1, 2009 until September 30, 2010.Income GuidelinesHow do I apply for HEAP?Low-income New Yorkers may apply for HEAP in person, by mail, over the phone, and on the internet.

Locally, you can apply for HEAP at: Cohoes

Community Outreach, 30 White Street, Cohoes, NY 12047. Their telephone number is 518-237-9201.

Tax Preparations

start in February.

Call in late January for

more details or to schedule and

appointment.

2Board of DirectorsEd Tremblay—PresidentLoretta Saheim—Vice-PresidentApril Kennedy—SecretaryCharles Valenti—TreasurerMichael BrooksJohn FarrellJane LaCivita-ClementeMarjorie MaroisHarold PerryCharles Ries, Esq.Myrtle StottMargaret Totten, CSJ

Membership BoardMyrtle Stott - PresidentHomer Duquette - Vice PresidentHal Perry - 2nd Vice PresidentElizabeth Dechene - Secretary/TreasurerDorothy Krupski - Corr. SecretaryMary CoxBertha FlanneryEllie GambelliAudrey KennedyPat PerryBill Stott

Executive DirectorKeith Hornbrook

Contact:Keith Hornbrook10 Cayuga PlazaCohoes, NY 12047518-235-2420Fax: [email protected]

For Advertising information call 518-235-2420

Meals on Wheels and Congregate Dining are funded by the Albany County Dept. for Aging and the New York State Office for Aging

Executive Director’s Message

Happy New Year. I hope these first few days have brought you many gifts. It is the time of resolutions and things to look forward to. For some people, it is just the hope that tomorrow will be as good as or a little bit better than today. For others, it is the hope of better health, reuniting with family, or having enough money. People have larger hopes for a better world for kids, grandchildren, or even themselves.

This is my wish for all of you in the coming year. I wish that you all have hope. The dictionary defines hope as a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life. But, hope is one of the things that keeps us moving forward when times are difficult. In Christian based theology, hope was a gift from God. In ancient Greek mythology, hope was actually one of the evils that came from Pandora’s box be-cause it was believed to prolong torment. The point, it’s all about per-spective. I tend to buy into both models. I think hope is both a gift from the supreme spirit as well as something that causes us to prolong holding onto something or someone that we should let go of.

So why prattle on about hope? I think we are going to need it. I think our sense of community has dwindled. I believe we spend so much time trying to understand how to accommodate the modern forms of family that we focus on the structure as opposed to the content. It’s not whether there is a Mom and Dad or one or the other or maybe two of each, it’s about the togetherness and the values they impart to each other.

As people age and sometimes traditional family and friends pass on or become too distant to see, it becomes necessary to reinvent family. It becomes more important to just be surrounded by people who care about each other. Here at the Senior Center, I have see that truth become a reality over and over again. That’s the importance of bringing people together. It’s not just about a meal or a wellness class. It’s about the bond of community and relationship.

I think the hope for a sense of community and relationship is part of the answer to making a better life now and in the coming year.

Be well,

Keith HornbrookExecutive Director

3RECIPE BOX

APPLE AND SAUSAGE PIE

INGREDIENTS:

1 basic pie dough2 large tart Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced1/2 medium onion, chopped (about half a cup)1 teaspoon sugar3 Tbsp butter3/4 lb sweet Italian sausage (bulk, or removed from casings)1 clove garlic, minced2 cups shredded fontina, provolone, and or asiago cheese1 cup ricotta cheese1/4 cup feta cheese2 eggs, slightly beaten

METHOD: SERVES 8

Preheat oven to 425 Degrees F. Line the inside of a pie shell with heavy aluminum foil, pressing the • dough against the side. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove foil, poke the bottom of the pie crust with the tine of a fork to create air vents. Return crust to oven, bake for an additional 4 minutes, or until the crust just begins to brown. Remove from oven and let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.Melt butter in a large skillet on medium heat. Add the apples, onion and sugar, cook, stirring • occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes, the last 30 seconds or so, add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Transfer mixture to a separate bowl. Increase the heat to medium high and in the same skillet add the Italian sausage. Cook, stirring only infrequently, until sausage is browned on all sides and is cooked through. Remove from heat. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon to a dish lined with paper towels to absorb the excess fat.In medium sized bowl, mix together the cheeses and beaten eggs• Place sausage on bottom of pre-baked pie crust. Add the cooked apple onion mixture over the sausage. • Pour the cheese egg mixture over the apple mixture and spread it so it evenly covers the pie.Bake at 350degrees F. for 35 to 40 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let • stand for 10 minutes before serving.

