Recent Caregiving Books

Do you care for an elderly relative or friend? Do you need information to help you with your caregiving? Pasco County Public Library System has the following recently published books for caregivers: 

                            Caregiver's Handbook

                         An Unintended Journey

                        Dr Ruth's Guide for Alzheimers

                         Life's Little Emergencies

                         No One Has to Die Alone

                     The Caregiving Wife's Handbook

                            The Good Caregiver

                     Loving Someone Who Has Dementia

                    Healing Your Grieving Heart

Caregiver Resources

The holidays can be stressful for caregivers. The Caregiver Action Network is a non profit organization. Its mission is to provide "education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge."  The Caregiver Action Network offers the following recommendations for helping caregivers:

• Offer a few hours of respite time to allow a caregiver to rest.
• Send a card of appreciation or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up a family caregiver’s day.
• Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
• Help a family caregiver find information and resources on the internet or to locate a local support group.

 Remember, you can contact the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas's Senior Helpline (1-800-963-5337) to find local resources for respite care. This helpline is available for residents of Florida. In addition, you can find a large list of online caregiving resources from the federal government here. 

Some of the CARES Senior Enrichment Centers in Pasco County offer adult day services, which can provide a break for caregivers. You can learn more by clicking here.

There are two hospices available in Pasco County and both host caregiver support  and bereavement groups:

Gulfside Regional Hospice - click here for meeting information.

HPH Hospice - click here for meeting information.

Upcoming Library Programs

Would you like to learn to knit or attend a senior social or movie? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs.  Here are some of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:

Thurs, Dec 12th at 10:00am
    LOL Social Seniors
    Land O'Lakes Library
Join our group of Social Seniors for coffee, cake, and conversation. Get involved at the library by offering programming suggestions. Or, take this time to meet new friends, discuss common interests, and engage in recreational activities. Occasional workshops on topics of interest may be scheduled. This is a brand new club for seniors, and we need your input!
Land O'Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway
Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214 

Thurs, Dec 12th and Dec 19th at 6:00pm
     Knitting Club
     New River Library
Learn basic knitting techniques. Please bring a pair of size 8 knitting needles and a ball of #4 yarn. This club is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, FL 33543
(813) 788-6375

Thurs, Dec 19th at 10:00am
    Senior Games
    Land O'Lakes Library
Join us for fun and games at the library. Meet new people while playing cards, board games, or challenging video games.
Land O'Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway
Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214 

Friday, Dec 20th at 2:00pm
   Senior Movie Matinee 
   Hugh Embry Library

Seniors, enjoy the latest releases of great films, along with light refreshments, thanks to our generous Friends of Hugh Embry Library!You can call 352-567-3576 for the movie title.

Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 
(352) 567-3576

Sat, Dec 28th at 11:00am
     Sit-n-Knit            
     South Holiday Library
Join our knitting club for ALL AGES! No experience necessary. Supplies are provided for in-house use or bring your own project.
South Holiday Library
4649 Mile Stretch Drive 
Holiday, FL 34690 
(727) 834-3331

Also, many branches offer book discussions.

The Nov/Dec Issue of the Elder Update is Available

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs publishes a bimonthly newsletter, the "Elder Update", for Florida Seniors. The current issue includes articles about:

• Social Security disability benefit information
• the Social Security Retirement Estimator
• the Healthiest Weight Florida initiative
• telehealth
• long-term care insurance Q and A

You can download the current issue here. Alternatively, you can sign up for a print subscription here.

New Veterans Services Office Opening in Dade City

Thank you, Veterans!

