Senior Community Bulletin

High Tea & Hats is from 2-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Peabody Orlando, 9801 International Drive. All proceeds will benefit Seniors First. To register, call 407-581-9366 or e-mail [email protected]

Retired private investigator Raul Santiago-Velez will be the featured speaker at the Newcomers of Central Florida’s Feb. 17 luncheon at the Stoneybrook Golf Club, 2900 Northampton Ave. If you love “CSI”, you won’t want to miss Santiago-Velez discuss his career experiences and the crime scene investigation process. Santiago-Velez was formerly an investigator for the Public Defender’s Office in Orange County and currently works for a prominent group of attorneys with offices throughout Florida. Members, guests and prospective members are welcome. Luncheon tickets are $23. Advance reservations are required. Contact VP-Membership Tina Parrish at 407-359-1497, e-mail [email protected] or visit NewcomersCFL.org

On Jan.10, Valerie Chestnut, Community Liason for VITAS presented “Enhancing Lives Through Hospice Care” to Pavilion volunteers. When someone has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, a very difficult journey begins. Family and friends play an important role in the care that you will receive. She explained that Hospice is not about losing hope or about giving up and dying. It’s about re-defining hope for a richer, more peaceful end of life experience. Visit JewishPavilion.org for links to hospice.

The Military Retired Officer Wives Club of Central Florida meets the third Tuesday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept.-May, for lunch and mutual interests at the Elks Club at 12 N. Primrose Dr. Active duty wives are also welcome to attend. Contact Marty Harrison at 407-886-1922 or Ellen Paul at 407-696-4809.

From the Orange County Commission on Aging Newsletter February 2011:

This month’s presentation for the Counsel for Caregivers Seminar is “What’s on your bucket list? A medical look at end-of-life care” and is by Dr. Gary Miller from VITAS. This free seminar is scheduled for Feb. 17 from 12:10-12:50 p.m. at the Downtown Orlando Public Library, 3rd Floor, Albertson Room. Lunch is provided for the first 50 people to RSVP to 407-836-7446 or [email protected].

Learn from experts about healthy driving and chronic disease management at this year’s annual Mature Mind event. It’s free and open to the public! Visit FloridaHospitalNeuro.com or call 407-303-5295.

The Florida Senior Safety Resource Center has a new searchable database to find the right transportation resources in your county. Visit SafeAndMobileSeniors.org/FindARide.htm

Low and moderate income households can get their taxes prepared for free and learn if they qualify for the “earned income tax credit” that puts dollars back into their hands. Visit hfuw.org for information and tax preparation sites.

Legislative Update — Learn more about what’s happening statewide at the Florida Council on Aging at fcoa.org/advocacy.html

SRA Magazine — Get the new Spring 2011 issue at 50plusFYI.org

Cool Website — Check out the Family Care Alliance at Caregiver.org

Annual Alzheimer Report — Get the “2009 Progress Report on Alzheimer’s Disease,” which summarizes current scientific directions and key findings at www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/ADProgress2009

Housing Report — Get the latest MetLife housing report “Housing Trends Update for the 55+ Market: New Insights from the American Housing Survey,” at MetLife.com/mmi/Research/55-Housing-Trends-Update.html#Findings

Loneliness & Social Isolation — Get AARP’s national survey of adults age 45+ at http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/general/loneliness_2010.pdf and learn more about the impact of loneliness and social isolation.

Long Term & Post-Acute Care — The American Health Care Association just launched an informational series on long-term and post-acute care at www.ahcancal.org/Advocacy/StateLongTermPostAcute

Adult Day Services Study — This MetLife study provides a great overview of Adult Day Services. Download it at www.metlife.com/mmi/research/adult-day-services.html#findings

Did You Know… Disease is the most common form of dementia. However, there are numerous other forms of dementia including: Vascular dementia (20-30 percent of cases); Frontotemporal Dementia type (5-10 percent of cases); and Dementia with Lewy bodies (less than five percent of cases). Source: Alzheimer’s Disease International’s 2009 World Report