SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney covers matters like legal and financial decision-making during the principal’s disability or absence Granting power of attorney gives the appointed person the ability to handle financial matters like bills, banking, rent/mortgage, or other business that might need managing on your behalf if you are unable.
What is a Health Care Proxy?
A Health Care Proxy is a legal document that allows you to designate someone to make health care decisions and endof-life medical decisions on your behalf if you can no longer do so
Medicare versus Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid are two separate government-run programs They are operated and funded by different parts of the government and primarily serve different groups
• Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage if you are 65+ or under 65 and have a disability, no matter your income.
• Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides healthcare coverage if you have a very low income
• If you are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (dually eligible), you can have both. They will work together to d h h l h d l
What is an Estate Plan?
Estate Planning is making a plan in advance and naming whom you want to receive the things you own after you die Your estate is comprised of everything you own including but not limited to your car, home(s), other real estate, checking and savings accounts, investments, life insurance, furniture, and personal possessions. It is recommended that you control how those things are given to the people or organizations you care most about To ensure your wishes are carried out, you need to provide instructions stating whom you want to receive something of yours, what you want them to receive, and when they are to receive it. We can help you plan to incur the least amount paid in taxes, legal fees, and court costs
What is a Trust?
A trust is a legal contract between at least two parties: a grantor and one or more trustees The grantor is the person who has assets like real estate, money, and collectibles they would like a trustee to hold for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries. A trustee is appointed in the trust document and manages the trust. The beneficiary is often a child or another relative, but a grantor can choose multiple beneficiaries or institutions such as charities or schools There can be current beneficiaries who are entitled to payments from the trust now, and future beneficiaries who are entitled to benefit from the trust in the future If the trustee is a bank, lawyer, or other financial institution, a trust administrator will generally be assigned to your trust account to ensure proper administration. The trust administrator is also often called a trust officer. This option is not subject to probate like a will is.
SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE
Alphabetical listing of resources, overview, and contact information
AARP
A membership for individuals 50 and older with information on caregiving, work, retirement, and health. www.aarp.org (888)687-2277
Adult Protective Services
Protecting adults from abuse and neglect. www.nyconnects.ny.gov (845)291-2800
Alzheimer's Association
Association that provides care and support for families of Alzheimer's or Dementia. Offices in Poughkeepsie and Purchase www alz org (845)471-2655 or (800)272-3900
AmeriCorps Seniors
AmeriCorps Seniors is open to individuals 55 and older. Upon joining, you choose how you want to give back Help a struggling child learn to read, deliver groceries to an elderly neighbor, or support a family impacted by a natural disaster. In addition, they offer a Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP Program and Senior Companion Program. help@americorps gov (800)942-2677
Care Patrol
Provides senior care options based on care needs and quality of life for your loved ones Services are at no cost to you
https://carepatrol com/rockland-orange-counties jcarter@carepatrol.com (845)549-4531
Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County
Provides programs for Orange County residents on youth and family development, nutrition, health, food safety, community and economic vitality, and agriculture cceorangecounty.org (845)344-1234 orange@cornell.edu
Cornell Cooperative Sullivan County
Our programs are developed in direct response to community input, and are based on the most current information available from Cornell and other Land Grant universities from across the nation http://sullivancce org
(845)292-6180 sullivan@cornell.edu
Dial a Bus
Goshen & Chester
Highland Falls
Middletown
Montgomery
Monroe
Newburgh
Wallkill
Federal Trade Commission
(845)294-8920
(845)446-7433
(845)692-7852
(845)457-2622
(845)783-6222
(845)564-6084
(845)692-7852
Protecting consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education.
https://www ftc gov/ (202)326-2222
HOSPICE of Orange and Sullivan
Provides end of life palliative care in the home, hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility, group home, adult care facility, or The Kaplan Family Hospice Residence in Newburgh www.hospiceoforange.com (845)561-6111
SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE
Alphabetical listing of resources, overview, and contact information
Jewish Family Service of Orange County
Move Sullivan
Free Service bus routes
Empowers all people facing challenging times to live with dignity, hope, and strength. Serving adults with disabilities and children in need of support with support groups, trainings, and more jfsorange org (845)341-1173 info@jfsorange.org
Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh www mealsonwheelsnewburgh org (845)562-3490
Medicaid
Hospital Insurance Part A; Medical Insurance Part B; Preventive Health Benefits Medicare; Medicare Advantage Plan Part C; and Medicare Prescription Part D health ny gov/health care/medicaid/program/index html (800)541-2831
Medicaid Transportation
Medical transportation for members traveling to Medicaidcovered services.