The U.S. Census Bureau has published the following Veterans Day facts:

• There were 21.2 million military vets in the U.S. in 2012
• 9.6 million were age 65 or older
• 1.6 million served in World War II
• 7.4 million served in the Vietnam War
  
• 2.3 million served in the Korean War
• 5.4 million in the Gulf War
• 5.3 million served in peacetime
• States with the most veterans: California, Texas, and Florida
• $36,264 was the annual median income for veterans
• 3.6 million received benefits for service-connected disabilities
• 8.7 million veterans were in the labor force in 2012

Upcoming Zephyrhills Veterans Events

There will be a Veteran's Parade Saturday, November 9th at 10:00am along 5th avenue, sponsored by Main Street Zephyrhills. You can call Main Street Zephyrhills at 813-780-1414 for more details.

On November 17th, VFW Post 8154 will have their annual yard sale, bake sale, and car wash. It will be held from 9:00am to2:00pm at 3954 Paul Buchman Hwy (SR 39). This sale will benefit local veterans and their families. You can call 813-451-9120 for more information.

Medicare is not part of the Health Insurance Marketplace!

Your Medicare insurance is separate from the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. The Marketplace was designed to help people who do not have any health coverage and it does not have any effect on your Medicare coverage. Susan Samson, from the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, has shared the following information to help you determine whether the Medicare open enrollment or Marketplace open enrollment is for you:

You are employed and already have Medicare but do not have coverage through your or your spouse’s current employment. You should not make any changes to how you currently get your insurance. This means you should not enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) for individual health coverage through the Marketplace, because you already have Medicare. Although you would be allowed to join a QHP, it would not make financial sense to do so. The premiums for QHP coverage will likely be higher than for Medicare (including what you pay for drug benefits and supplemental coverage). Also, people who qualify for Medicare cannot receive any financial help to pay QHP premiums.

You already have Medicare Part B and coverage from your or your spouse’s current employment. The way coverage from a current employer works with Medicare should be the same, whether or not the employer offers coverage through a Small Business Health Options (SHOP) plan in the Marketplace. A SHOP plan is an employer plan purchased through the Marketplace. Depending on the size of your employer, Medicare either pays first or second on health insurance claims. If Medicare pays first, it is especially important that you keep Medicare. If you drop your Medicare coverage when Medicare is paying first, your employer plan may give you little or no coverage at all.

While there is much more to know and understand about Medicare and the Annual Election Period, you can breathe easy knowing there is always someone available to help through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs’ SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program. To make an appointment with a SHINE counselor, just call Florida’s Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). There is also help to get more information and assistance with the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call the Health Insurance Marketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596. 

Note that the Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment period (October 1, 2013–March 31, 2014) overlaps the Medicare open enrollment period (October 15–December 7, 2013). However, Medicare’s open enrollment is not part of the Marketplace.

The Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), also called open enrollment, is the time when Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to review their current health and prescription drug coverage, including any changes in costs, coverage, and benefits that will take effect next year. If you’re satisfied that your current coverage will continue to meet your needs for next year, you don’t need to do anything. If you want to change your coverage for next year, this is the time to do it. But, make sure that you’re reviewing Medicare plans and not Marketplace options.

A volunteer SHINE counselor can help you to review your coverage, compare options, and enroll—in person, by phone, or at a public event in your community. To find out more about the enrollment process or to get free help, call Florida’s Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). For a list of SHINE community events in your area, please visit the SHINE website at www.FloridaSHINE.org.

Medicare, and its authorized agents like the SHINE Program, is a trusted source for information during this critical time. However, there are some organizations and individuals who should not be granted access to your personal information. The Medicare open enrollment period is a time when there is a higher risk for fraudulent activities. Adding to this risk is the overlap of the two different enrollment periods. It is important for Medicare beneficiaries to know that it is against the law for someone who knows that you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan.

The Sep/Oct Issue of the Elder Update is available

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs publishes a bimonthly newsletter, the "Elder Update", for Florida Seniors. The current issue includes articles about:

• The positives of aging
• What recipients need to know about choosing a Medicaid Long-term plan
• Employ Florida Marketplace - silver edition (this site assists older adult job seekers)
• Who can you call to get help with home repairs
• Purple Ribbon Task Force (investigating how to help people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia)

You can download the current issue here. Alternatively, you can sign up for a print subscription here.

Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest in Largo

The Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest will be held on Wednesday, November 13th at the Largo Cultural Center from 10:00am - 3:00pm. Admission and parking are free. The event will feature:

• Free Health Screenings
• Live Music
• Sports Center
• Free coffee and goodies
• Free bingo and giveaways

             Largo Cultural Center            
             105 Central Park Dr. 
             Largo, FL 33771
             813-653-1988 or 1-888-670-0040

For more information, you can click here for the event flier.

The State of Aging and Health in America 2013

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published the "The State of Aging and Health in America 2013" report. This report gives a "snapshot of our nation’s progress in promoting prevention, improving the health and well-being of older adults, and reducing behaviors that contribute to premature death and disability." Some of the highlights of the report include:

• By 2030, older adults will make up 20% of the U.S. population.
• Two out of three older adults have multiple chronic conditions.
• The United States has met six of the health targets from the Healthy People 2020 targets for older adults.
• The flu vaccination goal is 90%, but the actual vaccination rate for older adults this past year was 66.9%

You can read more by clicking here to access this report.

In addition, report describes 15 key indicators of older adult health for people and 65 and above and provides data on these indicators for each state. You can get data about your state, or about selected cities within each state, by clicking here for the Healthy Aging Data Portfolio. Here are some of the statistics for the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater area (including Pasco County):

• 21.4% of age 65 or older are obese.
• 32.2% of age 65 or older had a fall with injury in the past year.
• 11.3% of age 65 or older currently smoke.
•  39% of age 65 and older had a disability.

2013 Tampa Bay Senior Games

The first Florida Senior Games championships were held in 1992.  These games are for people age 50 and above.  Currently, the Florida Sports Foundation sanctions local games, which serve as qualifiers for the state championships.  The Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department will be hosting the Tampa Bay local qualifier games this year from October 7th-18th.  The locations for the events  can be found here.  The sports offered include: 

• 3-on-3 Basketball
• Basketball Free Throw
• Billiards
• Bowling
• Golf
• Horseshoes
• Pickleball
• Powerlifting
• Race Walk
• Softball
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Track and Field 
• baking contest
• hobby show
• talent showcase

The State Championships will be held Dec. 7th -15th in various locations in Lee County. These state championships are the qualifiers for the 2014 National Senior Games. For more information on the National Senior Games Association, please click here.

National Falls Prevention Awareness Day

Last Sunday, September 22nd, was national Falls Prevention Awareness Day. According to the National Council on Aging, "Every 15 seconds, an older adult is seen in an Emergency Department for a fall-related injury." You can help prevent falls from happening by removing tripping hazards from the home, making sure you get regular vision and hearing checks, and exercising. Below is an infographic from the National Council on Aging with more information (you can click on the graphic to get to a larger version):

September is World Alzheimer's Month

The theme for World Alzheimer's Month 2013 is "Dementia: a journey of caring".  This event is a way to increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 35.6 million people have dementia worldwide and 5 million Americans aged 65 years or older have Alzheimer's disease. The number of Alzheimer's cases in the United States is predicted to nearly triple in the future. In addition, Alzheimer's disease is currently the 6th leading cause of death among adults aged 18 years or older. The CDC reports that the direct and indirect costs of dementia among those aged 70 and over totaled an estimated $159 billion to $215 billion in 2010.

Do you know the signs of Alzheimer's disease? It can be hard to separate normal age-related change from the symptoms of Alzheimer's. The Alzheimer's Association lists 10 warning signs for this disease here. If you would like to get involved in raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease, you can see a list of events here.

Healthy Eating Resources

The National Institute on Aging has a new online nutrition resource called "What's on your plate? Smart Food Choices for Healthy Eating". This site includes sections about:

• Important Nutrients to Know
• Plans For Healthy Eating
• Healthy Lifestyle Advice
• Shopping Tips
• Food Safety
• Common Nutrition Questions and Answers
• and a "Learn More" section, which includes information about getting help with food costs.

