Upcoming Library Programs

Would you like help with enrolling for Medicare, would you like to learn chair yoga, try Wii bowling, or attend an Alzheimer's caregiver's workshop? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco County library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs.  Here are some of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:

Wed, September 17th at 2:00pm 
   Five Wishes Living Will Program
   New River Library
Gulfside Hospice and Pasco Palliative Care will be presenting a free living will program.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, FL 33543
(813) 788-6375

Wed, September 17th and Wed September 24th at 6:30pm
    Hugh Embry Chess Club
    Hugh Embry Library
Enjoy chess out on the main floor from 7-8 pm! We have chess sets, or bring your own.
Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523 
(352) 567-3576

Friday, September 19th at 11:00am and Friday, September 26th at 11:00am
    SHINE Medicare Help
     New River Library
A SHINE volunteer (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) will help people with their Medicare enrollment questions.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, FL 33543
(813) 788-6375

Thurs, September 23rd at 2:00pm and September 30th at 2:00pm
   Alzheimer's Association Caregiver's 
   Workshop  
   Regency Park Library
 One of a series of programs on various topics related to the care of loved ones with Alzheimer's - presented by the Alzheimer's Association.
Regency Park Library
9701 Little Road
New Port Richey 34654
(727) 861-3049

Thurs, September 25th 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

Thurs, September 25th 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, September 30th at 4:30pm
   Chair Yoga
   Regency Park Library
Bring mindfulness, movement, relaxation and restoration through seated and standing supported yoga poses. Use the security and stability of a chair to challenge the core energy and increase movement possibilities. Taught by Faith Bevan from Flow Yoga & Pilates.
Regency Park Library
9701 Little Road
New Port Richey 34654
(727) 861-3049

Also, many branches offer book discussions and technology programs (such as a computer Q & A, a Basic Ipad Class, and Tablet Talk programs).

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.

Free Memory Screenings This Month

If you’re age 50 or older and feeling forgetful, there’s probably no reason to worry.  However, you can put your mind at ease by making an appointment for a free, 20-minute memory screening.  HPH Hospice is sponsoring memory screenings this month for people age 50 and older. Participants will meet privately with a representative from the Alzheimer’s Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. Space is limited, so you will need to register for an appointment. To register, call Jan Double at 727-705-0107.  

In West Pasco:
Friday, April 13th

10:00am to 4:00pm
HPH Hospice South Pasco Team Office

6807 Rowan Road
New Port Richey, FL 

In East Pasco:

On Tuesday and Wednesday - April 24th & 25th

9:00am to 3:00pm

HPH Hospice East Pasco Team Office 
37445 Clinton Avenue
Dade City, FL

Note: Screenings are not intended for individuals who have been diagnosed with Dementia.

For more information, click here for HPH Hospice Events.

New Alzheimer's Report

The Alzheimer's Association has recently published "2012 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures", a report with the latest statistics about Alzheimer's Disease in the United States. Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Here are some quick facts from this report:

• 1 in 8 older Americans has Alzheimer's Disease
• 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer's Disease
• $200 Billion - is the predicted cost for caring for people with Alzheimer's in 2012
• It is predicted that 16 million people will have this disease by 2050.

 You can read the entire report here.


The Alzheimer's Association also provides information for each state. The Florida statistics include:

• 450,000 Floridians had Alzheimer's Disease in 2010
• There were over one billion hours of unpaid care by caregivers for Alzheimer's patients in Florida in 2011
• There were 4,743 deaths due to Alzheimer's in Florida in 2008

You can click here for more Florida statistics.

Free Caregiving Training Seminars

HPH Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association are providing "The Caregiver Training Series" in Dade City on Tuesday afternoons from Oct 11th to November 1st. These seminars  will cover an overview of Alzheimer’s, how the disease changes communication, dealing with difficult behaviors, caregiver stress and community resources.  There will also be information on research and treatment. The seminars are free, but advanced registration is required.  To register or for more information, call Jan Double at 727-705-0107.

