3-person household $3,513 4-person household $4,182

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1 THE HEAP PROGRAM The Home Energy Assistance Program, more commonly known as HEAP, opens this year on November 18 th. Households eligible for HEAP receive a grant, generally sent directly to the heating fuel vendor to be used as a credit against future bills To be eligible for HEAP, you must either be responsible for a heating bill or you must live in a nonsubsidized apartment that includes heat in the rent. In addition, your monthly household income (after Medicare premiums have been deducted) must be at or below the following levels: 1-person household $2,175 2-person household $2,844 3-person household $3,513 4-person household $4,182 5-person household $4,852 6-person household $5,521 Regular HEAP is not an asset-tested program. Merely having savings in the bank will not make you ineligible, although interest and/or dividends you earn are counted toward income. (This is true even if they are reinvested rather than paid to you.) There are several ways to apply for HEAP. People of any age can apply in person. (Call ProAction at for Interview Site times and locations.) If applying in person, you will need to bring birth certificates, Social Security cards, a heating bill, proof of income, and proof of residence with you. Those aged 60 or over who have difficulty traveling or completing forms may also call the Office for the Aging to request a HEAP home visit or a mail-in HEAP application. Most households that receive Food Stamps do not have to complete a HEAP application as their benefit is sent automatically (you should call your DSS worker to verify). You can also complete a HEAP application online at For general information on the program, those aged 60+ should call their local Office for the Aging. For information on times, dates, and location of HEAP interview sites, please call Pro-Action at or Please Note: This year s Emergency HEAP Program, which allows an additional HEAP benefit, will not open until January 2 nd, Unlike regular HEAP, Emergency HEAP is asset-tested. Savings and resources could make you ineligible. As of this time it is anticipated that HEAP will not repair or replace furnaces this season. November/December Second Season

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3 Steuben County Senior Dinner Clubs Open for Lunch Monday through Friday with some exceptions listed below. Suggested Donation $3.00 if 60 years old or older, $6.00 cost if under 60 years of age. Please make reservations one day in advance Addison: Addison Place Apartments 43 William St (607) Bath: Clyde F Simon Lakeview Apts 105 Geneva St (607) No reservations required Corning: Corning Senior Center 1 Park Lane (607) Dayspring II Apartments 220 Tioga Ave (607) Hornell: Hornell Senior Center 20 Broadway Mall (607) Church Street Court Apts 71 Church St (607) Pulteney: First Presbyterian Church Main St. Cty Rt 74 (607) Mondays and Thursdays Hammondsport: First Presbyterian Church 1 Park Place (607) Tuesdays Call ProAction Senior Nutrition at (607) for more information. Join us for some Holiday Special Events Thursday, November 21 st for a Thanksgiving Luncheon Sliced Turkey with Gravy Stuffing Beans Pie Thursday, December 19 th for a Christmas Luncheon Ham Slice with Glaze Mashed Potatoes Peas Pie Sponsors: United Way, Steuben County Office for the Aging, New York State Office for the Aging, and Administration on Aging November/December Second Season

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5 Enclosed with this copy of Second Season is an application for you to join Steuben Senior Service Fund s Aging in Place Club. Over 100 older county residents have joined our Aging in Place Club to help us promote and fund services for those seniors who wish to continue living at home as long as possible. Join at whatever level fits your budget, and you will receive an introductory packet containing safety tips along with other materials. In the coming months you will receive our quarterly newsletters by regular mail or . Join with us today and help us promote Aging in Place in Steuben County. Announcing Our New Program Assistant In May we at Faith in Action Steuben County were saddened to hear the news that our program assistant Colleen Goebel was moving to Delaware with her family but excited for them in this new venture. We wish them all the best and hope they acclimatize quickly finding a niche in their new community. This left us with a hole that has been nicely filled with our new program assistant Jennifer LeBlanc from Canisteo, NY. We are very excited to have Jennifer working with us. One of Jennifer s jobs is to schedule the volunteers to help meet the needs of our elderly neighbors. She is learning the job quickly and fitting in well with our program and mission statement. Please feel free to call and wish Jennifer a hearty hello. Faith in Action continues to serve the frail elderly in Steuben County by filling transportation needs, friendly visits, light housekeeping, minor home repairs, or just a friendly telephone call to say Hi, how are you today?. We often hear retirees say, I am busier now than I was when I worked. We know you fill your day now catching up on those things you couldn t do when working a nine to five job; however, if you have just one or two free hours a week that you could give to serve your elderly neighbor, we would gladly welcome you aboard as a Faith in Action volunteer. Our motto is A neighbor s independence depends on you. One of our volunteers attests, Volunteering has helped get me out and using my time to help others instead of just vegetating. If on the other hand you are one of our seniors in need of assistance, please don t hesitate to call. Jennifer, Dick Russell (our Executive Director) or I will work to meet that need with the help of our great group of volunteers. Listen to the testimony of one of our clients, I think you all do a terrific job. I know some people are hesitant to request your services but I wish they would call you. They would find out what a wonderful office staff and core of volunteers are available. Thank you for all you do!! Our numbers are (607) or We will be waiting for your call. Sandra Ruble, Office Manager, Faith in Action Steuben County November/December Second Season