There are also other Senior nutrition resources from other government agencies, such as:

• Eating Well as You Get Older
• Healthy Eating After Fifty
• What Does Healthy Eating Mean? by Go4life

The National Institute on Aging created the following video about "Eating for Health":

National Grandparents Day

National Grandparents Day is the first Sunday after Labor Day, which is September 8th this year. Marion H. McQuade first championed the idea for this celebration and her descendants created a nonprofit organization, the National Grandparents Day Council. The organization website states:

"Our goals are to honor grandparents and to strengthen
the bond between grandparents and grandchildren.
Additionally, we strive to draw compassionate attention
to the eldest of society's elderly--those in nursing homes."

How can you celebrate National Grandparents Day? The National Grandparents Day Council has a "Forget-Me-Not" Nursing Home Visitation program. The idea is to visit isolated, homebound elderly people or elderly people who live in a nursing home.  According to the Council,  "statistics state that as many as sixty percent of nursing home residents NEVER have a visitor." 

You can make a big difference in someone's life by visiting and talking with them. You can set up these visits by contacting local nursing home staff or contacting local eldercare programs. You can learn more about the "Forget Me-Not" program here.

President Jimmy Carter approved the first National Grandparent's Day in 1978. Every year, the U.S. Census Bureau provides statistics about grandparents and their role in society. Here are some highlights of the 2012 statistics (these statistics are from the 2011 American Community Survey):

• 7 million grandparents had grandchildren under the age of 18 living with them.
•  5.5 million children in the U.S. live with a grandparent.
•  2.7 million grandparents are responsible for the basic needs of at least one grandchild.

You can read the whole article here .

What is Long-Term Care?

There are a lot of misconceptions about long-term care. Long-term care includes both assistance with daily living (for example: bathing, dressing, eating, housework, shopping) and skilled medical care. According to the Administration for Community Living, 70% of people turning age 65 will need to use some form of long-term care during their lives. Poor diet and exercise habits can increase your chances of needing long-term care. 

Medicare only pays for short term (less than 100 days) medically necessary care and rehabilitation. Medicare does not pay for personal care- such as assistance with daily living or for supervision (often called custodial care). Twenty percent of today's 65 year-olds will need long-term care for longer than 5 years. 

Medicaid may pay for long term care, but it is only available for people with low income. Medicaid eligibility rules vary from state to state. For more information about Medicaid in Florida, click here. For more information on how to plan for long-term care, please visit the longtermcare.gov website.

Find Help in Your Community

The Eldercare Locator is provided by the U. S. Administration on Aging (AoA) and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a). This tool can help older adults and their families to find the resources that they need in their communities - including Alzheimer's resources, caregiver assistance, transportation, home repair, and more. Below is a video explaining the services you can find through the Eldercare Locator:




Other resources from the Eldercare website include:  

• Factsheets about assisted living, adult daycare, and home healthcare.
• Brochures, such as Employment Options: Tips for Older Job Seekers
• Helpful Links to aging organizations, to caregiving organizations, and elder rights websites

New Research Report on "Aging in Place"

 The Population Reference Bureau has published a report, "Helping Americans Age in Place" about demographic trends in aging. They have summarized findings about the health, economic circumstances, and social well-being of older adults. Here are some of the statistics from this report:

• Among U.S. adults ages 65 and older living outside of institutions, more than one in four report having difficulty with at least one daily activity and receiving no assistance, according to the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study.

• Two nationally representative surveys suggest that more than one in 10 older Americans living outside of institutions are mistreated in some way, most commonly by someone who neglects, verbally abuses, or takes financial advantage of them.

• As many as one in seven Americans ages 71 and older has some type of dementia, according to the first estimates ever made using a nationally representative sample of older adults.

These statistics can be used by community-based social services to address the issues faced by older adults. You can read the entire report here.

