Announcements Letter From the Editor, Sudoku, Ageless in America ................................................. 2-3Governor's PageGovernor's Message, Keep Florida Working .............. 4SHINEAsk Lance, Outstanding Volunteers Honored,Medicare's Celebrates Its 50th Birthday, Medicare and Disaster Preparedness ..................... 5-7Storm of the CenturyLake City Elder Remembers ....................................... 8AgeismThe End to Ageism ..................................................... 9Veterans' AffairsWorld War II Vet Recognized, Calling All Vets ...........10

FEATURE: FLORIDA SENIOR DAYState Celebrates Annual Senior Day, Florida Senior Day Photo Feature,Agencies Converge for Town Hall Meeting ..........11-14Research CornerYou Are as Young as You Feel, Senior Voices ..............15Long-Term Care OmbudsmanOlder Americans Month, Student Ombudsmen Recognized ............................16EmploymentOrganization Designed to Create Jobs ......................17Home and SafetyUser-Friendly Bathrooms, Safe Transportation, Realtor Provides Educational Program ................18-19

Volunteering & Elder UpdateCanine Victim's Advocate, Animal Therapy,World Elder Abuse Awareness Day ...................... 20-21Senior AthleteFloridians Traveling for Senior Games ..................... 22Elder Resources .............................................. 23Florida Senior DayThanks to All Our Partners ........................................24

Samuel P. Verghese, Secretary Florida Department of Elder Affairs

Older adults are a vital part of our society. Since 1963, communities across the nation have shown their grat-itude by celebrating Older Americans Month each May. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Get into the Act” to focus on how older adults are taking charge of their health, getting and staying engaged in their communities, and making a positive impact in the lives of others.

This year’s theme also reflects on the 50th anni-versary of the signing of the Older Americans Act, which President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law in July 1965. Since that time, the Act has provided a nationwide aging services network and funding that helps older adults to live with dignity in the com-munities of their choice for as long as it is safely possible. These services include home-delivered and congregate meals, caregiver support, community-based assistance, preventive health services, elder abuse prevention, and much more.

In Florida, with more than 4.8 million residents age 60 and older, we rank first in the nation for popula-tion percentage of older adults. It is our mission to promote healthy aging and help elders to remain in

their own homes and communities as they age. We also work hard to prepare Florida families for their futures because it is our vision to see all Floridians aging well with dignity, purpose, and independence. To serve Florida elders well, it is my goal that we continue to strengthen our partnerships across the state and national aging network, safeguard our resources to ensure that we are spending taxpayer dollars for the most good, and celebrate our elders for their countless contributions to Florida. These goals were recently highlighted at our Department’s annual event, Florida Senior Day, which you will hear more about later in this issue.

While the Department of Elder Affairs provides ser-vices to elder Floridians year-round, Older Ameri-

cans Month offers an opportunity to emphasize how Florida elders, caregivers, and families can access the home and community-based services they need to live independently in their communities and learn more about programs that help prepare them for their futures. It is also an occasion to celebrate older Flo-ridians and all that they do to make this state so great.

For more information on Older Americans Month, you can visit elderaffairs.state.fl.us or acl.gov/old-eramericansmonth. You may also get connected with local resources and find ongoing opportunities to celebrate and support older Floridians by calling the toll-free statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).

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Governor Rick Scott

MAY/JUNE 2015 VOLUME 26, NUMBER 3

E L D E R A F F A I R S . S T A T E . F L . U S

NEWS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS

May/June 2015

ELDER UPDATEOlder Americans Month 2015: “Get Into the Act”

FEATUREPAGE 12

SECRETARY VERGHESECONVERSES WITH ATTENDEES DURINGFLORIDA SENIOR DAY.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update2

(USPS 403-710/ISSN 1060-4545)

Elder Update is a bimonthly publication mailed in state to Florida residents at no cost to recipients. Out of state, Elder Update can be accessed at http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us.

Rick Scott Governor

Carlos Lopez-Cantera Lieutenant Governor

Samuel P. Verghese Secretary

Ashley Marshall Communications DirectorRick Burnham Editor-in-ChiefLiz Jameson EditorHaven Capone Layout & Graphic Design

Elder Update welcomes submissions from readers. However, due to the volume of submissions, acknowledgements cannot be mailed. Articles selected for publication must provide accurate information to Florida’s elders about aging-related programs and services and complement the Department’s mission. The editor reserves the right to edit submitted material.

