Senior community bulletin

Canine Companions for Independence Southeast Regional Center will hold its 10th anniversary Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 10. Located at 8150 Clarcona Ocoee Road in Orlando, festivities will include dog training demonstrations, campus tours, food and entertainment and a special ceremony to unveil the 10th anniversary tribute wall. Register online for this free event at www.cci.org/seranniversary.

Mark Farner, the former lead vocalist, guitarist, and principle songwriter for Grand Funk Railroad, will receive the President's Award for Excellence in the Arts at VVA's National Leadership Conference on Saturday, Aug. 14, in Orlando. The honor will be presented at the conference's awards banquet at the Rosen Centre Hotel. More information on Vietnam Veterans of America and this event, visit www.vva.org.

From the Orange County Commission on Aging Newsletter July 2010:

-Counsel for Caregivers Seminar – "The Health Care Reform Law: What's in it for You" presented by AARP – at 12:10 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, at the downtown Orange County Library - third floor, Albertson Room, 101 E. Central Blvd. It's free. Lunch is provided to the first 50 who RSVP to 407-836-7446 or [email protected].

-ADA Resource Fair – This community resources expo for persons with disabilities is being held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, 7531 S. Orange Blossom Trail. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 407-235-1500.

-Statewide Aging Conference – Registration is now open for the state-wide Florida Council on Aging conference held in Orlando from Aug. 16-18. For more info, visit www.FCOA.org or call 850-222-8877.

-Caregiver Forum – Share the Care's annual caregiver forum, "Caregiving is Timeless," will be held Aug. 26-28. For more info, call 407-423-5311 or visit www.helpforcaregivers.org.

-Cool website - www.investorprotection.org provides independent information to help consumers make informed investment decisions.

-Prescription Help - Under a new law, more Medicare beneficiaries could qualify for extra help. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp/ for details.

-Video Streams – The International Council on Active Aging offers streaming videos on topics related to aging. You can even share your news and knowledge. Visit www.icaa.tv for details.

-Transportation Report – The American Public Transportation Association has released a report that looks at 2020 and 2030 demand and funding needs. Visit www.apta.com and search for "Funding the Public Transportation Needs of an Aging Population".

-Transportation Discussion - Easter Seals Project ACTION will host a two-week, online event from July 26 through Aug. 6, during which participants from across the country will have the opportunity to discuss issues pertaining to ADA and senior transportation services. Visit www.easterseals.com/dialogue for details.

-Senior Drivers - A new report found that older driver crash rates have sharply declined from 1997 – 2008. Visit www.iihs.org and search for "status report volume 45 Number 6".

-State News: Charles T. Corley has been appointed Interim Secretary of the Florida Dept of Elder Affairs. Former Secretary, E. Douglas Beach has accepted the position of the CEO of the Volusia County Council on Aging.

-Did you know… To serve the rapidly growing portion of Americans older than 65, public transportation will incur increased operating and capital costs on the order of another $3.9 billion annually by 2030, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

-Recommended Reading … "Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being" by Andrew Weil

The Joy of Giving Back

For Joy Clark, of Longwood, forming a team to walk and raise money for the Jewish Pavilion's Oct. 3 "Walk in the Park" was natural. Having a mother living at Horizon Bay at Lake Orienta, Joy saw firsthand how the Jewish Pavilion programs and volunteers enriched the lives of the residents.

Join Joy's Joyful Joggers for a few laps around Crane's Roost. Plans are running smoothly for the Jewish Pavilion's, Walk in the Park. Wander the healthcare expo and help raise money so the Jewish Pavilion can pay for the challahs, Shabbat Services, musical programs, holiday celebrations and good deeds the team of 325 Jewish Pavilion volunteers do every day to keep programs up and running.

Put your best foot forward. Step up and be a captain. Form your team with family, friends or co-workers. Run along now. Oct. 3 is just a hop, skip and a jump away, and you don't want this opportunity to pass you by. This is a race that everybody wins.

It is the mission of the Jewish Pavilion to enhance the quality of life for our elders in long-term care and strengthen their connection to the community. For more information and sign-ups, visit www.jewishpavilion.org, call 407-678-9363 or e-mail Nancy Ludin at [email protected].

—Roxane Abelow of Patient Advocates of Orlando and a Jewish Pavilion volunteer