Farmers’ Market Coupons Move to Drive Thru Distribution

It’s that time of year again. The farmers’ markets are up and running, which means Lewis County Office for the Aging will be distributing farmers’ market coupons to those eligible in Lewis County. However, due to COVID-19, distribution will be modified for everyone’s safety. Coupons will be distributed via drive thru. Please see the schedule below. Coupons WILL NOT be available for pickup at the office. Coupons will be distributed at the Senior Housing complexes; dates and times will be posted within each housing complex. Additional distribution dates and locations may be added. Any updates will be posted on the Office for the Aging Facebook page.

Drive-Thru Procedure:

Remain in vehicles at all times. OFA staff will distribute the necessary eligibility paperwork and coupons via the vehicle’s window.

All people will wearing a mask.

Each person in the household is eligible to receive a booklet if they meet the age and income requirements.

The eligible person must sign in person. A Power of Attorney with proper paperwork can sign for the coupons.

Eligibility Criteria:

60 years of age or older AND

Monthly income is at or below 185% of Federal Poverty Guidelines ($1,968/month for a one person household, $2,658/month for a two-person household) and $3,349/month for a 3 person household AND

Have not received SFMNP coupons from any other location this year

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is a program headed by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and provides coupons to all who meet age and income requirements. Each booklet contains five coupons worth $4 each ($20 total) which can be used to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets throughout New York State. Coupons expire November 30, 2020, so do NOT hold onto them for next year. When using your coupons, make sure you use the full value of each coupon, as cash cannot be provided for purchases totaling less than the coupon value. Vendors accepting coupons should display a poster saying “We Gladly Accept NYS Farmer’s Market Check.”

If you have any questions about obtaining or using farmers’ market coupons, please do not hesitate to call the Lewis County Office for the Aging at 315-376-5313 for assistance.

LEWIS COUNTY OFFICE FOR THE AGING

P.O. Box 193, 5274 Outer Stowe Street Lowville, New York 13367

(315) 376-5313 Website – www.lewiscounty.org/departments/office-for-the-aging

July 2020

2020 Farmers’ Market Coupon Distribution Schedule: July 7 – Lyons Falls Farmers’ Market (1:00 PM–3:30 PM) July 9 – Harrisville Fire Department Drive Thru (10:00 AM–12:00 PM) July 10 – Lewis County Fairgrounds Drive Thru / Bostwick Street entrance

(9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) July 14 – Port Leyden Fire Department Drive Thru (10:00 AM-12:00 PM) July 15 – Copenhagen Fire Department Drive Thru (10:00 AM–12:00 PM) July 16 – Constableville Fire Department Drive Thru (10:00 AM-12:00 PM)

Beware of Coronavirus-related scams By Crystal Collette, Lewis County Office for the Aging Director

The team at Lewis County Office for the Aging would like to remind everyone to stay aware of scams surrounding the Coronavirus. Over the last few years, scams have become increasingly difficult to spot. Unfortunately, the uncertainty surrounding the virus has provided scammers a new opportunity. The best way to protect yourself against scams that target older individuals and caregivers during this pandemic is education. Scammers are using email, text messages, social media, and the telephone to steal and defraud. Examples of COVID-19 scams include: • Phishing and supply scams – Scammers impersonate health organizations and businesses to gather personal and financial information or sell fake test kits, supplies, vaccines or cures for COVID-19. • Contact tracing scams – Scammers pretend to be COVID contact tracers and trick people into providing personal information. Legitimate contact tracers will never ask for personal information like Social Security or financial information. • Economic relief scams –The government will NOT ask for a fee to receive any funds, nor will they ask for your personal or account information. • Government grant scams – Scammers are taking advantage of homeowners by making bogus offers to secure generous grants for home repairs. • Provider scams – Scammers impersonate doctors and hospital staff, claim to have treated a relative or friend of the intended victim for COVID-19 and demand payment for treatment. • Shopping scams – Many new shopping scams are related to safety products and hard to find household goods. Scammers sell emergency preparedness materials, but never deliver the promised goods. We recommend you follow these best practices to keep your money and information safe: • Do not open emails or respond to texts from people or companies you do not know. • Never click on links or attachments in an email or a text you do not 100% trust. • If you receive an email or a text from your bank or retailer that makes you feel skeptical, call the customer service number on its official website. • If you receive a phone call from anyone attempting to verify account information, be wary. Government agencies will never request this information over the telephone, and most businesses would never call or email you to ask for your security credentials. • When shopping online, only purchase from sites that begin with “HTTPS”, which means the site is considered secure. • Watch for spelling errors on websites—many scams originate in foreign countries. What to Do if You Have Been Scammed Report it. Reporting scams to law enforcement is important to help establish accurate statistics on how many people have been affected, which determines how many resources the FBI and other law enforcement will devote to breaking up fraud rings. Our office would be happy to support you in this process. Give us a call at 315-376-5313.

