Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs has just published the 2015 Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders. This guide has articles about preparing for hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme heat, and disaster recovery. There is also information about: 

• Emergency preparedness and your health
• Protecting your home against wildfires
• Disaster preparedness for elders with hearing loss
• Disaster and recovery assistance for seniors

If you need daily medical assistance during an emergency - such as help with medication , oxygen therapy, etc. and don’t have another place to go, you may be eligible to go to a special needs shelter. Click here for a link to the special needs application form and information for Pasco County residents. Pasco County also has a Disaster Planning Guide. You can click here to access this guide.

The May/June Elder Update is Available

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

•  Medicare and Disaster Preparedness
•  Ageism
•  Florida Senior Day 2015
•  Hardworking canine volunteer aids in the fight against elder abuse (This story is about a local Victim Advocate with the Area  Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas and her dog -  she is a real local hero!)

You can download the current issue here. Alternatively, you can sign up for a print subscription here. The 2015 Disaster Preparedness Guide should be published in July.

The March/April Elder Update is Available

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

•  Florida Senior Day
•  Tips for helping your grandchildren become readers
•  2014 Senior Games Success Stories
•  Online Life Review Program
•  Become an Inventor in Your Second Act

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

Medicare Help at New River Library - now on Thursdays

Do you have questions about how to sign up for Medicare or about which Medicare plan is right for you? A SHINE volunteer can help.  SHINE stands for "Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Elders", a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, where volunteers are committed to helping others make informed choices regarding Medicare insurance benefits. 

New River Library now has a SHINE volunteer available on Thursday mornings from 11:00 am to 1:00pm. However, we no longer have Medicare help on Fridays.

New River Library
34043 State Road 54
Zephyhrhills, FL 33543
813-788-6375

The November/December Elder Update is Available

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

•  Always Hire a Licensed Contractor
•  Vet Trio Recalls Events of World War II
•  She was a Marine- the story of a woman in the Marines in 1943
•  The WWII Disaster No One Knew About
•  2014's Best Intergenerational Communities

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

Great Volunteer Opportunities

As we get closer to the holidays, you may be looking for volunteer opportunities. Two great volunteer opportunities are becoming a SHINE volunteer or becoming an IRS tax volunteer. SHINE stands for "Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Elders", a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, where volunteers are committed to helping others make informed choices regarding Medicare insurance benefits. 

What is it like being a SHINE volunteer? Here is the story of a SHINE Volunteer Couple, Bill and Marianne Ferrari: 

Marianne Ferrari writes:

"How do two retired executives spend their time after full careers?  After 27 and 23 years, respectively, we decided to take early retirement.   Bill retired several months prior to me and noticed an ad in the local newspaper for SHINE volunteers. Bill completed the comprehensive training requirements and started to counsel individuals regarding Medicare enrollment and health plan choices.  

As I was still working at the time, I couldn't help but notice Bill's passion about this SHINE program. I chuckled to myself because during our careers we had this ongoing rivalry since I was a Human Resources professional and he was an Operations professional. Needless to say, at times we had different perspectives!    Needless to say, several months later when I retired, I knew which organization I wanted to support—SHINE. 

I thought it was right down my alley since my work expertise was employee benefits.  While my work background is most helpful, I was surprised by how much I didn't know.  I immediately recognized the significant amount of technical and community resource information that one needs to understand to add value. I loved the challenge!  Life-long learning was one of my retirement goals and this service was certainly going to fulfill this objective. 

Since Bill and I are both volunteers, we will sometimes discuss challenges and help each other with creative solutions.  We do this in very general terms so as not to divulge confidentiality of cases.  Our health insurance system is complex and many of our clients are low income and in need of financial and other assistance programs.  

At times it takes teamwork to identify opportunities to provide the appropriate assistance.  It also requires patience, compassion, and a relentless quest to resolve issues.  Finally, SHINE has given back to me much more than I ever expected.  I learned that my job will always be important to me and will always be a source of self- identity.  But I've learned to define "job" as more than labor for dollars.  My job is helping seniors with their healthcare needs. The feeling of contribution and learning is much more fulfilling than any job I've ever held."

For Pasco County residents, there is an upcoming three-day program for individuals interested in volunteering with the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program. The training will begin on December 9, 2014 and will be held at Rasmussen College on State Rd 54 in Pasco County.  Transportation costs are reimbursed and meals are furnished.  Visit www.floridashine.org for an online application.  Contact Sue Samson @ 727/570-9696 x234.

There are two volunteer tax assistant programs: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program helps people who generally make $53,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those who are 60 years of age and older, and it specializes in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

You can find out more about becoming a tax assistant volunteer here. Below is a video about becoming a volunteer income tax assistant:

The September/October 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:

•  A statewide survey of caregiving conditions in Florida
•  Help available for those paying utility bills
•  "Residents' Rights Month" for long-term care residents
•  Fall prevention
•  Being alone without being lonely

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

The July/August 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:

• New "Living Healthy in Florida" wellness campaign.
•  Elderly Mortgage Assistance Program (ELMORE), which helps senior homeowners with reverse mortgage difficulties.
•  Outsmarting scammers.
•  State Park improvements to increase assessibility. 
• Aging in place.

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

Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders

Hurricane season has started and it is a good time to check your emergency plans. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs has published their annual "Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders". This guide has information about:

• planning for the hurricane season
• manufactured homes and hurricanes
• assembling a disaster supply kit
• disaster preparedness for elders with hearing loss
• disaster planning for your pets
• heat stress and heat stroke
• disaster recovery assistance

You can read the entire guide here.
For local disaster preparedness, evacuation maps and shelters for Pasco County residents, click here. From this page you can choose the Pasco County evacuation maps and the Pasco County shelter list. You can pick up a print version of this brochure at our Pasco County public libraries.

SHINE volunteers needed!

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 our 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, Inc. and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs are seeking volunteers for this program. They are offering professional, comprehensive training on the basics of Medicare in a three-day program to individuals interested in volunteering with the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program. The next training will begin on April 22, 2014. Volunteering with SHINE will not only help you gain an understanding of the complex world of Medicare for yourself or your loved ones, but it will also empower you to help others in your community.  

If you are interested in becoming a SHINE volunteer in Pasco County, please call the local Elder Helpline at 1-800-96ELDER or call Susan Samson SHINE Liaison, at 727-570-9696 ext. 23.

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:

 

The March/April 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:

• Alzheimer's Disease Initiative
•  Social Security Spouse Benefits
•  Ambassadors for Aging Day
•  How to Make Tough Decisions as a Caregiver
•  National Consumer Protection Week

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

The Jan/Feb 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:

• Retirement Financial Planning
• Property Tax Benefits for People Age 65 and Older
• Home Safety Tips
• How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
• The Elderly Mortgage assistance Program

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Jan/Feb 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:

• How Social Security can help you when a family member dies
• World Diabetes Day
• Vision and Aging
• Caregiving
• Medicare coverage of vaccines
• Statewide Medicaid managed long-term care

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

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:

• all retirement benefits switching to direct deposit
• healthy sleep
• how fixing cataracts can improve your health
• avoiding lottery scams
• the newly redesigned veteran's website- www.FloridaVets.org
• connecting generations through Facebook.

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

• daily deal websites
• cyber self-defense - secureflorida.org
• Florida Hardest-Hit Program
• hearing loss
• Florida practitioner (physician) information 
• boating safety

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