DID YOU KNOW: Sausages are a result of economical butchery. Traditionally, sausage-makers put to use tissues and organs which are perfectly edible and nutritious, but not particularly appealing - such as scraps, organ meats, blood, and fat - in a form that allows for preservation: typically, salted and stuffed into a tubular casing made from the cleaned intestine of the animal, producing the characteristic cylindrical shape. Hence, sausages, puddings and salami are amongst the oldest of prepared foods, whether cooked and eaten imme-diately or dried to varying degrees.

The first sausages were made by early humans, stuffing roasted intestines into stomachs. As early as 589 BC, a Chinese sausage làcháng was mentioned consisting of goat and lamb meat. The Greek poet Homer, mentioned a kind of blood sausage in the Odyssey, and Epicharmus wrote a comedy titled The Sausage. Evidence suggests that sausages were already popular both among the ancient Greeks and Romans, and most likely with the illiterate tribes occupying the larger part of Europe. (source: Wikipedia.com)

8 Winter Fall Prevention Tips For Seniors

Ah, winter. Blizzards, freezing temperatures, visiting the ER because you fell on the ice. For kids, winter is an exciting time. They love playing in the snow and sliding around on the ice. For senior citizens, all that ice and snow means an increased chance of slipping and falling. Here are eight things you can do to make winter a little less perilous:

Check your footwear. Examine your shoes and 1. boots. How's the traction? Is it time for a new pair? Better traction can help keep you more stable on icy surfaces.

Keep your shovel and salt in your house. The 2. reason you have a shovel and salt is so you don't have to walk on a slippery sidewalk. If you have to traverse through the snow and ice to get to your garage where the salt and shovel are kept, that defeats the purpose.

Check the railings. If you have railings leading up 3. to your front door, check to see if they're sturdy. If you slipped, would they be able to support you?

Bring a cell phone when you leave the house. 4. If you fall, it can sometimes be hard to get up. Carrying a cell phone whenever you go out can bring peace of mind.

Slow down. Allow extra time if it's slippery out. 5. It's when you hurry that you end up pushing the envelope of what your balance can handle. Also, keep in mind that being a little late is better than rushing and causing a fall.

Ask for help. If you have to walk across an icy 6. sidewalk or parking lot, try to find a steady arm to lean on. Most people are happy to help an older person navigate a slippery walkway? You just have to ask.

Have a plan. When you are going out, ask 7. yourself, "If I slipped and fell here, what would I do?"

Strengthen your legs. Strong leg muscles can 8. help you steady yourself if you slip. And if you do fall, they make it a lot easier to get back up. You should exercise your legs regularly to keep them strong. Try walking up and down your stairs repeatedly or do a set of ten squats out of a chair a couple times per week.

These little things, when used together, can make the winter elements a little less daunting.

Seniors can also prevent falls by improving their stability with balance exercises.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_D._Ross

4

Disposing of Expired Medication

As a rule, medicine cabinets should be cleaned out and checked for expired products at least twice a year. Cleaning out medicine cabinets just once a year may not be enough. Some medications have a short shelf life, and inadvertently, some medications may be close to expiring when purchases are made.If you discover expired medications in your household inventory, call your local pharmacy to see if they offer a means of disposal. Some pharmacies take expired medications and safely dispose of them as a service to their customers. Never dispose of medications by throwing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet. Medications can pollute landfills, endanger animals, and contaminate ground water.

When in Doubt, Throw it Out!

If you are in need of a particular medication and you only have expired products on hand, discard them and purchase new ones. Taking expired medications, even for something as simple as indigestion, may not remedy the problem. Keep your medicine cabinets stocked with products you use on a regular basis, and again, check product labeling for expiration dates. Something as common as an aspirin can become impotent if it is expired. Although aspirin is most commonly used to remedy aches and pains, it is also used to prevent heart attacks. Checking labels may save you a headache, but what is more important, taking the time to look for an expiration date may someday save your life.