Senior Night at the Drive-In set for July 23rd

‘Driving Miss Daisy’ showing at Valley Brook Drive-In, food donations requested

The cancelling of the Lewis County Fair has caused us to “think outside of the box.” Our NY Connects team will still be celebrating our older adults and disabled individuals of all ages at “Senior Night at the Drive-In” on Thursday, July 23rd, with a showing of “Driving Miss Daisy” at Valley Brook Drive-In on Burdicks Crossing Road, Greig. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Alfred Uhry, “Driving Miss Daisy” affectionately covers the 25-year relationship between a wealthy, strong-willed, Southern matron (Jessica Tandy) and her equally-indomitable black chauffeur, Hoke (Morgan Freeman). Both employer and employee are outsiders, Hoke because of the color of his skin, Miss Daisy because she is Jewish in a WASP-dominated society. At the same time, Hoke cannot fathom Miss Daisy's cloistered inability to grasp the social changes that are sweeping the South in the 1960s. Nor can Miss Daisy understand why Hoke's "people" are so indignant. It is only when Hoke is retired and Miss Daisy is a resident at a home for the older adults that the two fully realize that they've been friends and kindred spirits all along. The movie will touch base upon issues we all face within our families and in our communities such as caregiving, aging, dementia, and cultural differences. “Driving Miss Daisy” won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best

Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Makeup. The 1997 movie is rated PG and will last about 1½ hours. The movie will begin at dusk and the “doors” will open at 7:00 p.m. The cost to attend the event is a donation of one of these three food items ONLY….tuna fish or chicken in the pouch (not the canned tuna/chicken), dry milk (also known as powdered milk) in small packages, and/or a 4-pack of snack sized fruits. If you prefer not to bring an item, a $5.00 donation would be appreciated. Please check expiration dates, as we will be using these products towards our shelf stable food project in the fall. For your dining pleasure, you can purchase the typical concession food before and during the movie. With this new venture, we will be respecting social distancing and safety procedures. Please remember to wear your mask and social distance from other individuals. Come and enjoy some popcorn and hotdogs and enjoy a night out with your OFA family.

Try this healthy Greek salad recipe

Try this healthy Greek salad this summer! This simple recipe takes only 15 minutes to prepare and is

great for a summer side dish or small meal. Remember to purchase local ingredients when they are

available!

Ingredients

For the Salad

1 pt. grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

1 large cucumber, thinly sliced into half moons

1 C. halved kalamata olives

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

3/4 C. crumbled feta

For the Dressing

2 tbsp. red wine vinegar

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

1 tsp. dried oregano

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil

1. Make salad: In a large bowl, stir together

tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and red onion. Gently

fold in feta.

2. In a small bowl, make dressing: Combine vinegar, lemon juice, and oregano and season with salt

and pepper. Slowly add olive oil, whisking to combine.

3. Drizzle dressing over salad.

*Adapted from https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a54226/best-greek-salad-recipe/

Our office will be closed on Friday, July 3rd, in observance of Independence Day. Have a

safe and happy 4th of July weekend.

-

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

1

Open Faced Turkey

Sandwich Butternut Squash

Cauliflower Fresh Grapes

2

Chef Salad w/ Chicken Pasta Salad

Carrot Raisin Salad Peaches

Rye Bread

3

Sites & Offices Closed

6 4th

of July Meal

Hamburger w/ Lettuce

& Tomato WW Bun

Boiled Potatoes Zucchini & Summer Squash

Americana Cake

7

Egg & Cheese Omelet Home fries

Broccoli w/ Red Peppers Bran Muffin

Fruit Cocktail

8

Chicken Parmesan Pasta w/ Sauce

Italian Blend Vegetables Apricots

9

Turkey Salad Cold Plate WW Roll

Lettuce & Tomato Baked Beans

Melon-Kiwi Salad

10

Sweet n Sour Meatballs Brown Rice

Oriental Blend Vegetables Pineapple

13

Meatloaf w/ Gravy Mashed Potatoes

Italian Blend Vegetables Clementines (2)