6 B U L L E T I N B O A R D How to Reach the Steuben County Office for the Aging: Hornell: Call (607) Broadway Mall Corning: Call (607) Park Lane Bath: Call (607) East Pulteney Square NY Connects: Fax: (607) ofainfo@co.steuben.ny.us Open Monday through Friday (except holidays) 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Walk-ins welcome. However, you may wish to call ahead to ensure your worker will be available. If you are not in a local calling area, the Bath office accepts collect calls. NYS STAR School Property Tax Relief: Virtually all New York State homeowners are eligible to receive a discount on their school taxes through the Basic STAR program. Older adults can generally receive a greater discount through the Enhanced STAR program. If you receive Enhanced STAR, you must either apply annually or participate in the income verification program. If you receive Basic STAR you must register again this year or you will lose the exemption. Most people receiving Basic STAR received a letter to this effect over the summer, with instructions on how to reapply. If you did not, you must register on-line at or by phone at If you ve never received a STAR exemption, contact your local assessor for more information. Lists Available at the Office for the Aging: 1) Senior Subsidized Housing in Steuben County 2) Steuben County Nursing and Adult Homes 3) Basic Eligibility levels for programs like HEAP, SNAP (Food Stamps) and Medicaid. 4) Local Senior Clubs Call Us! GENERICS? About 80% of all brand name drugs are now available in generic versions. Are they as good? The US Food and Drug Administration requires that generics must be identical to name brand drugs in safety, strength, quality and characteristics and they are tested as fully as name brands. So why not give them a try and save up to 85% of the cost of name brands? Accepting application for one bedroom apartments for ages 62 and older or disabled regardless of age Dayspring Apartments, Corning, NY, call HAVE INTERNET ACCESS? You can receive your Second Season online and save us a few dollars a year in postage. Contact us at ofainfo@co.steuben.ny.us Avoid Telemarketers, call to enroll in the Do-Not-Call registry. November/December Second Season

7 Seniors Among Groups Hardest Hit By Flu For most people, getting the flu means feeling achy and feverish for a week or so, but for people 65 years and older, the flu can be much more serious. People in this age group are at high risk for severe flu illness and complications. In fact, an estimated 60 percent of flu-related hospitalizations in the United States occur in this age group each year. Last season flu illness was particularly severe for people 65 and older, prompting CDC to report the highest flu-related hospitalization rates in this age group since it began tracking this information. Unfortunately, the burden of flu illness in people 65 and older was accompanied by reports that the flu vaccine did not work as well as expected to protect people in this age group against one particular flu virus last season. If that news left you asking yourself whether getting a flu vaccine this season is still worthwhile for people 65 and older, the answer is absolutely and unquestionably Yes!. There are plenty of reasons for people 65 and older to get a flu vaccination this year, and vaccination remains the first, best and most important step in protecting against flu illness and its complications. While the benefits of flu vaccination can vary, studies show that vaccination can provide a range of benefits, including reducing flu illness, antibiotic use, doctor s visits, lost work, and even helping to prevent hospitalizations and deaths. If you are in this age group, there are two flu vaccine options available to choose from this season: the standard flu shot and a high-dose flu shot made and approved specifically for people 65 years of age and older. The high-dose vaccine contains more antigen (the part of the vaccine that helps your body build up protection against flu viruses) than the regular flu shot, and this extra antigen is intended to produce a stronger immune response in seniors. CDC does not have a preference for which vaccine seniors should get this season. Flu vaccine is offered in many locations, including your doctor s office and many local pharmacies. Medicare covers both flu and pneumonia vaccines with no co-pay or deductible. As part of the Affordable Care Act, all plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace and other plans will provide many free preventive services, including flu vaccinations REMEMBER THE DATES! This year s Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 th to December 7 th. If you want to change, purchase or drop your Medicare drug coverage or Medicare Advantage Plan for 2014, you must do so within this time frame. Call the Office for the Aging for information (numbers listed on the Bulletin Board page). November/December November/December 2012 November/December Second Season Second Season Second Season

8 More tips to keep from getting scammed: Don t let your mail sit in the box. If you re going away, have the Post Office hold it for you. Don t announce on your answering machine or on social media websites that you re on vacation. If you don t need it, shred it. Check your explanation of benefits from Medicare and private insurances to make sure you received the medical services being billed in your name. Never give personal information out over the phone. Keep receipts. Check your credit report yearly. If you get a Sweepstakes check in the mail, don t cash it. Ask questions, a lot of questions, if something doesn t seem right. Don t carry your social security card in your wallet. Memorize your number instead WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT Because needs are always greater than the resources available to meet them, the Steuben County Office for the Aging encourages financial contributions. Name (May we publish your name? Yes No ) Address Phone I designate my contribution of $ for: All donations are greatly appreciated. USE WHERE MOST NEEDED Newsletter Caregiver Resource Center Nutrition Program ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE In-Home Services Ombudsman TAX DEDUCTIBLE TO THE Information & Referral Project CARE EXTENT OF THE LAW. Legal Services Transportation CLIP AND RETURN THIS COUPON WITH YOUR DONATION. PLEASE SEND TO STEUBEN COUNTY OFFICE FOR THE AGING, 3 EAST PULTENEY SQUARE, BATH NY THANK YOU! November/December Second Season

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10 Your Second Season newsletter from Steuben County Office for the Aging The new age of aging working together for innovative solutions 3 East Pulteney Square Bath NY Phone Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Bath, NY Permit No.1 TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Bone Builders There were 10 new people among the 55 at Bone Builders Leaders Training held on September 18, Our morning guest speaker was Dr. Joel VanSlyke, Director of Rehab at Steuben County Health Care Facility. Everyone enjoyed his presentation. We now have 85 women and men who have completed leaders training. Many of these folks are RSVP members who also volunteer for other organizations in addition to Bone Builders. Bone Builders continues to grow rapidly. We have had 23 new people join during the past couple months. We have open enrollment and anyone, 50 or older, can join at any time. Remember there is no charge to become a member. If you d like to be a participant in one of our 20 groups in Steuben County or want further information, please contact ProAction at or Darlene Auckland, Program Coordinator