55 Winter Tips for Family Caregivers from Assistguide Information Services

As the weather turns colder, it’s important to remember that weather changes affect the elderly. Every year, hypothermia kills about 600 Americans, half of whom are 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Below are tips for family caregivers during the winter months.

1. Dress loved ones in warmer layers. Especially if your home is prone to be drafty. Dress warmly even when inside–especially when inactive (sitting); the inability to move easily or think clearly may be symptoms of exposure (hypothermia).

2. Place an easy-to-read thermometer in an indoor location where you will see it frequently, and check the temperature of your home often during the winter months. According to the National Institutes of Health you should set your thermostat to at least 68 to 70 degrees. Even mildly cool homes with temperatures from 60 to 65 degrees can trigger hypothermia in the elderly.

3. Placing bells or a door alarm on all doors leading outside can help alert you when your loved one may be leaving the house. There is the additional risk to a caregiver recipient with chances of them getting out of the door unobserved, especially when there is an increase in activity. Once out the door the dangers to your loved one increase.

4. If possible, keep your loved one’s room a degree or two warmer than the rest of the house.

5. Keep sidewalks and driveways clear for elderly living alone, to prevent falls that make it difficult for loved ones to get inside during cold weather months.

7

hearing aids, and answer any questions you may have. Appointments are necessary.

FOOD STAMP REPRESENTATIVE

Legal Aid has been having Alexis from the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY come to the Center on the first Tuesday of each month from 10-11AM to help people obtain food stamps or to renew their food stamps. No appointment is necessary.

MEDICAID REPRESENTATIVE

A Medicaid representative is at the Center on the first Tuesday of each month from 9 - 11 AM to help people with Medicaid problems or to help someone see if they are eligible for Medicaid. No appointment is necessary.

month from 10-11AM. She is only able to see two clients a month so you will need to call the Center at 235-2420 to make an appointment. You must live in Albany County and be at least 60 years of age.

HEARING CLINIC

On the second Tuesday of each month Ray Woikowski, hearing instrument specialist, will be at the Center from 10:30-12PM to test hearing, check

CENTER’S TRANSPORTATION

The Center offers transportation to seniors 60 and older who live in Albany County. If you need transportation, call MTM at 1-866-208-7357.

LEGAL AID ATTORNEY

Elizabeth Schuster from the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY is here on the third Tuesday of each

Designed with you in mind, the Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. Medicare

Choices plan is simple to use and offers an extensive

network of local doctors that includes area hospitals in

Albany, Dutchess, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga,

Schenectady, Schoharie, and Ulster counties.

For information, call(518) 641-3400 or

TTY/TDD (518) 641-4000

CDPHP® contracts with the federal government to offer Medicare Choices. Medicare

Choices members must have both Medicare Parts A & B. All

routine health care must be received from plan providers.

H3388 09-4009B

EVERYDAY JANUARY CALENDAR EVENTS

Monday10:00 AM Senior swim10:00 AM Line dancing1:00 PM Watercolor painting

Tuesday 10:15 AM Osteoporosis exercise class1:00 PM Silvertops Singing Group1 - 5:00 PM Computer lab open

Wednesday 10:00 AM Senior Swim10:00 AM In Between Bridge Thursday 9:00 AM Mah-jongg (beg. Jan 7, 2009)10 AM - 5:00 PM Computer lab open12:30 PM Ceramics12:30 PM Bowling2:00 PM Classical Music Club (restarts January 14, 2009)

Friday 10:00 AM Senior swim10 AM - 3:00 PM Computer lab open12:30 PM Advanced bridge1:00 PM Osteoporosis exercise class

8SPECIAL EVENT DAYS FOR JANUARY

January 5, 20109:00 AM Medicaid10:00 AM Food Stamps

January 7, 20109:00 AM Mah-jongg (new)

January 12, 201010:30 AM Hearing Clinic by appt.5:30 PM Diner’s only BINGO

January 13, 20109:00 AM Medicare Asssistance (HICAP)11:00 AM Blood Pressure Clinic

January 14, 20102:00 PM Classical Music Appreciation (restarts)

January 18, 2010 Center Closed for Holiday

January 19, 20109:30 AM Legal Aid attorney by appt.

January 20, 201010:30 AM Membership exec. mtg.