14

Goulash Peas & Carrots Garden Salad

Yogurt

15

Chicken Cacciatore Brown Rice

Brussels Sprouts Mixed Berries

16 Tuna Macaroni Salad

Lettuce & Tomato WW Dinner Roll

Tomato & Cucumber Salad Cantaloupe

17

Swiss Steak Sweet Potatoes Green Beans

Pears

20

Beef Burgundy Mashed Potatoes

Spinach & Mandarin Salad Baked Apples

21 Cook’s Specialty

HDMs

22

Ham w/ Pineapple Glaze Corn & Green Bean

Casserole Cauliflower

Banana

23

Chicken Salad WW Roll

Lettuce & Tomato Broccoli & Bacon Salad

Mixed Berries

24

Tuna Noodle Casserole Mixed Vegetables Tropical Fruit Cup

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

27

Roast Pork w/ Gravy Rosie’s Peas w/ Mushrooms

Parsley Carrots Watermelon

28

Baked Fish Scandia Coleslaw

Diced Beets Cinnamon Applesauce

29

Chicken Teriyaki Brown Rice

Oriental Blend Vegetables Mandarin Oranges- ½ C

30

Chef Salad w/ Turkey Potato Salad

Three Bean Salad Cottage Cheese w/ Peaches

31

Beef on Noodles Butternut Squash

Succotash Vegetables Pineapple

Megan Dolhof, MS, CNS -Nutrition Services Coordinator

LEWIS COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM (376-5313)

MENU IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE!

The suggested donation is $3.50 Guest Fee – $9.28

The Nutrition Program accepts cash, checks & Food Stamps

Copenhagen, Croghan, Harrisville, Lyons Falls, Osceola & Lowville

June 2020

LEWIS COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM (376-5313)

MENU IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE!

The suggested donation is $3.50 Guest Fee – $9.28

The Nutrition Program accepts cash, checks & Food Stamps

Copenhagen, Croghan, Harrisville, Lyons Falls, Osceola & Lowville

July 2020

AARP driver safety course still available online

All AARP driver safety courses coordinated through Lewis County Office for the Aging have been cancelled through the end of the year due to COVID-19. However, the course is still available to complete online. For more information or to sign up for the online course, visit www.aarpdriversafety.org; AARP members receive a discounted rate. If

you have any questions, please call Lewis County Office for the Aging at 315-376-5313, option 5.

Seniors Helping Seniors® hiring homemakers SENIORS Helping SENIORS® In-Home Services agency is currently hiring for the position of HOMEMAKER. Do you enjoy cleaning and cooking? Do you build relationships easily? Ever thought of helping your peers with tasks they now have difficulty doing independently? Why not earn a little extra income by working close to home, part-time, in Lewis County? Must have high standards of cleanliness and be efficient. Must have physical ability to run vacuum on floors and steps, lift and carry up to 20 lbs, and be able to reach, push and pull to complete normal cleaning tasks. Must have sensitivity to the aging process and demonstrate ability to work with people from many different walks of life. Must have a dependable vehicle to drive to client homes. To learn more or to request a paper application call 315-405-4950, ext. 3. To apply online go to: https://shswatertown.clearcareonline.com/apply. Due to social distancing requirements, interviews will be conducted via phone or video chat.

The Lewis County Office for the Aging and NY Connects is supported by 18 federal and state grants that help

provide wonderful programs like home delivered meals, congregate meals, in-home care, nutrition counseling,

insurance counseling, transportation, respite, legal services, NY Connect information and assistance and many

others. However, the need for services often exceeds available grant funding, so we encourage financial

contributions to help us serve more seniors.

Name

Address

Clip and return this coupon with your donation. Please send to:

Lewis County Office for the Aging, 7660 State Street, Lowville, N.Y. 13367 All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Thank you!

Medicare and observation services

Observation services are short-term outpatient services received when you are in the hospital for monitoring purposes and/or to determine whether you should be admitted as an inpatient. It is important to know that if you are receiving observation services (sometimes referred to as under observation status), you have not been formally admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, even if you are given a room or stay overnight.

You can always ask hospital staff about your status. The hospital must also provide you with a notice if you receive observation services for more than 24 hours. This is called the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON). The MOON notifies you that you are receiving observation services and explains why you are an outpatient. Your doctor should explain this notice to you in person.

