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