IN THIS ISSUE: • Plan Now For Long-Term Care ... - Dutchess County

IN THIS ISSUE:• Plan Now For Long-Term Care• Scrabble Tournament (09/19)• Free Prostate Screening (09/17 & 09/18)• Free Concert Series in Millbrook (09/01)• News for Veterans• Boomers Migrating Towards Cities• More Senior News OnlineGolden Living . . . News for Senior CitizensMary Kaye Dolan-Anderson, DirectorDutchess County Office for the AgingPLANNING FOR LONG TERM CAREThere is good news and bad news when it comes to planning for end of lifeneeds here in the U.S. The good news is 81% of middle-income baby boomershave taken at least one detailed action to prepare for their passing according to astudy by Bankers Life & Casualty. This would include making funeralarrangements, identifying where they would like to be buried, purchasing lifeinsurance to cover burial expenses and creating a will.The really bad news is 72% of those same baby boomers have no plan thatanticipates their long term care needs. Most baby boomers seem to be in a stateof denial about their future need for long term care and mistakenly think Medicarewill pay for long term care services. They estimate their total cost for health carein retirement will not exceed $50,000.In reality, a study by Fidelity Benefits Consulting found the average coupleturning 65 today on Medicare will pay an average of $220,000 in out of pocketmedical costs before they die. Those costs include premiums, co-pays anddeductibles. On top of that, about two-thirds of those 65 and older will havesome long term care needs at a cost averaging $50,000 per person.Although baby boomers do expect long term care to affect their finances, theyestimate the annual cost of nursing home care to be about $47,000, while theactual yearly cost is over $90,000.

COSTS CONTINUE TO RISEThere is even more bad news for those considering a long term care insurancepolicy to protect some of their assets. As costs and payouts continue to rise,qualifying for insurance will become more difficult and expensive over the nextfew years. Some companies have already begun using gender ratings(insurance will be more expensive for women as they live longer) and requiringmore tests and screenings during the application process.Several insurance companies have pulled out of the long term care businessentirely as costs at nursing homes and assisted living facilities continue to riseand interest rates remain low.START PLANNING NOWRight now, nearly half of all long term care services are paid for by Medicaid, thestate and federal program for the low-income and disabled. Congress iscurrently working on a “plan for the establishment, implementation and financingof a comprehensive, coordinated and high quality system that ensures theavailability of long term care services and supports for individuals in need of suchservices and supports.” Their report is due at the end of next month.If you are one of the 76 million baby boomers who will be reaching retirementage over the next decade, the time to start having the conversation about howyou will pay for you and your spouse’s long term care needs is now.

Scrabble TournamentMid-Hudson Love INC will be holding their 5th Annual Scrabble Tournament onThursday, September 19th, 6:30 pm to 9 pm at the Hellenic Community Center,54 Park Ave, Poughkeepsie. Entry fee is $30.00 per person and includes Horsd'oeuvres, dessert and beverages. It also includes prizes for the top winning 2teams. Raffle tickets are also available: 1st Prize: 4 days/3 nights at the TrappFamily Lodge, Stowe, VT. 2nd Prize: 7 days/6 nights in a 3 bdrm house in theAdirondacks. (Winners need not be present to win!) Raffle tickets are $5.00/eachor 6/$25. Please see their website for more information: http://www.midhudsonloveinc.org/Free Prostate ScreeningYOU CAN EMPOWER YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR OWNSTATE OF HEALTHTues. Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 noonWed. Sept. 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.Herb & Sue Ann Redl Center for Cancer Care Medical Arts Pavilion19 Baker Ave., Suite 101, Poughkeepsie, NYFree Prostate Screening for uninsured or underinsured men between the ages of50 and 70 who are not currently under the care of a urologist. African Americanmen or men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin screeningbetween the ages of 40 - 45.Guidelines:men age 50 who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to liveat least 10 more years.men at age 45 at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes AfricanAmericans and men who have a first-degree relative (father, brother, or son)diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).men at age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degreerelative who had prostate cancer at an early age).This FREE screening is offered by Saint Francis Hospital & Health Centers inconjunction with physician providers from Premier Medical Group UrologyDivision.Registration is required. Call the Center for Cancer Care at 845 483-5997

