CASA Gala

Looking for something special to do for Valentine's day? Come enjoy o'dourves, dinner, wine tasting and entertainment at the Radisson Valentine's Day in Corning while at the same time proceeds will help abused and neglected children in your community. Flier attached.

CASA Gala

Saturday, February 14^th, 2009

Cocktails 6:00 to 7:00, Dinner 7:00 to 8:30, Live band following

$55 per ticket or $99 for two

Special room rate also available with champagne, chocolates and breakfast

The Radisson Hotel

Corning, New York

Call for your tickets today

Amy Miller-Plumley
CASA of the Southern Tier, Inc.
PO Box 778
Corning, NY 14830
phone: 607-936-CASA (2272) or 1-888-936-CASA
Fax: 607-936-3876
www.casasoutherntier.org

Literacy Volunteers Offers Free Tutor Training

Do you enjoy reading?
Do you like working with people?
Have you considered tutoring adults?

A new Tutor Training course will start on Thursday, January 29th at 6:30 p.m. and will run for 5 weeks thru February 27. There is no fee.

If you are interested, contact Roger Hugo at Literacy Volunteers by calling 535-2468, ext. 206.

Benefits of Exercise are Real

DEAR JIM: I have read your columns for many years and always find them very educational and entertaining. However, I sometimes have difficulty believing that exercise can really help people that much. I see my friends and relatives growing older every day and suffering from declining health, and exercise is the last thing on their minds. I know that you really believe in the whole exercise thing, but surely it can’t be as good you as you say it is for you. DOUBTING DEBBIE FROM DUBUQUE

DEAR DOUBTING DEBBIE: Yes, I really do believe in the whole “exercise thing,” and yes, it CAN be as good as I say it is for you. If you have read my columns for as long as you say you have, you will know that I have frequently emphasized that exercise is not a cure-all for everything that besets us, but it can help to prevent certain conditions from developing and greatly improve our quality of life. But why take my word for it?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular physical activity can improve health and reduce the risk of premature death in the following ways:

- Reduces the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) and the risk of dying from CHD.
- Reduces the risk of stroke.
- Lowers both total blood cholesterol and triglycerides and increases high-density lipoproteins (HDL or the “good” cholesterol).
- Lowers the risk of developing high blood pressure.
- Helps reduce blood pressure in people who already have it.
- Lowers the risk of developing non-insulin-dependent (Type 2) diabetes mettitus.
- Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer.
- Helps people achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
- Reduces feelings of depression.
- Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
- Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling or becoming excessively fatigued.

Even as we grow older and, perhaps, even frail and incapacitated, the important thing is to “keep moving” – the expression so famously identified with fitness guru Jack LaLanne, now 94 and still going strong. Age and disabilities may limit the amount and scope of our physical activity, but there are very few of us who can’t do “something” physical to make our lives better.

For more information about the importance of exercise in our lives, refer to www.cdc.gov.

Jim Evans is a 41-year veteran of the health and fitness industry and internationally recognized fitness consultant. Send your questions about health and fitness to pacsd@aol.com.

FBI Fraud Alert

The FBI has identified elder fraud and fraud against those suffering from serious illness as the most insidious of white collar crimes being perpetrated by today's modern and high tech con-man. Many elderly citizens rely on pensions, social security and life savings to support themselves. The seriously ill and their families are desperate to find some glimmer of hope. The losses inflicted by these unscrupulous con-men and their organizations are both financially and emotionally devastating to these victims.

When it comes to products that promise increased cognitive function, virility, physical conditioning, properties and so on, those with Parkinson's disease make up the segment of the population very concerned about these issues. In a country where new cures and vaccinations for old diseases has given every American hope for a long and fruitful life, it is not so unbelievable that the products offered by these con-men can do what they say they can do.

Those suffering from Parkinson's disease and other serious illnesses are targeted for one simple reason. The con-man knows that many of these individuals are desperate to find some reason to believe that a "miracle cure" exists. These people, many of whom are elderly but some who are not, are willing to pay whatever price is asked and subject themselves to whatever risk is required to gain an advantage over their disease. Regrettably, in most cases, it is the con-man taking advantage of these individuals. In addition to the financial loss, these patients often lose valuable time away from conventional medical treatment which could have resulted in a higher quality of life and/or prolonged life. The FBI has identified several instances where dietary and nutritional supplements promise curative effects have been utilized to defraud American citizens. The FBI has been involved in several investigations concerning "miracle cures" in which the bureau has joined forces and shared resources with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and others.

Their best advise is, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. Always discuss treatments with you doctor."

For more information: FBI Web Site

Office Closings

The RSVP and Cornell Cooperative Extension offices will be closed from Thursday, December 25 thru Thursday, January 1 for the holidays. We reopen on Friday, January 2.

Enjoy your holidays and have a happy, healthy new year!

We'll see you in 2009!!

Digital TV Conversion: The Time Is Now!

