Saratoga County Office for the Aging January 2017

884-4100 885-5381 863-6112 587-8653 654-9003 798-0231

AARP Volunteer Tax Preparation AARP Volunteers will prepare taxes again this year. Trained volunteers will prepare Federal and

State personal income taxes for low to moderate income individuals. Electronic filing is available.

Tentative locations and days for this service are listed below. Each site will start their first schedule

day on or after February 1st. Please call for an appointment. They are required.

Location Day Phone

Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library Mondays 371-8622

Halfmoon Senior Center Tues., Wed., & Thurs. 371-3892

Malta Community Center Wednesdays & Thursdays 899-4411

Mechanicville Senior Center Tuesdays & Wednesdays 584-4621

Mechanicville Library Mondays & Saturdays 664-4646

Moreau Community Center Wednesdays 792-6007

Office for the Aging Mondays 884-4100

Saratoga Springs Senior Center Tuesdays 584-1621

Shenendehowa Adult Community Mondays thru Wednesdays 383-1343

Southern Saratoga YMCA (Clifton Park) Thursdays 2-1-1

Please be sure to bring:

Your Social Security Card

A Photo ID

A Copy of your 2015 Tax Return

The Saratoga County Office for the Aging will be closed

Monday, January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

From Our Dietitian:

Nutrition Resolutions in the New Year

The New Year is here, and with it often comes the inevitable resolutions. Several individuals

confidently vow to lose the pounds and inches and change their lives for the better. These

resolutions generally fail due to two main reasons.

First, people tend to set goals that are unrealistic. "I will lose 20 pounds" is a valid goal;

however it might take a year to do it properly. People who eat too little and exercise too much

during the first days of their “diets” often give up in hunger and frustration after a couple of days.

Second, another reason why New Year's diets often fail is because the concept of going on a “diet”

is restrictive and temporary. Foods are then thought of as "good" or "bad". It's hard to feel satisfied

when most of the food you love you consider as being "bad".

The following tips can assist you in achieving and maintain a healthy weight loss:

Set realistic, short-term goals, such as "I will lose 2-4 pounds the first month." After

resounding success with the first reasonable goal, the next goal of 1-2 pounds per week

will seem attainable. Do not keep empty calorie food (foods that are high in calories yet provide very little

nutrition) in your home. If unhealthy choices are not in sight you will not be tempted to

reach for these foods. Eat a serving of protein and a serving of either a high fiber whole grain and/or fruit/

vegetable at each meal. This will help you feel full longer. Eat the greatest amount of your food during the early part of the day. This will help end

the cycle of evening snacking. Pay attention to your feelings. Stress, loneliness, boredom, and fatigue can cause mindless

eating. Eat only when you feel hungry. Use a smaller plate to help you control your portions. This will trick your mind into

thinking that you are eating a large portion. Eat slowly at a table away from distractions. This will allow you to pay attention to the

taste of the foods and any cues of becoming full. Consider getting more active gradually and sensibly. Aim to increase your exercise level

by 10 minutes each day. This will help you build strength and stamina gradually so that

you do not quit exercising altogether. Be sure to check with your health care provider before embarking on any significant change

to your eating habits and/or exercise regime. Although holiday weight gain may have already occurred, these guidelines can help end the

cycle of New Year's Resolution failures and will help create healthy, lifelong habits. Deprivation

and over-indulgence can disrupt any weight loss plan; therefore be sure to enjoy foods responsibly.

Nutritional Program Weather Closing

If the home delivered meals are canceled the information will be listed on your local T.V.

Stations under Saratoga County Senior Meals.

Saratoga County Office for the Aging

152 West High Street

Ballston Spa, N. Y. 12020

Return Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORG.

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Saratoga County Office for the Aging is funded by Title III of the Older Americans Act, New York State Office for the Aging, the County of Saratoga and local Municipalities

What is a Medigap policy?

A Medigap policy is a standardized supplemental health plan that pays for part or all of

Medicare-related health care costs that you would otherwise pay for out of pocket. Medigap

policies only work with original Medicare Parts A and B, which is Medicare coverage through the

federal government. If you plan to get your Medicare benefits through a private insurance

company, called a Medicare Advantage Plan, then you cannot purchase Medicap.

Medigaps supplement Original Medicare costs. These cost include deductibles, coinsurance

charges, and copayments (copays). Medigaps do not usually pay for coverage gaps in Medicare,

such as excluded services like routine dental or vision care. However, some Medigaps cover

emergency care received in foreign countries, which is typically not covered by Medicare.

Medigaps are regulated by each state, usually under a department of insurance or similar state

agency. This means that some aspects of Medigaps work differently in each state. Medigaps are

still subject to some federal regulations, but different states may have their own Medigap rules as

well.

There are different types of Medigap policies that you can buy. Private insurance companies

offer ten standardized Medigap policies in most states: Plans A, B, C, D, F. G, K, L, M and N.

Note that insurance companies do not have to offer all ten Medigap policies. Plans with the same

letter offer the same benefits, but each insurance company may charge a different monthly

premium. For example, Medigap Plan A offered by Insurance Company 1 provides the same

benefits a Medigap Plan A offered by Insurance Company 2, but the two companies may charge

different premiums. This means that you can get the same coverage even if you choose a plan with

a lower monthly premium.

Most importantly, before you consider purchasing a Medigap, be sure to do your research.

Take steps to understand Medigaps and find the best option for you!

Reprinted from Medicare Rights Volume 15, Issue 23, November 14, 2016