Elder Update Department of Elder Affairs 4040 Esplanade Way Tallahassee, Florida 32399-7000 Phone: 850-414-2000 TDD: 850-414-2001

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Elder Update Department of Elder Affairs 4040 Esplanade Way Tallahassee, Florida 32399-7000

Periodicals postage paid at Tallahassee, Florida, and additional offices.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rick Burnham Editor in Chief, Elder Update Florida Department of Elder Affairs

If you are wondering why your newspaper is not full of use-ful information about hurricanes and tornados, why these pages seem to be devoid of tips for surviving the hot summer months, and where in the world is your disaster supplies kit checklist, please do not worry.

The Elder Update Disaster Preparedness Guide will arrive in your mailbox in early July, just in time for the heart of the hurricane season and the dog days of summer.

We decided to push it back a couple of months so that we could better celebrate Older Americans Month. Older Amer-icans are, after all, the reason we put the Elder Update on the streets in the first place. Older Americans Month is celebrated each May, giving the nation a golden opportu-nity to formally recognize the contributions of our senior population.

They ought to celebrate it every day, if you ask us.

Publishing a regular newspaper in May/June also gives us the opportunity to remember this year’s Florida Senior Day festivities, held April 15 in Tallahassee. It was a glorious day – everywhere you looked, seniors were enjoying their time in the sun (and the rain). They sang and danced, dined with state officials, and listened to leaders speak about the issues that affect them the most.

Thousands made their way to the Capitol Courtyard, and we offer a sampling of the many smiling faces on pages 11-14.

So if you were expecting hurricanes and tornados, we offer instead handshakes and tap dancing.

The Elder Update Disaster Preparedness Guide will return in all its glory in early July. As always, we appreciate your interest in our publication and for making the Sunshine State your home during the best years of your life.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

There is only one valid solution to each Sudoku puz-

zle. When you start a game of Sudoku, some blocks will be pre-filled for you. You cannot change these numbers in the course of the game. Each column must contain all of the numbers 1 through 9, and no two numbers in the same column of a Sudoku puzzle can be the same. Each row must contain all of the numbers 1 through 9, and no two numbers in the same row of a Sudoku puzzle can be the same. Each block must contain all of the numbers 1 through 9, and no two numbers in the same block of a Sudoku puzzle can be the same. Good luck!

Solution found on page 16.

Sudoku © Kevin Stone Sudoku Ref: 26110Printed from BrainBashers www.brainbashers.com

SUDOKU 3 1 6 26 8 3 9

5 46 4 2 3

2 6 8 78 5 7 9

6 31 3 6 72 4 1 5

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 3AGELESS IN AMERICA

Rick BurnhamEditor in Chief, Elder UpdateDepartment of Elder Affairs

Lew Wilson will be the first to tell you that he is a bit of a ham. And on the set of Ageless in America, the weekly show he coproduces with Anna Johnson, that light-heartedness is easy to pick up. The banter is consistently witty, with just a dash of humor and per-haps even a bit of slapstick thrown in to keep it light.

But once the cameras stop rolling and the set is put away, the tone is a bit more serious. Everyone at Ageless in America, from Wilson and Johnson to the production crew behind them, is decidedly resolute about keeping seniors in north Florida and south Georgia – and everywhere else for that matter – informed about the key issues that affect their lives the most.

The reason, Wilson said, is simple.

“Our seniors paved the way for Americans to live the life we live today,” he said. “We owe it to them to produce this type of show and to make it one that is upbeat and inspiring. There is enough doom and gloom on the TV. We want to take a different approach.”

Johnson, who has been on TV in the Capital City in one capacity or another for more than 35 years, echoed those sentiments, adding that Ageless in America provides a venue to remain in a business that she loves dearly.

“We have a unique opportunity to talk to seniors and to help them lead happy and healthy lives,” she said. “And, it gives me an opportunity to remain involved in this industry and to make a difference.”

Ageless in America, which concluded its initial 13-show run on May 2, can be seen at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays in the Tallahassee area on WCTV. It is the brainchild of Wilson, who previously teamed up with Johnson to produce the Tallahassee-based “Real Estate Weekend Showcase.”

