The Senior Connections and Mature Lifestyles magazines will be presenting the 7th annual Senior Fun Fest on Thursday, January 19th at the Florida State Fairgrounds from 10am - 3:00pm. Admission is free, but there is a $3 parking fee. The event will feature:
Free Health Screenings
Live Music
Senior Fun Walk at 9:15am
Grand kids are the Greatest Photo Contest (call 1-888-670-0040 for details).
Senior-Friendly Sports Center
free bingo and giveaways
Florida State Fairgrounds Special Events Building 4800 Hwy 301 N. , Tampa, FL 33610 (Martin Luther King entrance)
You can live a healthier life by eating more nutritious food, by making sure that you have enough Calcium, B12, and Vitamin D, and by starting an exercise program. If you need information to help you get started, the National Institutes of Health have a webpage called "Eating Well as You Get Older". This website has recommendations for healthy food, eating well on a budget, and it also has videos on nutrition. You can access this information here.
The National Institute on Aging has created a new website to help older adults to begin and continue an exercise program. This website, Go4Life, explains the benefits of exercise, recommends exercises, and helps you to set your goals. They recommend that you pick activities that you enjoy and that you make exercise a social activity, by having a friend or family member as an exercise buddy. You can access this information here.
Would you like to learn how to use Facebook, learn how to borrow library books on an e-book reader, learn needlepoint, or create a living will? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs. Here is a list of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:
Wed, Jan 4th at 2:00pm Senior Social at New River Library Wii bowling, card games, and refreshments. New River Library 34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543 (813) 788-6375
Thursday, Jan 5th, 12th, and 19th at 2:30pm Memoir Writing at Centennial Park Library Put your memories to paper! Whether you are interested in writing a formal memoir, or an informal family history to share with your children and grandchildren, this workshop can help you get started. Centennial Park Library 5740 Moog Road, Holiday, FL 34690 (727) 834-3204
Friday, Jan 6th at 11:00am E-Reader Basics at Hugh Embry Library Please call to register Hugh Embry Library 14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 (352) 567-3576
Friday, Jan 6th at 2:00pm E-book Basics at Regency Park Library Please call to register. Regency Park Library 9701 Little Road New Port Richey, FL 34654 (727) 861-3049
Friday, Jan 6th at 2:00pm Introduction to Facebook at South Holiday Library South Holiday Library 4649 Mile Stretch Drive, Holiday, FL 34690 (727) 834-3331
Friday Jan 6th at 2:00pm Five Wishes: Living Will Program at New River Library Five wishes is a program that helps you create a 12 page Living Will. This program is free and you can bring this legal document home. This program is provided by the Gulfside Regional Hospice. New River Library 34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543 (813) 788-6375
Wednesday, Jan 11th at 2:00pm Introduction to Facebook at New River Library New River Library 34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543 (813) 788-6375
Thursday, Jan 12th at 6:00 Stitching Series at Regency Park Library A special course taught by members of the Gulfview Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc. Please call 727-861-3049 to preregister. Regency Park Library 9701 Little Road New Port Richey, FL 34654 (727) 861-3049
Friday, Jan 20th at 2:00pm Senior Movie Social and Cards at Hugh Embry Library Seniors, enjoy recent-release hit movies, then play your favorite card games. January's film based on the best-seller by Kathryn Stockett. Bring your friends! Hugh Embry Library 14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 (352) 567-3576
Also, many branches offer book clubs, language classes, and gardening programs. You can contact your local branch to find out about these programs.
The AARP has published a one page overview of Social Security Facts for each of the 50 states. Here are some highlights from the "Social Security: 2011 Florida Quick Facts":
Florida ranks 24th in income level among the states.
One in five Florida residents receive Social Security.
Florida's 65+ population will reach 19% of the state population in 2015.
Social Security is responsible for lifting over 35% of retirees from poverty in Florida.
You can access the full report here. If you are interested in the facts about other states, you can find a list of the fact sheets here.
Would you like to try a new craft, meet new people, join a sing-a-long, or learn how to write your memoirs? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs. Here is a list of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:
Wed, Dec 14th at 2:00pm Senior Social at New River Library Wii bowling, card games, and refreshments. New River Library 34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543 (813) 788-6375
Thursday, Dec 15th at 2:30pm Memoir Writing at Centennial Park Library Put your memories to paper! Whether you are interested in writing a formal memoir, or an informal family history to share with your children and grandchildren, this workshop can help you get started. Centennial Park Library 5740 Moog Road, Holiday, FL 34690 (727) 834-3204
Friday, Dec 16th at 2:00pm Senior Holiday Carols and Cards at Hugh Embry Library Hugh Embry Library 14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 (352) 567-3576
Saturday, Dec 17th at 11:00am Sit-n-Knit at South Holiday Library South Holiday Library 4649 Mile Stretch Drive, Holiday, FL 34690 (727) 834-3331
Tuesday, Dec 20th at 5:45pm Ruby's Tuesdays (knitting club) at Hudson Regional Library Hudson Regional Library 8012 Library Road, Hudson, FL 34667 (727) 861-3040
Also, many branches offer computer classes and classes that teach you how to use e-book readers. You can contact your local branch to register for these classes.
There are many programs to brighten the holiday season for needy children and families. However, did you know that there is a program to help isolated and needy Seniors? Home Instead Senior Care started the "Be a Santa to a Senior" program in 2006 and it is now nationwide. Home Instead Senior Care partners with local non-profit and community organizations to identify seniors who might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season. The company then works with local businesses and retail stores to help facilitate the purchase and distribution of gifts by placing trees and ornaments with the Seniors' requests. Since the program started, they have provided 1.2 million gifts to 700,000 Seniors. You can do a zip code search to find organizations in your community that participate in this program. Here is a video describing this program:
The Florida Department of Elder Affairs publishes a bimonthly newsletter, the "Elder Update", for Florida Seniors. The current issue includes articles about Senior Driving, fraud prevention, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). You can download the current issue here. Alternatively, you can sign up for a print subscription here.
The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas offers a free helpline, which provides assistance and referral information on government funded programs, non-profit agencies, and for-profit businesses that serve seniors in our county.