Medicare and Medicaid Counseling

The State of Florida has a program called SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) that provides free counseling to Seniors about Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care planning, and prescription assistance. The program is administered at the county level through the local "Area Agency on Aging" (other states also have this program - either in their Department of Aging or in their Department of Insurance).
 
SHINE is an unbiased information and counseling program that trains volunteers to help older adults to get the information that they need to make informed decisions on health insurance issues. They provide information to elders, their caregivers, and their families. To receive Medicare counseling in Pasco County, you can call 1-800-963-5337.

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco - Pinellas also provides many other services for seniors and caregivers. You can click on the picture below to access their website:

If you are interested in becoming a SHINE volunteer in Pasco County, please contact Sue Samson at 727-570-9696, ext 234.

Upcoming Library Programs

Would you like to go to a talk by a famous author, learn to scrapbook,  or attend a senior social? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs.  Here are some of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:

Thurs, Aug 8th at 10:00am
    LOL Social Seniors
    Land O'Lakes Library
Join our new group of Social Seniors for coffee, cake, and conversation. Get involved at the library by offering programming suggestions. Or, take this time to meet new friends, discuss common interests, and engage in recreational activities. Occasional workshops on topics of interest may be scheduled. This is a brand new club for seniors, and we need your input!
Land O'Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway
Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214 

Thurs, Aug  8th and Aug 22nd at 6:00pm
     Knitting Club
     New River Library
 Learn basic knitting techniques. Please bring a pair of size 8 knitting needles and a ball of #4 yarn. This club is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, FL 33543
(813) 788-6375

Saturday Aug 10th at 2:00pm
    Best-selling Author Tim Dorsey
    South Holiday Library
As part of Viva Florida 500, come hear how Florida influenced best-selling author Tim Dorsey.
South Holiday Library
4649 Mile Stretch Drive 
Holiday, FL 34690 
(727) 834-3331

Wednesday Aug 14th at 6:00pm
    Scrapbooking
    South Holiday Library
Create a two page scrapbook layout. Please bring 2-6 photos with you to use in your pages. Registration suggested, sign up at South Holiday Library.
South Holiday Library
4649 Mile Stretch Drive 
Holiday, FL 34690 
(727) 834-3331
Wed, Mar 20th at 2:00pm

Thurs, Aug 16th at 1:15pm
    Friday Afternoon Movie
    Land O'Lakes Library
Join us to watch a movie based on a book, or a critically acclaimed movie. Genres will vary. Please contact the library at 813-929-1214 for more information.
Land O'Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway
Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214 

Thurs, Aug 23rd at 10:00am
    Senior Games
    Land O'Lakes Library
Join us for fun and games at the library. Meet new people while playing cards, board games, or challenging video games.
Land O'Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway
Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214

Sat, Aug 31st at 11:00am
     Sit-n-Knit            
     South Holiday Library
Join our knitting club for ALL AGES! No experience necessary. Supplies are provided for in-house use or bring your own project.
South Holiday Library
4649 Mile Stretch Drive 
Holiday, FL 34690 
(727) 834-3331

Also, many branches offer book discussions.

New Retirement Toolkit

The Department of Labor, the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have partnered to publish a "Retirement Toolkit". This toolkit includes both links to publications and to interactive tools which can help you plan your retirement. It includes a timeline for retirement, information to help you decide what age you want to retire, and information about how to avoid paying a Medicare Part D late enrollment penalty. 
Some of the links from this toolkit include:

• Taking the Mystery Out Of Retirement Planning (for people who are within 10 years of retirement)
• Estimate your retirement benefits
• Medicare & You
• Extra Help with the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan

These resources are also available in Spanish.You can read the entire Retirement Toolkit here.