•  Tuesday, October 1 -"The Basics of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias"
• Tuesday, October 18 - "Communication and Managing Behaviors"
• Tuesday, October 25 - "Caregiver Stress and How to Manage It"
• Tuesday, October 18 - "Community Resources and Advocacy"

                 Time:           1:30pm - 3:00pm
          Location:           HPH Hospice Team Office
                                        37445 Clinton Ave.
                                        Dade City, FL 33525

Free Memory Screenings in September

If you’re age 50 or older and feeling forgetful, there’s probably no reason to worry.  However, you can put your mind at ease by making an appointment for a free, 20-minute memory screening.  HPH Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association are sponsoring memory screenings this month for people age 50 and older in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Mobile bus. Space is limited, so you will need to register for an appointment. To register, call Jan Double at 727-705-0107.  This bus will be parked at two locations in Pasco County:

 In West Pasco:

On Monday and Tuesday -  September 19th & 20th

10:00am to 4:00pm

HPH Hospice SP Team Office  
6807 Rowan Road
New Port Richey, FL

In East Pasco:

On Thursday and Friday - September 29th & 30th

10:00am to 4:00pm

HPH Hospice East Pasco Team Office 
37445 Clinton Avenue
Dade City, FL

Note: Screenings are not intended for individuals who have been diagnosed with Dementia.

For more information, click here for the HPH Hospice homepage.

National Family Caregivers Month

President Obama proclaimed November as National Family Caregiver's Month. The National Family Caregivers Association defines family caregiving as "... the act of assisting someone you care about who is chronically ill or disabled and who is no longer able to care for themselves."   President Obama stated that:

"Currently, a variety of programs and services offer help and encouragement to family caregivers. The National Family Caregiver Support Program and the Lifespan Respite Care Act include important resources for caregivers of children and adults, with opportunities to receive much-needed assistance and take part in support programs with other families."

 Here is a list of excellent websites that provide caregiving information:

• Caregiver's Resources from USA.gov 
  
• Family Caregiving 101
• AXA Foundation Family Care Resource Clearinghouse - caregiving resources are listed by topic or by keyword and each one is rated using a four star system.
• Medicare Basics for Caregivers
• Family Caregiver Alliance
• National Clearinghouse for Long-term Care Information
• Caregiver Support Information from Healthfinder.gov
• Planning Checklists for Caregivers
• Alzheimer's Association

These websites help you to search for residential care facilities or respite help:

• National Respite Locator Service
• Assisted Living Information from MedlinePlus
  
• Nursing Home Search 

  These websites help you to find government benefits:

• Benefits Checkup
• Gov Benefits

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas is a local agency which provides:

• a caregiver handbook
• respite care
• caregiver counseling
• chore services
• medical supplies, such as nutritional supplements
• a senior helpline (1-800-963-5337 for local calls or 1-727-217-8111 for out of area)   
  

National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. The Alzheimer's Association provides facts and figures about this disease:

• Approximately 5.3 million people have Alzheimer's disease in the United States.
• Alzheimer's is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.
• Alzheimer's and Dementia triple healthcare costs for Americans age 65 and older.

Here are two good websites about Alzheimers disease:

• Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's information
• National Institute on Aging Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet

 The Alzheimer's Foundation of America sponsors the "National Memory Screening Day" each year and this year's date is November 17th, 2009.  On this date, qualified healthcare professionals offer free, confidential memory screenings. You can click here to search for local screening sites. 

Do you care for an individual who has Alzheimer's disease? The National Institute on Aging provides a free 146 page publication called "Caring for a Person with Alzheimer's Disease: Your Easy-to-Use guide from the National Institute on Aging":

Hudson Regional Library will be hosting two programs about Alzheimer's disease this month:

• an "Alzheimer's Disease Overview" presented by a representative of the Alzheimer's Association on Wednesday, November 4th at 11:00am.
• The "Long way home: a journey through Alzheimers" presented by Marian Ritchie on Tuesday, November 17th, at 6:30pm.

Hudson Regional Library
8012 Library Road
Hudson, FL 34667
phone: (727)861-3040