The Internal Revenue Service estimates that 5.2 million seniors and disabled veterans hadn’t claimed their $300 or $600 “Economic Stimulus” payments, as of Aug. 1. If you’re one of them, there is still time to file.
If you filed a 2007 income tax return already, you do not need to file again. But for those who have not, you have until Oct. 15 to file for your Economic Stimulus check. That’s the deadline for those who do not normally file tax returns, due to incomes lower than the required amount.
Instructions on how to file, along with the 1040A form, are inside this issue of Milestones. For more information on the Economic Stimulus Payment: http://www.irs.gov/ or the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040.
Of the 20,368,415 Americans eligible for the rebate, 74 percent have not filed a tax return in the last three years. Pennsylvania alone has 942,046 potential recipients, 244,557 of whom have not filed.
IRS estimates that Philadelphia has the third-largest number of non-filers among U.S. cities — 48,000, behind New York City and Chicago.
In zip code 19143 alone, 1,981 people over 65 haven’t filed the 1040A form for their Economic Stimulus Payment.
By Marcia Z. Siegal
Preventing breast cancer among older African-American and Asian-American women will be the focus of “Minority Women Against Breast Cancer,” a no-cost program set for Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Marriott Courtyard Philadelphia, 25 N. Juniper St. Registration is required by Sept. 30.
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is partnering with the Drexel University College of Medicine’s Healthy Woman Program to sponsor the event.
The program targets those who have never had a mammogram or clinical breast exam, or who have done so infrequently. It will include presentations on breast self-exams, smoking cessation and nutrition. Interpreters will be on hand to translate into Cambodian, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. Participants will be encouraged to sign up for free mammograms, at a later date at Hahnemann University Hospital.
The project — funded by a grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Philadelphia Affiliate — also includes presentations and mammogram sign-ups at 10 Philadelphia senior centers.
Risk higher for older women
The incidence of breast cancer is much higher among older women, according to Dr. Sriya Krishnamoorthy, director of community health programs for Drexel University College of Medicine’s Department of Surgery, and program director of Drexel University College of Medicine’s Healthy Woman Program. “Many older women believe that after menopause, they are no longer at risk for breast cancer, but, in fact, they are at greater risk,” she says.
The project targets African-American and Asian-American women because of particular risk factors, according to Sharon Congleton, PCA health promotion nurse supervisor.
Incidence rising
While the breast cancer rate among African-American women is similar to that of the general population, their cancer often is detected at a more advanced stage, she says, due to such factors as lack of access to mammography and lack of information.
The incidence of breast cancer among Asian-American women is rising, as they become more acculturated to American life, specifically a diet higher in fats and a more sedentary lifestyle, Congleton says. Language barriers and the misconception that Asian-Americans have a lower risk also present barriers to detection and treatment, she points out.
Modesty can be a factor
Both groups have a tendency to place family well-being above their own and to put their own health “on the back burner,” according to Congleton.
Modesty also plays a role, Congleton notes, adding. “Women in this age group are often uncomfortable examining or talking about their bodies, which can be a barrier to breast self-exams and screening.”
The Oct. 8 program includes a continental breakfast and lunch. For more information or to register, you may contact Silvia Torre, health promotion unit secretary at PCA at 215-765-9000, ext. 5134 or storre@pcaphl.org.
Throughout October, Scrabble players of all ages are invited to compete — or just play for fun — in the annual “Philly Plays Scrabble” celebration/tournament at a participating branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Sponsored by ASAP (After-School Activities Partnership), it kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. at the Parkway Central Library. Mayor Michael Nutter and District Attorney Lynne Abraham have been invited.
Barnes & Noble, at Rittenhouse Square, will designate two nights on which participants can play Scrabble in the store and submit their games to ASAP for the competition.
Many seniors took part last year, and many are among the volunteers recruited by ASAP for its activities, which include, besides Scrabble, chess, dance, drama, yoga and art clubs. If interested, you may contact Emily Goss at 215-545-2727, ext. 10, or egoss@phillyasap.org.
Program promotes fruit,
vegetables grown in Penna.By Marcia Z. Siegal
Older Philadelphians have until Nov. 30 to make use of Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) vouchers procured this summer.