medtrans@health.ny.gov
Joy Transportation
(845)343-5215
Allegro Medical Transportation (845)674-3199
MediCar South Fallsburg (845)436-5747
Orange County Medi-Coach (845)313-0758
We Care Travels Liberty (845)295-0900 MedAnswering.com (866)932-7740
Medicare
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease
www medicare gov (800)633-4227
Office for the Aging offers open enrollment (845)615-3710
(845)434-4102
sullivanny.gov/Departments/Transportation/MoveSullivan
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands
Senior Pass store.usgs.gov/senior-annual (888)275-8747
New York State Department of Health
Find and compare health care providers in New York State including hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, hospice, and adult care facilities profiles health ny gov
New York State Master Plan for Aging ny.gov/programs/new-york-states-master-plan-aging
New York State Office for the Aging
New York Caregiver Portal https://aging ny gov/system/files/documents/2022/03/nysof a-senior-resource-guide-2022 pdf
New York State Senior Citizens Guide for College aseniorcitizenguideforcollege com/2011/04/new- york/html
Orange County Department of Health
www.orangecountygov.com/health (845)360-6600
Orange County Home Energy Assistance Program
HEAP assists low-income households with benefits towards their heating costs
www orangecountygov com/786/Home-Energy-AssistanceProgram-HEAP (845)291-2002
SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE
Alphabetical listing of resources, overview, and contact information
Orange County NY Connects
Free, unbiased information about long term services and supports in NYS for people of all ages or with any type of disability. Links you to home care, transportation, and meals (888)615-3710
Orange County Office for the Aging
The Office for the Aging's website offers a list of links that give a brief explanation of the services available www orangecountygov com/151/Aging (845)615-3700 ofa@orangecountygov com
Orange County Office for the Aging Home Delivered Meal Program
Nutritious noontime meals are distributed to qualifying elderly residents in many locations. (845)615-3710
Orange County Office for the Aging Senior Dining Program
Different sites throughout Orange County serve a nutritious noontime meal Reservations are required www orangecountygov com/165/Senior-Dining- Program
Blooming Grove (845)496-4411
Cornwall (845)534-4500
Greenwood Lake (845)477-8482
Hamaspik (845)774-0348
Highland Falls (closed but plans to reopen) (845)751-0181
Montgomery (845)457-9367
Orange County Senior Centers
List of 23 senior centers in Orange County with addresses and phone numbers. orangecounty.gov/com/documentcenter/view/132771/ orange-county-senior-centers
Orange County Veteran's Service Agency
Informs and assists veterans and their families and members of the military to the numerous VA benefits, rights, and privileges available (845)291-2470 www orangecountygov com/624/Veterans-Service-Agency
Regional Economic Community Action Program
Works with our community’s most vulnerable populations including seniors, children, veterans, the homeless and the hungry, those living with HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic violence, people battling a substance use disorder, and anyone struggling to make ends meet RECAP provides housing, Head Start, Energy Services, Workforce Development and Training, Residential and Non-Residential Addiction Support Services, Fresh StartCafe and Parole ReEntry.
www.recap.org (845)342-3978 info@recap org
SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE
Alphabetical listing of resources, overview, and contact information
Regional Food Banks of Northeastern New York
www.regionalfoodbank.net (845)534-5944 info@regionalfoodbank.net
STAR Exemption Program
School tax relief program www.tax.ny.gov/star
Social Security Administration
www ssa gov (800)772-1213
Sullivan County Department of Health
www.sullivanny.gov/Departments/Publichealth (845)292-5910
Sullivan County Department of Transportation
Shopping buses run Monday-Friday at no charge to Sullivan County residents 60 or older Must be registered with the Office for Aging and call 24 hours before your trip $3 per trip if not a 60 or older resident
Sullivanny.gov/Departments/Transportation (845)807-0244
Sullivan County Home Energy Assistance Program
HEAP assists low-income households with a benefit towards their heating costs.
www.sullivanny.gov/Departments/Familyservices/Tempor aryAssistancePrograms/HEAP heap@sullivanny us (845)807-0142
Sullivan County Office for the Aging Programs offered to senior citizens include case management, information, referrals, and outreach programs; expanded in-home services for the elderly (EISEP); caregiver resource center; health insurance information counseling; HIICAP; retired senior volunteer program (RSVP); senior nutrition program; Sullivan NY Connects; equipment loans; HEAP; shopping bus, and senior transportation program.
Sullivanny gov/Departments/Aging (845)807-0241 sullivanofa@sullivan ny us
Sullivan County Senior Centers
Bethel Senior Citizens Center
(845)583-5230
Care Center at Sunset Lake (845)292-8640
Highland Senior Citizens (845)557-8907
Lumberland Senior Citizen Center (845)856-8600
Mamakating Senior Citizens (845)888-3039
Monticello Senior Citizens Center (845)794-2351
South Fallsburg Youth & Senior (845)434-2646
Sullivan County Senior Citizens Clubs
sullivanny gov/sites/default/files/departments/aging/senior %20clubs pdf
Sullivan County Veteran’s Service Agency
Entitlement information and advocacy assistance to military personnel, military veterans, and their dependents related to federal, state, and local benefits.
www.sullivanny.gov/Departments/Veterans (845)807-0233
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) otda.ny.gov/programs/snap (800)342-3009
SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE
Documents and tasks you may need when a loved one passes away
Consult with an attorney
Last Will and Testament, Living Will, Living Trust, and other estate planning documents
Provide cemetery deed or proof of ownership
Copy of Birth Certificate
Several copies of the Death Certificate
Notify Social Security Administration (800)772-1213
Social Security Number and Cease Social Security
Proof of Citizenship Papers
Proof of Marriage Certificate
Insurance Claim Forms
Veteran's Discharge Certificate DD-214
Veteran Financial Benefits
Settle ownership of investment statements
Request copies of property deeds from the County Clerk
Transfer auto titles or bills of sale from local Department of Motor Vehicle
File final income tax returns
Pay outstanding bills and cancel accounts for household
File claims for pension plans, credit unions and union death benefits
Wagner, Esq. Partner
This is not to be considered legal advice. You should contact an attorney for advice regarding your specific situation. The content provided in this senior resource guide is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Information, laws, regulations, and services may change over time. We make no warranties or representations regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented herein. The inclusion of any resource in this guide does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation.
Michael
Rachel J. Rosenwasser, Esq. Associate
Christine Fiorile Harrington, Esq. Associate