Once that show had ended its run, he approached Charlie Melvin of Impact Visual Media with an idea for a replacement, one that ideally would “enrich, inspire, and engage.” The resulting effort, sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging of North Florida, is a joint venture of IVM, Wilson’s Doodledog Produc-tions, and WCTV of Tallahassee.

Each edition of the show typically includes a feature story on a topic of interest to seniors. Episode 5, for example, featured a conversation with a represen-

tative from the Alzheimer’s Project and followed with a feature story about a concert pianist and how his music might make a difference for Alzheimer’s patients. Another episode included an interview with an elder law attorney who spoke about incidents of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of seniors, as seen in Episode 2.

Each episode also features a “digital minute,” where viewers get a quick computer-related lesson. Exam-ples include how to achieve private, two-way com-munication on Facebook, seen in Episode 3, and how to properly navigate the Internet, featured in the first episode of Ageless in America.

DOEA personnel have appeared in two episodes of the show.

Although WCTV’s broadcast area is limited to North Florida and South Georgia, the show can be seen in its entirety on the web at localseniordiscounts.com. The goal, Wilson said, is for the show to eventually be seen statewide.

Gerald Tookes and Josh McClawhorn, both of IVM, join Wilson and Johnson on the set, overseeing the lighting and microphones, and they help provide a smooth production, Wilson said.

“It takes a good team to put these types of things together,” he said. “Along with the need for lots of information, you have to be entertaining.”

There is certainly no shortage of entertaining moments in the production of the show, Johnson said.

“I love to laugh – laughter is everything to me,” she said. “I can honestly say that I have laughed more doing this show with Lew Wilson than I ever have.”

Ideally, Wilson and Johnson agree, the show will lighten the day of those who watch it while providing an important resource for seniors to plan their lives.

“People plan for their house, they plan for their kids, but nobody seems to plan for aging,” he said. “We want to provide a helpful avenue for people to use, and hopefully Ageless in America does just that.”

Tallahassee-based Show Enjoys an Elder Theme

ABOVE: GERALD TOOKES (LEFT) ASSISTS ANNA JOHNSON WITH PRE-SHOW PREPARATION, WHILE JOSH MCCLAWHORN ASSISTS LEW WILSON.

ANNA JOHNSON AND LEW WILSON, CO-HOSTS OF AGELESS IN AMERICA.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update4

1,587,463ATTENDEES

15 TEAMS

33 DAYS

FLORIDA SPRING TRAINING ATTENDANCE TOPS 1.5 MILLIONTotal attendance up 8.1 percent over last yearGovernor Rick Scott announced April 8 that the 2015 Florida Spring Training season had an 8.1 percent increase in total attendance. All 15 teams topped total attendance figures from the 2014 season, and the total attendance for the 33-day event was 1,587,463.

Total attendance has surpassed 1.5 million in 13 of the last 16 years since 2000. More than 25 million fans have attended Florida Spring Training games since then.

The New York Yankees, playing their Spring Train-ing games in Tampa, led the Florida Grapefruit League with a total attendance of 171,915, more than 10 thousand fans per game, on average. The Yankees had the largest Florida Grapefruit League crowd of the season when 10,936 saw the Yankees and Atlanta Braves meet March 12.

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE

KEEP FLORIDA WORKINGMESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT

Older Americans MonthI am proud to recognize May as Older Ameri-cans Month, and extend greetings and well wishes to all of Florida’s seniors and their families. Florida has the highest percentage of residents over 60, with more than 4.8 million elders who call our state home. We are working every day to make Florida a top destination for retirees. Thank you for all that you do to make Florida the best place in the world to call home. -Governor Rick Scott

FLORIDA ADDED MORE THAN 29,000 JOBS IN MARCHFlorida businesses have created 841,100 private-sector jobs since December 2010. In March, 29,400 private-sector jobs were created across the state. Florida’s annual private-sector job growth rate, now at 4.2 percent, has exceeded that of the nation since April 2012. Florida’s unemployment rate for March was 5.7 percent. As of March, Florida has recovered all of the private-sector jobs lost from 2006-2010, and surpassed the previous peak private-sector employ-ment in March 2007.