Caregiver's Use of Technology

The PEW Research Center has just published a report, "Family Caregivers are Wired for Health", about how caregivers use the internet to get health information. Thirty-nine percent of Americans care for an adult or child with serious health issues. Seventy-two percent of these caregivers search online for health information. This report found that caregivers are more likely than other internet users to:

• Gather health information online, particularly about medical problems, treatments, and drugs.
• Go online specifically to try to figure out what condition they or someone else might have.
• Consult online reviews about drugs and other treatments.
• Go online to find others with similar health concerns.

You can access the complete report here.

The July/Aug Issue of the Elder Update is available

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs publishes a bimonthly newsletter, the "Elder Update", for Florida Seniors. The current issue includes articles about:

• Exploitation, Frauds, and Scams
• Mild cognitive Impairment - the mild memory loss problem
• Move it or Lose It (exercises for older adults to decrease their chance of falls)
• Medicare and Durable Equipment Changes
• Florida State Parks App

You can download the current issue here. Alternatively, you can sign up for a print subscription here.

Upcoming Library Programs for Older Adults

Would you like to learn about gardening, learn about local hospice options, or see a popular British TV series? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs.  Here are some of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:

Fridays in July at 2:00pm
    Friday Flicks!
    South Holiday Library
Come for afternoon tea and join us each week as we follow the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants during the reign of King George V.
South Holiday Library
4649 Mile Stretch Drive 
Holiday, FL 34690 
(727) 834-3331

Sat, July 27th at 11:00am
     Sit-n-Knit            
     South Holiday Library
Join our knitting club for ALL AGES! No experience necessary. Supplies are provided for in-house use or bring your own project.
South Holiday Library
4649 Mile Stretch Drive 
Holiday, FL 34690 
(727) 834-3331

Thurs, July 30th at 2:00pm
     Hospice Information Session
     New River Library
 The Gulfside Regional Hospice will be providing a free informational session on the different levels of hospice care available to residents.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, FL 33543
(813) 788-6375

Tues, Aug 6th at 6:30pm
    Gardening Program
     Hudson Regional Library
The Pasco County Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners provide program on gardening topics. Please contact Hudson Library for more information.
Hudson Regional Library
8012 Library Road, Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 861-3040

Also, many branches offer book discussions.

America's Health Rankings

The United Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization that publishes a report called "America's Health Rankings Senior Report". The 2013 report ranks all 50 states according to the health of their seniors and uses 34 different measures of health ranging from smoking and obesity to Intensive Care Unit usage. Florida's overall rank was 30. Florida's strengths include:

• a high prevalence of health screenings     
• a high percentage of diabetes management     
• a high percentage of hospice care  

Florida needs improvement in:

• a limited availability of home health care workers 
• a high prevalence of chronic drinking 
• a low percentage of volunteerism

You can read more about the Florida rankings here.

Plant City Senior Fun Fest

The Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest will be held on Thursday, June 27th at the Strawberry Festival Expo Hall from 9am - 2:00pm. Admission and parking are free. The event will feature:

• Free Health Screenings
• Live Music
• Senior Friendly Sports Center
• free coffee and goodies
• free bingo and giveaways

             Strawberry Festival Expo Hall            
             2202 W. Reynolds St.  
             Plant City, FL
             813-653-1988

You can call for directions at this number: 813-752-9194. For more information, you can click here for the event flier.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15th, 2013. According to the Administration on Aging, "Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation". What are some of the warning signs of elder abuse?

• Signs of neglect: lack of basic hygiene, medical aids (i.e. glasses, medications), left without care if confined to a bed, or untreated bed sores.
• financial abuse: caregiver has control of the senior's finances and does not use the money to take care of the senior's needs or the older adult is giving large amounts of money or gifts to their caregiver.
• psychological abuse 
• physical abuse

You can learn more about the signs of abuse here and learn more on what you can do to protect Seniors from abuse by reading the National Center on Elder Abuse factsheet. In addition, the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs also has a webpage about how to report elder abuse and how to prevent it.

If you suspect that an older adult is being abused, you should call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873. Another great resource is the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas elder helpline: 1-800-963-5337. If the senior lives at a nursing home or assisted living facility, a volunteer from the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman program may be able to help. You can contact them via the elder helpline: 1-800-963-5337.

