Senior Community Bulletin

At the start of the semester, Rollins College freshmen donated their time at 21 local organizations including Fern Creek Elementary, Habitat for Humanity Orlando, Winter Park Day Nursery, the Mayflower Retirement Community and the Ronald McDonald House as part of Service Philanthropy Activism Rollins College (SPARC). At the Mayflower, students helped residents use technology, such as MP3 players and laptops, to capture their life legacies. “I’ve never met such interesting people,” said Ayeh Saleh. “The residents at the Mayflower are our link to the past. We need to treasure them and their experiences.” For more information about SPARC, visit www.rollins.edu.

If a Tango, Foxtrot or Rhumba is what you are looking for, then Cha Cha your way over to the Beardall Center from 7:30-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 for ballroom dancing to live music with the Armand Marchesano Orchestra. Some refreshments will be supplied by the Beardall Center, but please bring a covered dish and $4 for admission.

The non-profit National Private Duty Association (NPDA), along with its Florida Chapter, has announced it will host a consumer education web conference titled “Home Safe Home: Making Informed Senior Care Decisions” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23. The live and interactive program, which will provide advice on hiring a home care provider, is free of charge to participants. Sign up today by visiting the registration link at www.privatedutyhomecare.org.

AARP’s National Event & Expo will be held Thursday, Sept. 30 through Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Attendees will have access to the expo floor, general celebrity/expert sessions, concerts and the Movies for Grownups Film Festival, which will feature a screening of “Flipped”, directed by Rob Reiner, who will be available to meet and greet attendees. Celebrity participants include Whoopi Goldberg, Larry King and “Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan. The cost is $25 for AARP members and $35 for non-members. Concert tickets are extra and start at $25. To view the schedule and register, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/events/.

The Kinneret Council on Aging will proudly pay tribute to eight individuals over the age of 80 who have made significant contributions to the Central Florida community on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011. Submit nominations for the eight over 80 honorees now through Friday, Oct. 15. Nomination forms are available on the Kinneret Apartments website at www.kinneretapartments.com or by calling 407-425-4537.

From the Orange County Commission on Aging September Newsletter:

Counsel for Caregivers Seminar — You are invited to a free “Social Security 101” presentation given by Lonnie Brown with the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare at 12:10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16 in the third floor Albertson Room in the downtown Orange County Library on 101 E. Central Blvd. Lunch is provided to the first 50 who RSVP to 407-836-7446 or [email protected]!

Alzheimer’s Class — The Alzheimer’s Association is starting a new seven-week Early Alzheimer’s Support and Education (EASE) program on Tuesday, Sept. 14 in Mt. Dora to provide education about the disease, treatment and care options. Call 407-951-7992 for more information.

The United Spinal Association’s annual expo is scheduled for Oct. 1-2 at the Buena Vista Palace. Free admission and parking are available with pre-registration at www.IndependenceExpo.org.

Florida Prescription Drug Prices — The new database at www.MyFloridaRX.com lets you find current prices on top prescription drugs and compare prices within your community in both English and Spanish.

A free Falls Prevention Seminar with a presentation by geriatrician Dr. Ariel Cole from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28 will be held at the Winter Park Garden Club. Lunch and screenings will be provided. RSVP to 407-644-2300, ext. 231.

Find answers and help to deal with the stress of aging parents and elderly care at www.agingcare.com.

Visit Webapps.icma.org/pm/9204/ where the International City/County Management Association has published a great article on the impact of an aging population.

The Center for Civic Partnerships created “Aging Well in Communities: A Toolkit for Planning, Engagement & Action” to help local governments find the resources they need to successfully plan for aging well in their communities. Visit www.civicpartnerships.org/docs/services/CHCC/aging-well-toolkit.htm for more details.

A National Council on Aging survey found that most seniors are still confused about important aspects of the new health reform law, including how it will affect their own Medicare coverage. For the study and more information, visit www.ncoa.org/straighttalk.

Josephine Mercado, founder and Executive Director of the Hispanic Health Initiatives, was awarded a “2010 Community Health Leaders Award” from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Did You Know? Seniors are connected! A Current Population Survey for October 2009 conducted by the U.S. Census reports that 42 percent of adults 65 years and older access the Internet from some location and 53 percent of older adults live in a household with Internet access.

Recommended Reading: “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest” by Dan Buettner