Aging in Place

Many people wish to stay in their own homes as they age. However, their homes may need to be remodeled to make them more accessible and safe. For example, grab bars can be added to showers and baths, nonskid flooring can be installed, and round door handles can be replaced with lever-style door handles.

The National Association of Home Builders has a Certified Aging In Place Specialist Program (CAPS) to provide trained specialists to help people to remodel their homes, so that they can remain in their home as they age. For more information about remodeling your home, see the National Association of Home Builders information page on Aging in Place.

State Health Statistics

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation provides health data on all 50 states on their site: Statehealthfacts.org. This site provides data on more than 500 health topics, including Medicare spending. The data is from an analysis of the Census Bureau’s March 2006 and 2007 Current Population Surveys (CPS; Annual Social and Economic Supplements).

Senior Retirement Workshop

Are you interested in planning for your retirement? You may want to attend the Senior Retirement Workshop at the New River Branch on Wednesday, May 7th, from 12:30pm - 5:00 pm. Mr. Rocco Canora will be discussing new options for Medicaid, Social Security, wills, trusts, and how to protect your money. To register for this program, please call: 1-877-349-4207.


[New River Library address: 34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl.]

Older Americans Month 2008

May is "Older American's Month". It was originally called "Senior Citizens Month" by President Kennedy in 1963, but the name was changed to "Older Americans Month" by President Carter in 1980. The Administration on Aging described this month as "... a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular those who defended our country." The Administration on Aging has published the theme for this year's celebration: "Working Together for Strong, Healthy, and Supportive Communities". The Administration on Aging provided the logo above and a nice poster for download:


The U.S. Census Bureau released a fact sheet for Older Americans Month. Selected facts include:

• 37.3 million people were 65 and older in the U.S. in 2006
• There is a projected 147% increase in the 65-and-older population between 2000 and 2050
• The poverty rate for people 65 and older in 2006 - 9.4%
• By 2016, the number of people 65 and older in the labor force will reach 10.1 million
• 7.3 million are taking adult education classes
• 1.6 million live in nursing homes
• Charlotte County, Fl has the highest percentage of 65+ at 31.2%