Members of Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra to PerformMillbrook NDSO Sampler Series September 1, 29 and October 6The Fountains at Millbrook, 79 Flint Road, will host a series of three concertsfeaturing musicians from Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra. The freeafternoon concerts, outlined below, are open to the public with advancereservations. Refreshments will be served afterwards and seating is limited.RSVP to 845-677-8550 at least two days prior.September 1st 3 p.m."Dueling"Featuring Clarinetist William Stevens and Bassoonist Melissa Brown The recitalis entitled "Dueling" and will trace the development of this woodwind duo from theclassics of Mozart and Beethoven to more modern works by Poulenc andZugger.September 29th 3:00 p.m." Violin Con Brio"Featuring Violinist Nicholas Szucs"This solo unaccompanied violin recital will contain music from Bach, Ysaÿe &Paganini. Packed with soul, passion & pyrotechnics, this recital will certainly be ahair raiser."October 6th 3:00 p.m."Verdi Celebration"Come help us celebrate the 200th anniversary for Italian composer GuiseppeVerdi. All your favorites from La Traviata, Rigoletto ...and more! This concertwill feature favorite arias from Verdi's beloved operas including excerpts fromRigoletto and La Traviata. It will also include a preview to NDSO’s upcomingperformance of "Opera Ritaglia Traviata" on October 20th. Enjoy a thrillingafternoon with soaring operatic melodies sung by our "Violetta and Alfredo.”NEWS FOR VETERANSSeptember is Suicide Prevention Month, Show Veterans They MatterSeptember is Suicide Prevention Month, a chance for Veterans and their lovedones to focus on the things that matter. And, anyone who knows a Veteran canhelp.Whether a Veteran has just returned home, or served years ago, theirexperiences remain with them. Their wounds might not be visible, but they needour attention. We can support Veterans who are dealing with challenges of allkinds; we’re in this together.

VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System urges groups and individuals nationwide tostay alert for signs of crisis in the Veterans they care about. If you’re concerned,call the Veterans Crisis Line: a free, confidential resource that Veterans and theirfriends and family can access any day, any time.If a Veteran you know shows signs of crisis, such as hopelessness, anxiety,withdrawal, or other signs, trained professionals at the Veterans Crisis Line -many of them Veterans themselves - are ready to listen. Call 1-800-273-8255and Press 1, chat online at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net , or text to 838255 for free, confidentialsupport, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.VA Reaches Out to Veterans about the Health Care LawWASHINGTON (Aug. 6, 2013) – The Department of Veterans Affairs haslaunched an awareness campaign and a new website, www.va.gov/aca, to letVeterans know what the Affordable Care Act means for them and their families.Veterans receiving health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs will seeno change in their benefits or out-of-pocket costs when portions of the AffordableCare Act take effect next year.“VA wants all Veterans to receive health care that improves their health and wellbeing,”said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “If you are enrolled inVA health care, you do not need to take any additional steps to meet the healthcare law coverage standards. If you are not enrolled in VA health care, you canapply at any time.”“VA encourages eligible Veterans who are not enrolled in VA’s health caresystem to take advantage of the world-class care we provide to the men andwomen who have served this Nation in uniform,” Shinseki added.Veterans can apply for VA health care at any time by visitingwww.va.gov/healthbenefits/enroll ,calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387), or visiting their local VA health care facility. Fulldetails on eligibility are available atwww.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book

BOOMERS MOVING TO THE CITYReversing the trajectory of the Eisenhower generation, which fled cities for thesuburbs, the boomers are following a path that younger people have embraced indroves. Many of the boomers are empty nesters, and now free of the need tofactor in school districts and yard sizes, they are gravitating to dense urban coresnear restaurants, shops, movie theaters, and subway stations.MORE SENIOR NEWS ONLINE:Extra Vitamin D Doesn't Cut High Blood Pressure08/14/2013 03:46 PM EDTIn older people with low vitamin D levels and a common type of high bloodpressure, vitamin D supplements do not appear to lower blood pressure,according to a new study from the UK.Source: Reuters HealthFamous Face Test May Spot Early Dementia08/12/2013 04:00 PM EDTResearchers say inability to name icons like Einstein or Elvis might signalprimary progressive aphasiaSource: HealthDayVitamin D Supplements Don't Lower Blood Pressure: Study08/12/2013 04:00 PM EDTNo improvement seen in older adults with hypertension after one yearSource: HealthDayA Surgical Center for Older Patients - NYTimes.comBy PAULA SPANOlder patients can benefit from surgery, but doctors tend not to do fullassessments of their ability to recover.