News/Information

News • Information • Upcoming Events

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued a limited number of coupons redeemable at Oneida, Canastota & Hamilton Farmers' Markets. The Madison County Office for the Aging will be distributing the coupons on the following dates and locations:

Oneida: Monday, August 2, 2010 from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Oneida Towers Lobby
226 Farrier Avenue, Oneida

Hamilton: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 from 9:00—11:30 am
Madison Lane Apartments Community Room, Building 2&3
Madison Lane, Hamilton

Canastota: Thursday, August 5 from 9:00 – 11:30 am
Stoneleigh Apartments Community Room
400 Lamb Avenue, Canastota

Community seniors are welcome; you do not need to be a resident of the distribution sites to receive coupons.

To be eligible you must be age 60 or over and affirm that you are low income based on one or more of the following criteria: Eligible for or currently receiving SSI, Food Stamps, Public Assistance, Section 8 HUD Subsidy, or have an income of less than $1,670.00 per month if single or $2,247.00 per month if married. One booklet per married couple. Coupons are worth $20.00 in Farmers' Market products. (Each booklet has 5 checks of $4.00 each)

Note: being a HEAP recipient NO LONGER automatically qualifies a senior to receive the coupons.

The Coupons are free and can be used to buy fruits and vegetables at any participating Farmers Market. They cannot be used in your regular grocery store. Coupons will be issued on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, call the Madison County Office for the Aging at 697-5700.

Turning Stone Resort Championship Tickets, an official PGA TOUR® event, are available now at Madison County Office for the Aging. Charities selling tickets receive 100% of the face value of the tickets sold. Good Any One Day Tickets are $25. Special offer through charities only—a weekly booklet (5 one day tickets) is available for $100! Call 697-5700 or buy online through ticketmaster at www.turningstonechampionship.com (charity code MCAGING).

The Office for the Aging (OFA) has opened an emergency food cupboard for Madison County residents aged 60 and over.

The OFA can supply seniors with a package with enough food items for 2-3 days. The amount and type of food varies from month to month, but usually contains canned goods & dry staples.

OFA staff will counsel seniors on additional programs & services that many help them budget their limited income so that they can better afford their necessities.

groceries

   Emergency Food Cupboard is located at:
   Office for the Aging, Inc,
   138 Dominic Bruno Blvd,
   Canastota, NY 13032

   Hours are:
   Monday thru Friday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

If you would like to donate food items to the OFA food cupboard or need more information contact the OFA at 697-5700.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can be detrimental to your health before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure. As you know, it is now a state requirement that all homes have a carbon monoxide detector. If you are a Madison County senior (age 60 +), do not have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, and need assistance with the purchasing of one, call the Office for the Aging at 315-697-5700. Just ask to speak with a case manager to see if you qualify for assistance.

The Hamilton Senior Center is sponsoring the following trips:

August 17 - The Merry Go Round Theatre in Auburn - "Meet Me in St. Louis"
September 14 - The Merry Go Round Theatre in Auburn - "The Man From LaMancha"

Call Steve Spiller, Facilitator at 315-824-3905 for more information on these trips.

A new website called PayingForSeniorCare.com has launched an Eldercare Financial Resource Locator Tool, which is a free service that helps families and caregivers find the financial resources they require to pay for the long term care, assisted living or home care of their loved ones.

One can browse the financial resource database or search it by answering a series of optional question. The Tool then sorts the database into those Options / Programs for which your loved one is eligible and those that are unavailable. Clicking on any Option opens a page that discusses the Pros and Cons, benefits and eligibility information and provides links to help you investigate further.

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer. One of the primary mesothelioma causes is asbestos exposure. The cancer develops in the mesothelium, a protective membrane that lines three body cavities: the thoracic cavity (pleura), abdominal cavity (peritoneum) and the heart sac (pericardium). In the case of testicular mesothelioma, the cancer develops in the tunica vaginalis, the membrane surrounding the testicles.

The cancer develops when asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested into the body where they can become lodged in organs \or cavities, causing inflammation or infection and cellular damage. Overtime, the cancerous cells begin to divide uncontrollably, causing the membranes in the affected location to thicken. Fluid then begins to build up in the spaces between membrane layers and tumors begin to form, causing impaired bodily function.

A recent statistic shows that nearly 85% of all mesothelioma patients are seniors. This is due to the long latency period of mesothelioma cancer developing after a case of asbestos exposure. This latency period is usually between 20 to 50 years. Mesothelioma symptoms do not develop until this period. Symptoms often resemble illnesses such as influenza and pneumonia, and in the case of pericardial mesothelioma, symptoms can resemble other cardiac conditions. This can make diagnosis difficult though informing a doctor of prior asbestos exposure can alert them of the possibility of an asbestos-related disease.

Please visit Asbestos.com for more information on support options for malignant mesothelioma.

The Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc. and the older residents of Madison County, would like to thank everyone who contributed to our fiscal year 2009-2010 fund drive. The kindness and generosity of those who donated will touch the lives of many elderly who benefit from the the wide variety of services that the Office for the Aging offers to older residents of Madison County.

Our mission is to advocate, assist, and provide services that enrich the quality of life and provide the independence and dignity of older individuals and their families. Working together, we can make a difference in the lives of those retired by choice or chance as well as the frail, isolated elderly so they may remain independent in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

GoodSearch, http://www.goodsearch.com/about.aspx#faq2, will contribute one penny to the charity of your choice each time you use their search engine for select searches. Additionally, they will contribute a percentage of online purchases made using their shopping tool. Please consider using GoodSearch and choosing Madison County OFA as the charity you would like to support.