Taking Care - a PBS Long-Term Care Series

PBS NewsHour has launched “Taking Care” - a series of six reports on the challenges of long-term care. The first one aired on May 30th and the video is provided below. It is a video profile of Mary Wyant. You can find supplemental information about the broadcast and links to Alzheimer resources here.


 

 

Watch A Mother and Daughter Portrait Of Long-Term Care on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

19th Annual Hurricane Expo

The Pasco County Office of Emergency Management will be hosting the 19th Annual Hurricane Expo - on Saturday, June 8th. This seminar can help you to prepare your family and your home for hurricane season. Admission and parking are free. Here are the specifics:

Special Guest Speaker Steve Jerve - 

the Chief Meteorologist from Channel 8 News

 June 8th

10am - 2pm

J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex 

2830 Gulf Trace Blvd.  

Holiday, FL 34691 

For more information, you can contact the Pasco County Office of Emergency Management at (727) 847-8137 or go online here. 

Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs has released the 2013 Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders. This guide includes tips to prepare for:

• hurricanes
• floods
• fires
• tornadoes
• extreme temperature

In addition, there are sections about special needs, assembling a disaster supplies kit, and disaster recovery assistance for Seniors. Click here to access this guide. In addition, local disaster preparedness information can be found at the Pasco County Emergency Management website - here. You can also pick up a print "Disaster Planning Guide" at your local library in the Tampa Bay area. The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and local county emergency management agencies produced this guide, which also includes a hurricane evacuation zone map.

CARES Elfers Senior Center News

The CARES Elfers Senior Center in New Port Richey has moved to a renovated building at 4136 Barker Drive. This was an 11,000 square foot renovation, which was built with grant funding. This building now has a satellite branch of the New Port Richey Library - called the Avery Branch Library. This library will be staffed by CARES volunteers and contains over 1,000 books. This Senior Center will provide many activities including yoga, dancing ( ballroom and line dancing), music, tai chi, card games, computer classes, and craft programs. You can access their calendar here. 

You can learn more about the CARES Elfers Center on their website. If you are interested in volunteering at the Elfers Center, please call 727-847-1290.

New Report on Older Adults

The Administration On Aging, the Administration for Community Living, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have published a new statistical report: "A Profile of Older Adults: 2012". The statistics in the report are mainly from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This report defines older adults as age 65+. Here are some of the highlights from the report:

• Over one in every eight, or 13.3 %, of the population is an older American.
• People reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 19.2 years ( 20.4 years for females and 17. 8 years for males).
• The median income of older persons in 2011 was $27,707 for males and $15, 36 2 for females. 
• Almost 3. 6 million elderly persons (8.7 %) were below the poverty level in 2011 .
• In 2011, approximately 497,000 grandparents aged 65 or more had the primary responsibility for their grandchildren who lived with them.

 You can read the entire report here.

Older Americans Month 2013

May is Older Americans Month.  This observance was originally called "Senior Citizen's Month" when it was created in 1963, but it was renamed "Older Americans Month" by President Carter in 1980.  The Administration on Aging has announced the theme for this year - "Unleash The Power of Age".   

This is a very special celebration, since it is the the 50th anniversary of Older Americans Month. One in eight Americans is an older adult. This May, celebrate this growing segment of our population. Their achievements have made this nation what it is today. 

You can celebrate Older Americans Month by contacting the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco - Pinellas and finding out about volunteer opportunities with programs which help Older Adults in our community. Another way to celebrate Older Adults Month would be to invite an older adult to give a presentation for your organization in their field of expertise.

The Seniors Vs. Crime Project is on Your Side!

