SENIOR NEWS Long-Term Care Ombudsman program offers training class
Caregiver support group meets Tuesdays
A caregiver support group, presented by the Ulster County Office for the Aging in collaboration with Jewish Family Services of Ulster County, is being presented Tuesdays through April 10 from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. at the Rosendale Community Center, 1055 Route 32.
The program is free, and all are welcome.
Preregistration is required. To register, call the Office for the Aging at (845) 340-3456.
Substance abuse focus of Lunch and Learn Event
The Ulster County Office for the Aging will present a Lunch and Learn Event titled “How to Talk to Your Loved Ones about Substance Use” on Thursday, Feb. 12, at noon at the Esopus town Hall, 284 Broadway.
Have you ever wondered how one person can enjoy drinking alcohol occasionally, but another is completely taken over by the behavior? Have you ever felt helpless as you have watched this happen to a friend or loved one? Sponsored by the Institute for Family Health, this presentation will discuss the science behind addiction, as well as how to talk to someone you love about it.
The presenters will be Lauren Widmark from Step One and Dr. Tiffany Pica from the Institute for Family Health. Admission is free, but space is limited and registration is required.
Call the Office for the Aging at (845) 340-3456 to register or for more information. If the Kingston school district is closed due to weather, the event will be cancelled and rescheduled. It will not be canceled if the school district has a delayed opening or early release.
Free tax preparation, e-filing available
The AARP Tax-Aide program, in conjunction with the IRS and the Hudson Valley CA$H Coalition, will be offering a free volunteer-run tax preparation service for low- to moderate-income taxpayers, with special attention to those ages 60 and older.
You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service. There are 20 Tax-Aide sites around Dutchess County. All sites offer a free electronic filing service for both federal and New York state returns.
The CA$H Coalition reports 4,452 returns were prepared last year for lowand middle-income persons, including seniors. This year, working couples earning less than $20,600 and individuals making less than $15,010 are entitled to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For filers with children, the income determining eligibility rises considerably. Specifics are available at www. irs.gov.
Appointments are available starting the first week of February and continue through April 15. Phone lines to accept appointments are already open. Dial 211 (or 1-800-8991479) for site locations, hours or an appointment. Phone lines will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the best time to call being after 5 p.m. A call specialist will review eligibility, make an appointment, provide directions to the appropriate AARP Foundation Tax Aide site and provide a complete list of required documents needed for the appointment.
More information about the program, as well as 24hour, year-round tax assistance can be found by visiting www.aarp.org/ taxaide/
The New York State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program is currently accepting applications for its volunteer ombudsman training class in March.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program uses volunteers to advocate for the best possible treatment for residents of long-term care facilities. The program assists residents living in nursing homes, assisted living, adult homes and family-type homes in Ulster, Dutchess, Ulster, Columbia, Greene, Orange and Sullivan counties.
Call (845) 229-4680 or send an email to gloria@ hudsonvalleyltcop.org for more information.
Senior groups list meeting schedules
The Hurley Seniors will meet Thursday, Feb. 1, at Schadewalkd Hall at the Hurley Reformed Church, 11 Main St.
The program will feature a musical performance by The Kingston Singers. They will sing music from bygone eras. Attendees will be invited to sing along.
A short business meeting will follow the program, and refreshments will be served. There will be an opportunity to sign up for the play “Steel Magnolias” at for “STEEL MAGNOLIAS” at Hunterdon Hills Playhouse in Hampton, N.J., on May 17.
All seniors are invited to attend the meeting.
The Retired Men of the New Paltz Community will have its monthly breakfast meeting on Monday, Feb. 5, at 8 a.m. at the New Paltz Plaza Diner, 27 New Paltz Plaza.
All retired men are invited to attend.
The speaker will be Harold King, executive vice president of the Council of Industry, Manufacturers Association of the Hudson Valley. He will talk about the “skills gap” and what the council is doing to address it (e.g., “P-Tech,” a new apprenticeship program, and an initiative with Pratt & Whitney at a local high school). He will also speak about trends shaping manufacturing in the region.
Send an email to Rob Greene at rasjgreene@earthlink.net or call (845) 256-9003 for more information.