September is an excellent time to spend the vouchers because much summer produce is still available, along with new fall offerings, says Lancaster-area farmer Amos Fisher, whose produce is sold at several of the 30 designated farmers’ markets in the program.
Fisher lists “apples, tomatoes, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, grapes, pears, plums, zucchinis, cucumbers, all the greens,” and adds, “Of course, in the fall, sweet potatoes and butternut squash come in season. The harvest this year offers a great variety and a large quantity of items.”
36,000 distributed
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) distributed vouchers to nearly 36,000 eligible low-income older Philadelphians this summer, each receiving $20 worth of vouchers for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables.
The vouchers are made available annually through funds from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The program encourages seniors to include fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets and promotes Pennsylvania agriculture and local farmers’ markets.
“We’re thrilled to have the program, not only to promote Pennsylvania farmers, but because farmers are really thankful to see seniors so enthusiastic about it,” said Nicky Uy, manager of farmers’ market programs for The Food Trust.
“Farmers work hard to grow the food, pack it, unpack it and put it on display each time they come to market. They enjoy interacting with older persons, who not only value fresh fruits and vegetables, but often have a long tradition of cooking.
Seniors get to know the farmers who come into the city, and the farmers enjoy talking to them. It’s a great exchange.”
Not found elsewhere
Amos Fisher says that relationships with his older customers have inspired him to cultivate additional varieties of produce, such as collard greens, when specially requested. He says business doubles when seniors get their vouchers, but that they’ve become a growing presence in general on market days.
The Food Trust’s Uy agrees: “Definitely, there’s a big rush at voucher season, but more and more, older persons are coming even before that season begins,” she says. “Farmers’ markets offer food that was picked that same day or just the day before. It tastes wonderful and is priced at a great value.
Often there are varieties of fruits and vegetables people don’t find in regular supermarkets. At many of our markets, by the time the farmer arrives to open up, there is already a long line of seniors. That tells me they really appreciate it.”
For more information on farmers’ markets accepting produce vouchers, you may call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or visit http://www.pcacares.org/.
Healthcare innovators, policy makers and service providers will gather in Philadelphia on Thursday, Sept. 25, for the second annual Aging Revolution Summit.
Sponsored by the Wesley Enhanced Living Foundation, the Summit will deal with some of these questions:
- What should society’s responsibility be to care for the aging?
- Will raising retirement age truly address the social security shortfall and strain on Medicare?
- Who can lead us to better policies?
- What is the future for nursing homes and assisted living facilities, considering breakthrough therapies in treating ailments of the elderly?
The day’s events will be held at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue, preceded the night before by a “Visionary’s Reception” at the National Liberty Museum.
Theme of the Summit Luncheon will be “America, Have You Woken Up?” Keynote speaker will be former Sen. Fred Thompson, film/TV actor and former candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. His talk will follow special commentary by former U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker, president/CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. Its founder and chairman, Peter G. Peterson, will receive the Summit’s Visionary Award.
Theme of the Opening Forum at 8 a.m. is “National Leadership in Transition: Our Opportunity to Transform Aging Services?” Concurrent sessions follow, “Providing Health and Housing Services to the Aging: Challenging the Delivery Models” and “Life Expectancy Off the Charts: The Curve Is Square. Where Does that Leave Providers of Aging Services?”
Two concurrent sessions will follow the luncheon: “Adding Up the Aging Services Dollar: Time for a Recount?” and “Raising the Retirement Age to 75: Do We Dare?”
To register, you may visit http://www.theagingrevolution.org/.
Two articles appearing last year in Milestones have won Merit Awards in the 17th annual National Mature Media Awards competition.
They are “A toast — decaffeinated, of course — at a reunion of old (literally) friends,” by Sally Friedman, which appeared in January, and “Former dancer teaches ‘chair yoga’ to seniors at Tioga Center,” by Joe Clark, an article in September about yoga instructor Kind Essence.
Awards were chosen from nearly 1,000 entries. The competition is presented by the Illinois-based Mature Market Resource Center, sponsored by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and American Custom Publishing Corporation.