Because observation services often involve an overnight stay in the hospital, they may look no different than inpatient services. However, it is very important to know whether you are an inpatient or an outpatient, because this determination affects how Medicare pays for your care. Part A pays for care received at the hospital by an inpatient. Part B pays for care received at the hospital by an outpatient under

observation status. You typically pay more when Part B covers your hospital care. For example: You may have multiple copayments. While each individual copay must

be lower than the Part A deductible ($1,408 in 2020), your total copay costs may be higher than the Part A deductible.

Part B does not cover medications you routinely take. Instead, you will need to use your Part D plan for prescription drug coverage. If the hospital’s pharmacy is out of your plan’s network, you may pay more for your drugs.

Medicare will not cover skilled nursing facility (SNF) care if you have not had a three-day inpatient stay. This means that if you have been under observation status and your provider suggests you receive SNF care, you may have to pay out of pocket for all SNF costs.

For further information about observation status, reach out to the Lewis County Office for the Aging at 315-376-5313 and ask to speak with a HIICAP counselor.

(Information taken from www.medicareinteractive.gov)

“Like” us on FaceBook!

Check us out and “Like” our page. You will find our up-

to-date menus, upcoming events and senior forums.

HEAP Cooling Assistance Program now open The HEAP Cooling Assistance Program opened May 1st and is scheduled to run through August 31st. This program provides for the purchase and installation of air conditioners or fans for eligible households containing a person with a medically verified condition worsened by extreme heat. In order to be eligible for HEAP Cooling Assistance benefits, you must:

1. Meet all HEAP eligibility criteria.

2. Have at least one household member

with a documented medical condition

that is worsened by extreme heat.

3. Not have a working air conditioner

newer than five years old, as

determined by the vendor.

4. Not have received a HEAP-funded air

conditioner within the past 5 years.

Households that received a 2019 – 2020 HEAP benefit in an amount less than or equal to $21 are not eligible for the HEAP Cooling Assistance Program. For further information or to request an application, please call the Lewis County Department of Social Services at 315-376-5400.

Our friends at the Volunteer

Transportation Center need drivers.

Each day they transport our neighbors,

family, and friends to medical

appointments, cancer treatment, renal dialysis, food sources, and more. The ability

for them to provide this transportation relies on

volunteers.

Drivers are provided reimbursement for mileage

and, even more so, with a sense of pride knowing

they helped someone in our community.

Apply here:

https://form.jotform.us/61038212879155

Or call them at 315-788-0422.

Summer Fun

K C K Z N K X N F V G V M S N

V J L F I O A F N S T V R L G

W S C Z U N P V F K T E O S D

G A T T J G Z Q I O G T U F E

M B T S W E L T E R I N G I M

A R R E U P B X U O S H S R I

E E M W R E I B N H N N T E T

R E Q G P M M C I E A L T W R

C Z O K N A E N N F K U A O E

E E U I H I E L G I I I E R M

C H C A E B L E O H C H H K M

I P O O L R Z L Q N C Y H S U

E U C E B R A B I N E K Z P S

O U T D O O R S X R U H K N F

M M L E V L Y P R J G Y U D J

BARBECUE BEACH BREEZE

FANS FIREWORKS GRILLING

HAMBURGERS HEAT HIKE

ICECREAM LOTION OUTDOORS

PICNIC POOL SUMMERTIME

SUNSHINE SWELTERING WATERMELON

Attention - Atención - 注意 – Aufmerksamkeit - Uwagi

Lewis County Office for the Aging offers interpretation services for more than 200 languages. To inquire about our agencies services for the aging at no cost to you, please call (315) 376-5313.

Oficina del Condado de Lewis para el envejecimiento ofrece servicios de interpretación para más de 200 idiomas preguntar acerca de nuestros servicios de agencias para el envejecimiento, sin costo para usted. Por favor llame al (315) 376-5313.

刘易斯县办公室为老化提供超过200种语言来查询有关我们机构服务的老化，无代价地你的口译服务。

请致电 (315) 376-5313。

Lewis County Office für das Altern bietet Dolmetschdienste für mehr als 200 Sprachen über unsere Agenturen-Dienstleistungen für das Altern, ohne Kosten für Sie zu erkundigen. Bitte rufen Sie (315) 376-5313.

Lewis County urząd starzenie oferuje ustnych dla ponad 200 języków zapytać o nasze usługi agencji na starzenie, bez kosztów dla Ciebie. Proszę zadzwonić (315) 376-5313