It’s only 67 days until the digital television transition on February 17, and December is the critical month. Since it may take as long as six weeks from applying for a government coupon to placing a converter box in operation,NOW is the time to apply for a coupon, buy a converter box and try it out!

Information on the transition, how to apply for the $40 government coupons, where to buy converter boxes, and how to install and use them is available at several websites:

http://www.dtv.gov/: Among other resources, this FCC website has outreach information for partners and consumer education materials on buying and installing converter boxes.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/: At this secure website you can apply for the $40 government coupons. Information is available here in 10 languages besides English.

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/: This NTIA website has links to apply for the coupons, and explanatory brochures in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

http://www.n4a.org/resources-publications/?fa=view-item&id=155: n4a is working to secure resources for AAAs and Title VI Native American aging programs to assist older adults in making a smooth transition. The website has free materials to help aging professionals and consumers get up-to-speed on this timely issue.

http://www.dtvtransition.org/: This is the website of the DTV Transition Coalition made up of business, trade and industry groups as well as grass roots and membership organizations that share an interest in a smooth transition. It has a variety of educational and presentation materials.

NOTICE: Change in Transportation Services

Beginning December 22, 2008, Schuyler County seniors (60+) in need of transportation should call the Office for the Aging at 535-7108. Veterans, Medicaid (not Medicare) recipients, and clients with Mental Health appointments should continue to call their appropriate offices.


Seniors 60+ or Wheelchair Bound Seniors - Call Ric at the Office for the Aging, 535-7108

Veterans - Call Joan at the Veterans Office, 535-2091

Medicaid Recipients - Call Ranay at Social Services, 535-8368

Mental Health - Call Lois at Mental Health, 535-8282


Though there has been a slight change in transportation coordinator duties, RSVP volunteer drivers will continue to provide this much needed service.

Buy a Cat for Christmas - Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack

SENIOR HEALTH & FITNESS
Buy a Cat for Christmas - Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack
By: Jim Evans

DEAR JIM: My wife – 69 – has a calico cat, and she insists that this cat makes her feel better. She has even dressed it up for Christmas this year with a ribbon around its neck and jingle bells. Personally, I’m not a cat lover, and I tolerate this particular cat only because it seems to make my wife happy, but how can “a cat” make anyone feel better? I always thought dogs made people feel better, but cats??? SKEPTIC IN SKOKIE

DEAR SKEPTIC: Your wife probably has no idea WHY her cat makes her feel better but, believe it or not, recent research shows that cats may actually lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes by relieving the stress and anxiety typically linked to coronary disease and heart attacks.

Researchers for the Minnesota Stroke Institute in Minneapolis found that “people who do not own cats have a 40% higher risk of dying from a myocardial infarction than people who do keep cats as pets,” according to Adnan Qureshi, M.D. “We did not find a significant difference between people who owned dogs or other pets” (“ASA: Cats May Protect Owners Against Cardiovascular Death,” by Ed Susman, MedPage Today, February 21, 2008).

“Cats are, by and large, easier to care for and more manageable, especially among older persons,” said Qureshi. “Cats also tend to help build a person’s self-esteem, which could be diminished by risk factors for heart attacks such as obesity, mobility, or injury. We know that cats are helpful in rehabilitation from injuries and illnesses such as stroke.”

Results should still considered preliminary, but if the findings can be substantiated, cat ownership might be considered as a cost-effective intervention in reducing heart attacks and possibly other forms of cardiovascular disease such as stroke for high-risk individuals according to Qureshi.

Sounds like you might want to jump on the kitty bandwagon and make friends with your wife’s cat or buy one for yourself to reduce your stress level. Your local pet shelter probably has a nice selection to choose from in time for Christmas – even for a crusty old cat hater like you. Chill out and appreciate that your wife might be right on this one.

Jim Evans is a 41-year veteran of the health and fitness industry and internationally recognized fitness consultant. Send your questions about health and fitness to pacsd@aol.com

Drivers Needed!

RSVP is looking for volunteers to drive individuals to and from medical appointments as referred by Schuyler County agencies; OFA, Mental Health, Public Health, DSS, and Veterans. Interested parties must have a safe driving record, valid driver's license and auto insurance as required by New York State law. The volunteer must be reliable, prompt and dependable.

Volunteers receive individualized orientation to RSVP transportation policies, including voucher procedures for mileage reimbursement. Reimbursement is available at the IRS rate, currently 58 1/2 cents per mile.

Emergency Kits on Sale

RSVP is offering a ‘Buy One/Get One Free’ deal on their Triad emergency kits. Kits are valued at $27 each and you can purchase 2 for just $10. That’s 2 emergency kits packed with enough food, water and other supplies to last through a 72 hour period in the event of a disaster. Be prepared for winter snow and ice storms since you never know when the electricity will go out. Makes a great holiday gift! This offer is limited to one purchase per household in Schuyler County only. There is a limited supply so call the RSVP office at 535-7105 right away.