January 26, 20105:30 PM Diner’s only BINGO

January 27, 201010:30 AM Membership Meeting

1-800-860-8707(TTY: 1-800-558-1125)

Monday—Friday 8am—8pm

fideliscare.org

9Martin Luther King Jr. Day observedJanuary 18, 2009Center Closed

MVP GOLD CHAIR MOVESClasses will resume March 23, 2010

Stay as mobile and strong as possible! This is a chair-based class that emphasizes strengthening, limbering, and stretching exercises for upper and lower limbs. It is an 8 week program.To register or for more information call 518-235-2420 or [email protected].

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINICWednesday, November 11, 200911 AM to 12 PM

Member and nurse, Hazel Evans, is at the Senior Center every month to take blood pressures. If you would like to have your blood pressure taken, just come in that day and someone will take your name and give you a card to have Hazel record and track your blood pressure on it.

Bistro NightThursday, February 25, 20105:00 PMSuggested Donation: $3 for 60+

Elvis Presley impersonator, Don Romines will be the entertainment for Bistro night. There will be dinner music and Elvis will perform from 6-7PM.

Don Romines is from Schenectady, NY. Don’s career began when he dressed up as Elvis for a Halloween party and won the contest for the best costume. He has been performing ever since at all types of parties for many different occasions, intimate parties, cruise ships, dinner shows, camp parties, and even played in Las Vegas and other ca-sinos around the country. What started as one night of fun has continued for 20 years and is still going strong. His fans can only hope that he will continue to keep the memory alive and keep giving Elvis the respect and justice he deserves.

Walmart WednesdaysWednesday’s12:30 to 2:30

The Senior Center bus will be going to Walmart every Wednesday picking up at Cayuga Plaza, Ogden Mills, Columbia Crest, and Waterside Way. The bus will leave Cayuga Plaza at 12:30 picking up at each location and picking back up at the Super Walmart in Clifton Park at 2:30. If you would like to go please call MTM at 1-866-208-7357 and ask for a 12:30 pick up going to Walmart in Clifton Park, 1549 Rt 9, Halfmoon, NY 12065.

MAH-JONGGEvery Thursday beginning January 7, 20109:00 AM

Sally Cotugno, player and teacher, will be playing Mah-Jongg here at the Center. Sally is willing to teach anyone who doesn’t know how to play. They will need at least 4 players to play. If anyone would like to play or learn how to play call 235-2420 to register.

Mah-Jongg is a game of Chinese origin usually played by four persons with 144 domino like pieces or tiles marked in suits, counters, and dice, the object being to build a winning combination of pieces.

Classical Music AppreciationJanuary 14, 20102 PM

The Classical Music Club resumes for the fall. New members are warmly welcome to join in the fun; to learn more about the favorite selections and to experience some new enjoyments through the media of CD’s, videos, DVD’s, and discussions. The first session will be devoted to exploring favorite selections and why they are meaningful to us as music lovers. If you are interested and would like to come to the music club contact the Senior Center at the front office or call 235-2420. Classes will break and then resume in January 2010.

10Membership’s Corner JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

1/1 Patricia Charland Edward Tremblay1/2 Susan Briggs1/3 Frank Pfitz1/6 Lorraine Walsh Margaret Gage1/8 Rev. James Kane1/9 Shirley Berthiaume Wayne Phillips1/10 Stella Snay1/11 Grace Ryan Homer Duquette1/12 Gloria Galeo Mary Bruneau1/21 Edith Gile1/26 Beverly Quinn1/27 Jennie Korbel Hazel Evans1/28 Walter Obzud1/29 Stella Roemer Edmund Rigney1/31 Joan Perry Joseph Parker

If your birthday Is not mentioned, it may be because your membership has not been renewed this year. You may renew your membership any day at the front desk or mail it to the Center.

A STORY ABOUT A PILL

Little pill, here in my hand,I wonder how you understandJust what to do or where to goTo stop the ache that hurts me so.

Within your covering lies relief…You work in unbeliefYou sink in regions there belowAs down my throat you quickly go;

But what I wonder little pillHow do you know where I am ill,And how do you really knowJust where you are supposed to go?

I’ve got a headache, That is true,My broken ribs need attention too.How can anyone so smallEnd my aches and pains in no time at all?

