Senior Community Bulletin

Senior Community Bulletin

Winter Park nonprofit Center for Independent Living employees built a wheelchair ramp last month at the home of Casselberry resident Fred Slater. CIL is dedicated to helping people with disabilities live more independent lives. All services are provided at no cost. Visit www.cilorlando.org

Seniors First, a social service organization dedicated to helping the elderly maintain their independence, recently distributed 2,500 gift-filled shoeboxes collected from its annual Holiday Shoebox Drive.

Jean Lunin and Roxanne Szal have a lot in common. Both are self-assured, assertive, support the same political candidates, love traveling and are only children. But, with more than a half century age difference between them, it’s likely their paths may never have crossed. However, thanks to a partnership between The Mayflower and Rollins College, new relationships are being cultivating on both campuses – bridging generations through the love of learning. Last semester, the intergenerational initiative includes two classes: “What Makes My Life Matter?” — a seminar that explores life experiences; and “Memory and the Photograph,” which focuses on the role that images and photographs play in defining memories. Micki Meyer, director of the Office of Community Engagement at Rollins, explains that academic experiences like these are both transactional and transformational. “When we’re young, we spend our time trying to create purpose and meaning in our lives. And when we’re older, we reflect on the purpose and meaning in our lives,” Meyer said. “Intergenerational learning enables us to understand and help each other, and we ultimately find that we are more closely linked than we originally thought.” Visit Rollins.edu

The Harper Family Charitable Foundation has made a $30,000 donation to not-for-profit Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care to assist in the establishment of the newly inaugurated Cornerstone Inpatient Suites at the premiere active-living community Winter Park Towers in Winter Park. Cornerstone Hospice Inpatient Suites is open to anyone facing a serious, life-limiting illness and requiring short-term acute pain or symptom management, or requiring alternative care following hospitalization.

Not-for-profit Cornerstone Hospice may be reached at (407)206-2273 or toll-free (800)679-6088 or online at www.cornerstonehospice.org. Winter Park Towers may be reached at (407)647-4083 or toll-free (866)647-4083 or online at www.westminsterretirement.com

From the Orange County Commission on Aging Newsletter January 2011

Counsel for Caregivers Seminar — This month’s presentation is on “when to consider an assisted living facility and what to look for” and is by Patti Cantillo-Kodzis. This free seminar is scheduled for Jan. 20 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].

Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period, from Jan. 1- Feb. 14, is only to disenroll from a Medicare Advantage Plan. If you need further assistance, please contact a SHINE representative by calling 1-800-963-5337 or visit the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov.

The first Communities for a Lifetime interfaith symposium will be held Feb. 4-5 in St. Petersburg and will feature Reverend Nathan D. Baxter, Bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. Please visit www.communitiesforalifetime.org

National Alzheimer’s Project Act — On Dec. 15, 2010, this Act was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives and is awaiting signature by President Obama. Once enacted, NAPA will create a national strategic plan to address and overcome the rapidly escalating crisis of Alzheimer’s. Visit www.alz.org/napa

Study - “The Elder Care Study: Everyday Realities And Wishes For Change” can be downloaded at http://familiesandwork.org/site/research/reports/elder_care.pdf.

MetLife Study – This 2010 market study looks at nursing home, assisted living, adult day and home health services and costs. Download it at www.metlife.com/mmi/research/2010-market-survey-ltcc.html#findings.

Aging and Poverty Report – Get it at www.familiesinsociety.org/new/SpecialIssue/AgingInPoverty/AgingInPoverty.pdf.

Did you know — Almost one in two individuals in the workforce (42 percent or nearly 54.6 million employees) have provided elder care over the past five years. Among those who have provided care in the past five years, almost half (44 percent) have cared for more than one person; 17 percent of workers in the workforce are currently providing elder care. (Source: 2008 National Study of the Changing Workforce)

Recommended Reading — “Winter Grace – Spirituality and Aging” by Kathleen Fischer is the January feature at the Lifelong Spiritual Development Book Café Series. For info, contact Barbara at 321-841-5322.