Dining al fresco in February. Trading frigid temperatures for fresh air. Strolling on the beach instead of sliding on the ice. Salt in the air instead of on the roads. The life of a snowbird is looking quite attractive after this long winter. If surviving the snowiest January on record has you rethinking your commitment to staying in New Jersey, you are not alone. Each year, thousands of seniors pack up and fly south for the winter. Before you take the leap from snowbound to sunbelt, there are a few things you should know. We talked to a handful of Bergen County seniors who are enjoying the …
Many seniors who may need assistance with preparing meals or have a hard time getting to the store to shop for food may not realize that Bergen County offers both the Meals on Wheels program for homebound seniors who do not have assistance with meal preparation and also a senior lunch program at 26 locations in the county. The county Meals on Wheels Program is designed for homebound seniors age 60 or older which allows them to maintain their health through good nutrition while also helping them remain in their community with some independence and dignity. The qualificiations for this program …
As adults enter into their senior years, different challenges and obstacles arise. Everyday activities may not be as easy to do, health and wellness must take the driver’s seat, and changes in technology and living on a fixed income may require seniors to seek additional assistance. Both the Wyckoff- based YMCA and Activities Unlimited offer services for seniors involving activities, trips, and health and wellness. The YMCA is a non-profit, social service organization, which includes fitness activities, adult and teen classes, groups and clubs, and summer camp. The AU is an organization of …
Retirement can simultaneously be one of the most daunting and exciting times in a person’s life. “I was very apprehensive about it when it was my time to retire,” said 78-year-old Irwin of Ramsey. “I had been very active in my professional life as a businessman, and I needed help with the transition from my peers,” he said as he snacked on Melba Toast and jam at the Kingsbridge Diner in Mahwah, a frequent stop for the retiree. Like so many Bergen County seniors, Irwin had a slew of questions that were very unsettling to him as he was about to retire. “How would I use my time? I am married, so…
Volunteers are welcome to sing with Fair Lawn group Agape Road Show at Maple Glen Center — 12-15 Saddle River Road — on Saturday, Feb. 19 from 2 - 3:30 p.m. Come uplift the nursing home residents with a Valentine's Day and President's Day program that includes sing-along group songs, jokes, skits and quizzes. The performance will include an appearance by Abraham Lincoln as well as Agape's original character, “Miss Valentine.” Agape Road Show has been performing for four years, with a total of over 100 shows at Maple Glen, the Veterans Home of Paramus, and Maywood Nursing Home, as well as two …
The Mahwah Senior Center will host a free AARP tax program for all senior citizens in Bergen County who are concerned about filing their taxes this year. “Taxes are among the main concerns of a lot of our seniors,” said Susanne Small, the Center’s Coordinator. “Taxes and general expenses are going up while social security checks are basically staying the same. We try to provide help in navigating this problem,” she said. The tax-aide program, conducted by trained AARP representatives, will be available to anyone over the age of 60, by appointment only. Tax meetings can be set up Fridays, Feb…
Patch visited a social club for seniors recently and spoke with its president about issues surrounding the lifestyles of the senior community in Glen Rock. “The tax rate is high,” said Andy Curshen, 76. “I think we are generally higher on average than Ridgewood … And it’s painful for seniors, people who don’t have the opportunity to increase their income just keep getting hurt.” But the state of things isn’t all terrible, suggested Curshen. “Bergen County has … a lot of very good programs for seniors” He also said he believes that Glen Rock and the county provide top-notch senior services …
The Mahwah Senior Center will host a free AARP tax program for all senior citizens in Bergen County who are concerned about filing their taxes this year. “Taxes are among the main concerns of a lot of our seniors,” said Susanne Small, the Center’s coordinator. “Taxes and general expenses are going up while social security checks are basically staying the same. We try to provide help in navigating this problem,” she said. The tax-aide program, conducted by trained AARP representatives, will be available to anyone over the age of 60, by appointment only. Tax meetings can be set up Fridays, Feb…
The Glen Rock Senior Citizens' Club, which is nearing its 50th anniversary, meets every Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Municipal Annex at 678 South Maple Ave., providing companionship and activities for those in the borough entering their golden years. The club's president, Andy Curshen, has rolled out the welcome mat to any interested resident looking for new ways to find fellow seniors with compatible values and interests. At $5 annually, membership is indeed a bargain. In fact, the club, nearly 50 years old, is in need of some companionship. Enrollment has been dwindling in recent …
The burden would be back on seniors to cover the high costs of certain prescription drugs if Congress repeals the health care reform law, according to Sen. Frank Lautenberg. “A vote in favor of repealing the health reform law is a vote in favor of bringing back the donut hole that has emptied the pockets of our seniors,” Lautenberg said Tuesday. The House began debating the repeal of the health care law today and is expected to take a vote by the end of the week. When the Health Care Reform Act was passed into law last March, part of the legislation addressed what is commonly referred to as …
The burden would be back on seniors to cover the high costs of certain prescription drugs if Congress repeals the health care reform law, according to Sen. Frank Lautenberg. “A vote in favor of repealing the health reform law is a vote in favor of bringing back the donut hole that has emptied the pockets of our seniors,” Lautenberg said Tuesday. The House began debating the repeal of the health care law today and is expected to take a vote by the end of the week. When the Health Care Reform Act was passed into law last March, part of the legislation addressed what is commonly referred to as …