Do you work alone or hire a crewTo do all the good things that you do?I’m counting on your mighty strongTo get in there where you belong.

Don’t let me down and please don’t shirkBut do your undercover work.Now down my throat be on your wayAnd end my aches another day.

Don’t make a wrong turnIn me please,‘Cause I can’t take anotherTill it’s half past three.

Author Unknown

11ANNOUNCEMENTS

CERAMICS CLASS

Nancy St. Louis, ceramic teacher, has open-ings in her ceramic class on Thursdays starting at 12:30PM. The cost of the class is $25.00 for 10 weeks and includes the firing of your ceramics and you pay Nancy directly. You would buy your own paints, brushes, and whatever item you wanted to make. Nancy would be happy to get these items for you. Come in on a Thursday and see what they do in ceramics and see if you would like to attend and make something for yourself or a gift for someone for a birthday, anniversary or a Christmas gift.

NEED MEALS ON WHEELS REPLACEMENT DRIVERS

We are in need of volunteers who would be willing to deliver meals on wheels when one of our drivers is out sick or on vacation. One driver delivers around 38 meals another delivers around 45 and another driver delivers 11. It sometimes is a last minute notification because we don’t know until we get in to work that someone called in sick. We know vacation time ahead of time and could contact our volunteer ahead of time to see if they are available. If anyone would like to help please come in and speak with Keith or Linda and we would have you ride with a driver to see what you would have to do and to get to know the route.

Annual Appeal: Forty-one years of commitment and service, over 1.2 million meals served, over 400,000 miles of road traveled safely delivering seniors to appointments and home again. This is what the Cohoes Multi-Service Senior Citizens Center is all about. With our staff, our countless volunteers, and all the tenacity and experience our seniors have to offer, the Senior Center has been a cornerstone in the community.

We are proud of our years of service, but we did not do it alone.

Please make a gift today using the donation slip below. We believe that helping us guarantee our future helps guarantee yours and others as they get older. That’s why 100% of our staff and Board of Directors make a donation that is meaningful to them.

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE PAID

COHOES, NYPERMIT #6

10 Cayuga PlazaCohoes, NY 12047

Hours of OperationMonday - Wednesday - Friday 9:00 - 4:00Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 - 6:30Saturday - Sunday Closedwww.cohoesseniorcenter.orgPhone: 518-235-2420

The mission of the Cohoes Multi-Service Senior Citizens Center, Inc. is to promote the dignity of older adults living in the community; and to provide the programs and services needed to support their living healthy and productive lives.

Seniors TodayJanuary 2010

A monthly publication of the Cohoes Multi-Service Senior Citizens Center, Inc.www.cohoesseniorcenter.org

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

HEAP may help you pay for Electricity, Propane, Natural Gas, Wood, Oil, Kerosene, Coal, or any other heating fuel.

HEAP is a federally funded program that issues heating benefits to supplement a household’s an-nual energy cost. HEAP also offers an emergency benefit for households in a heat or heat related en-ergy emergency. Additionally, HEAP offers a furnace repair and/or replacement benefit for households with inoperable heating equipment.

Regular BenefitThe HEAP regular benefit component assists low-income New Yorkers with the cost of heating their homes. The Regular Benefit component of the 2009-10 HEAP Program is open effective November 2, 2009.Emergency BenefitThe HEAP emergency benefit component assists qualifying low-income New Yorkers who are facing a heat or heat related energy emergency and do not have the resources available to resolve the emergency. The Emergency HEAP component of the 2009-10 HEAP Program is open effective November 2, 2009.Furnace Repair or ReplacementThe HEAP Furnace Repair and Replacement Com-ponent is available to help low-income homeowners repair or replace furnaces, boilers, and other direct heating components necessary to keep the home's primary heating source functional. The HEAP Fur-nace Repair and Replacement Component is open from October 1, 2009 until September 30, 2010.Income GuidelinesHow do I apply for HEAP?Low-income New Yorkers may apply for HEAP in person, by mail, over the phone, and on the internet.

Locally, you can apply for HEAP at: Cohoes

Community Outreach, 30 White Street, Cohoes, NY 12047. Their telephone number is 518-237-9201.

Tax Preparations

start in February.

Call in late January for

more details or to schedule and

appointment.