New Books for Older Adults

Here is a list of new books for Older Adults available from the Pasco County Library System:

 "Everyday Law for Seniors" by Lawrence A. Frolik

  "Save Your Brain: 5 things you must do to keep your mind young and sharp" by Paul David Nussbaum

"The Retiring Mind: How to Make the Psychological Transition to Retirement" by Robert P. Delamontagne

"The Real Truth About Aging" by Neil Shulman

"Start Your Own Senior Services Business" by Charlene Davis

"AARP Guide to Revitalizing Your Home" by Rosemary Bakker

Senior Fun Fest and Jamboree

The Senior Connections and Mature Lifestyles magazines will be sponsoring a "Senior Fun Fest" on Thursday, June 30th, from 9:00am - 2:00pm in Plant City.  Admission and parking are free and the event will feature:

• Dancing
• Live Entertainment
• Free Health Screenings
• "Senior friendly" sports area
• Games
• Free Coffee and Muffins
• Prizes and Giveaways

Strawberry Festival Grounds

2202 W. Reynolds St.
Plant City, FL

For more information about the Senior Fun Fest, please call 813-653-1988.

Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The National Center on Elder Abuse of the Administration on Aging has announced that June 15, 2011 is the 6th annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.  This agency wants to increase awareness of elder abuse, which can occur in homes or in institutions such as nursing homes. The types of elder abuse include:

• physical abuse
• verbal abuse
• sexual abuse
• theft, fraud, or use of undue influence to gain an older person's money or property
• neglect
• abandonment

You can find the warning signs of elder abuse here.  For more information about elder abuse, you can click here for a tip sheet from the National Center on Elder Abuse.

To report suspected elder abuse, neglect or exploitation in Florida, here are the contact numbers:

• 1-800-962-2873 (For suspected elder mistreatment in the home)
•  1-800-453-5145 (For suspected elder mistreatment in the home, TDD/TTY access)
•  1-888-831-0404 (For suspected elder mistreatment in long-term care facilities). This is the number for the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.

How can you help ?

• contact older friends, neighbors, and relatives often and find out if they are having any problems.
• Contact your local Area Agency on Aging office to find local programs and sources of support for older adults (such as Meals on Wheels). These programs promote the health and independence of older adults. The elder helpline phone number for Pasco County is 1-800-963-5337.
• Volunteer as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman (see video below)

Free Online Computer Classes

Would you like to learn more about computers for free?  The Goodwill Community Foundation, Inc. provides free self-paced computer classes on their website gcflearnfree.org.  This website was designed to "create and provide quality, innovative online learning opportunities to anyone who wants to improve the technology, literacy, and math skills necessary for them to be successful in both work and life".  They have step by step instructions and videos on many topics, including:

• computer basics
• internet basics
• email basics
• Microsoft Word (tutorials for version 2000, 2003, 2007 and 2010)
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Google
• Open Office
• Facebook

For more information, please click here.

Coping With the Summer Heat

We are entering the hot summer months in Florida and it is important to prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion.  Older Adults (aged 65 and older) are more susceptible to heat stress than younger people and older adults may also be taking medications that decrease their ability to regulate their body temperature.  Here are some tips from the Administration on Aging to stay safe in the heat:

• drink more fluids (but avoid drinks with lots of sugar or alcohol)
• stay indoors as much as possible
• electric fans help some, but are not helpful if the temperature is in the high nineties
• take a cool shower or bath
• if you do not have air conditioning, consider visiting a public library or mall
• never leave anyone in a closed and parked vehicle

If you become very overheated, you may get heat stroke.  This serious illness occurs when the body can not regulate its temperature anymore and the body stops sweating.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists these symptoms for heat stroke:

• high body temperature - above 103 degrees
• hot dry skin
• rapid pulse
• dizziness
• nausea
• throbbing headache

For more information, on heat stress in Older Adults, you can click here.

It is Time to Prepare for Hurricane Season!

Hurricane season officially starts on June 1st. It is important to prepare ahead of time - especially if you have special needs or own a pet.  The Florida Department of Elder Affairs has published a "Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders".  This guide covers many types of disasters including:

• hurricanes
• fires
• floods
• tornadoes
• pandemic flu

This is an excellent guide with practical advice - such as how to assemble a disaster supplies kit and create a plan for yourself and your pets.  You can read this guide online here or pick up a print copy at your library.  You can find more information, including videos from the National Hurricane Center.   

Here are local Pasco County resources to prepare for hurricane season: 

• Pasco County's Hurricane Guide - available on this page in English and Spanish.
• If you have special needs - you will need to pre-register for SNAPS services, like transportation and care.  You can learn more here.  The link to the registration form is here.
• If you have a pet and need to have a place for him/her during an evacuation, you will need to pre-register your pet.  More information can be found here.

Library of Congress Historical Music and Recordings

The Library of Congress has started a project called the "National Jukebox", where they are providing historical sound recordings free to the public.  There are over 10,000 recordings from 1901 to 1925.  These are recordings from their archives and they plan to continue adding to this collection.  Here are some of the categories of recordings available for your listening pleasure:

• opera
• ragtime
• jazz
• country
• classical
• speeches
• skits
• humor

Here are a few songs from the archives:


The Smiler Rag


New River Train - Traditional/Country


Casey at the Bat -Comedy

Click here to find more recordings.