The Seniors Vs. Crime Project is a non-profit organization that was started in 1989.  This organization works with the Florida Attorney General's Office to educate Seniors about crime prevention and to investigate complaints about companies and individuals who have defrauded the elderly. Volunteers called "Senior Sleuths" help with investigations and by reporting suspicious activity. You can learn more about volunteering here. This organization has two outreach programs: the Florida Seniors Against Investment Fraud (FSAIF) and the Senior Medicare & Medicaid Patrol (SMMP). There is also a link to scam alerts here. 

One of their most important activities is helping consumers to get money back from companies which have defrauded them. The Seniors Vs. Crime Project reports that they return approximately $1,000,000 per year to Seniors who have been cheated. If you would like to file a consumer complaint, you can request help online.  You can learn more about the Seniors Vs. Crime Project here.

Upcoming Pasco County Library Programs

Would you like to learn how to to navigate Facebook, learn how to use your new Ipad, or see a great film? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs.  Here are some of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:

Every Tuesday at 5:45pm
     Ruby's Tuesdays
     Hudson Regional Library
 A fun group that likes to knit! From the beginner to the advanced, this group is for everyone. Bring your yarn and needles and join the fun.
Hudson Regional Library
8012 Library Road, Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 861-3040
  
Wed, Mar 20th at 2:00pm
    Introduction to Facebook
     Centennial Park Library
Learn how to use Facebook to keep up with family and friends.
Centennial Park Library
5740 Moog Road Holiday, FL 34690
(727) 834-3204

Thurs, Mar 21th at 11:00am
    Windows 8 Basics
    Hugh Embry Library
Adults, beginners. Call 352-567-3576 to sign up as space is limited! Learn the basics of Windows 8, email, and searching the Internet. Bring laptop, or follow along.
Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 
(352) 567-3576

Thurs, Mar 21 at 2:00pm
Five Wishes Advance Directives
Land O'Lakes Library
 Come learn more about your Five Wishes and prepare for end-of-life issues. This program is presented by Gulfside Regional Hospice. Attendees will receive a complimentary Five Wishes booklet- a legal document.  
Have you thought about what YOUR Five Wishes are: 
1. For the person I want to make care decisions for me when I can't. 2. For the kind of medical treatment I want or don't want. 
3. For how comfortable I want to be. 
4. For how I want people to treat me. 
5. For what I want my loved ones to know.
 Land O'Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway 
Land O'Lakes, FL 34639
(813) 929-1214

Fri, March 22nd at 11:00am
     Knitters for Charity
     Hudson Regional Library
 Come join this fun group as they knit different items for different charities. .
Hudson Regional Library
8012 Library Road, Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 861-3040

Fri, Mar 22th at 2:00pm
    Senior Movie Feature
    Hugh Embry Library
Seniors, enjoy the latest releases of great films, along with light refreshments, thanks to our generous Friends of Hugh Embry Library! Call 352-567-3576 for film titles.
Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 
(352) 567-3576

Wed, Mar 27th at 2:00pm
     Introduction to Facebook
     New River Library
Learn how to use Facebook to keep up with family and friends.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, FL 33543
(813) 788-6375

Thurs, Mar 28th at 11:00am
    Ipad Basics
    Hugh Embry Library
Adult beginners, bring your iPads to learn more about how it works.
Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 
(352) 567-3576

Thurs, Mar 28th at 6:00pm
     Knitting Club
     New River Library
 Learn basic knitting techniques. Please bring a pair of size 8 knitting needles and a ball of #4 yarn. This club is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, FL 33543
(813) 788-6375

Also, many branches offer book discussions, gardening, and history programs.

Enjoying Life in Their Nineties

People are living longer and healthier lives nowadays. One of the reasons for this increase in longevity is that people are exercising more. Here are two inspirational videos of women in their nineties who are breaking the stereotypes of aging. In this first video, Mathilda Klein, age 94, does a solo ball room dance performance:

You can read more about Mathilda Klein here. 
In this second video, May Morabito, also 94 years old, performs a cha-cha dance - complete with splits! She also designs ballroom dresses.


For more information about May Morabito, please click here for a NewsNet5 article.