TAMPA TOPS THE CHARTSA recent study of the top Southern cities for job growth conducted by ZipRecruiter found Tampa as the No. 1 region, followed by Jacksonville at No. 5, Orlando-Kissimmee at No. 10 and Ft. Myers-Cape Coral at No. 11. Governor Rick Scott said the study is great news for Florida families. “In addition to Tampa’s top ranking, Jacksonville, Orlando-Kissim-mee, and Ft. Myers-Cape Coral were all ranked in the top 15. We were recently pleased to announce that Florida added over 29,000 private sector jobs in March and that we have had over 40 months of job growth in our state. These rankings demonstrate that it’s working in Florida.”

MORE THAN

42,000Prepaid College

Plans

IN 2014 ALONE

HIGHEST NUMBER OFCOLLEGE PREPAID PLANS

SOLD SINCE 2008More than 42,000 prepaid college plans were sold in 2014 alone, the most since 2008, a clear sign that the state’s effort to hold the line on tuition is working for its students and their families. Florida held the line on tuition last year and the price of a prepaid plan dropped in half. The results are clear: more families want their children to get a great, affordable education right here in Florida. Continuing to hold the line on tuition will keep us on our path to be the global leader in job creation and ensure our students have access to a high quality and affordable higher education.”

RECENT STUDY OF TOP SOUTHERN CITIES FINDS

TAMPA NUMBER 1 for job growth

FLORIDA HAS CREATED

841,100 Private-sector JobsSINCE DECEMBER 2010

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 5SHINE

(Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is an award-winning volunteer-based program at the Department of Elder Affairs that provides information and free, unbiased

counseling for people on Medicare, their families, and their caregivers. Trained counselors provide personal and confidential assistance over the phone or at local counseling sites. To speak with a SHINE counselor, call our Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).SHINE

Dear Lance:

I had a test that my doctor requested at a diagnostic facility. I was surprised when I recently received a bill from them. I called the facility to ask why I was being billed because I thought that Medicare would pay for the test. The person I spoke to said that Medicare did not pay for the test and that I had signed an “ABN” on which I agreed to pay for it if Medicare did not. What is an ABN? Do I have to pay this bill?

Confused and Upset

Dear Confused and Upset:

I am sorry that this situation has upset you, and I will explain what I think has happened here.

Medicare limits coverage of certain items and services based on the reason given for the service (the diagnosis). If the diagnosis on the claim submitted by the provider is not one that Medi-care covers for the item or service, Medicare will deny the claim. This is because the service does not meet their criteria for being medically necessary.

An Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) is a standard-ized one-page form that is provided to a beneficiary with original Medicare (not a Medicare Advantage Plan) when the provider believes that Medicare may not or will not pay for a service in a particular situation. The purpose is to enable you to make an informed choice as to whether to get the medical service or not and to accept financial responsibility if Medicare does not pay for it. An ABN must be given to you prior to receiving the service.

The ABN form lists the service, the reason(s) that Medicare may not pay for it, and the estimated cost if Medi-care doesn’t pay. The ABN then gives you three options:

• You agree to have the service and to pay for it if Medicare doesn’t (but you have the right to appeal the decision if they do not pay).

• You agree to have the service and to pay for it but request that the provider not bill Medicare (in which case you cannot appeal since Medicare is not billed).

• You decline to have the service and cannot appeal if Medicare would have paid for it.

After you make your choice, you are asked to sign the ABN and should be given a copy. You cannot be billed for a service unless there is a valid ABN on file. For services that are never covered by Medicare such as routine hearing exams or routine dental services, no ABN is required for the provider to bill you.

There are several things that you can do in your situation:

• First, did you sign an ABN accept-ing financial responsibility for the service if Medicare didn’t pay for it? If you don’t recall signing one and do not have a copy, ask to see the one at the diagnostic facility.

• Your physician gave the diagnostic facility the reason that she request-ed the test. Ask the facility what diagnosis they used when their claim was submitted to Medicare. Then verify with your physician that the facility used the diagnosis that she gave them (miscommu-nication and data entry errors do occur).

If you did sign an ABN and the cor-rect diagnosis was submitted for the service, then you are responsible for the bill that you received.

• Finally, you have the right to appeal Medicare’s denial of the test. For instructions on how to file an appeal, see the last page of the Medicare Summary Notice that includes the test. If Medicare approves your appeal, they will

pay the facility, which must then refund your payment (less any required co-insurance).

Your Questions Answered by a SHINE CounselorASK LANCE:

LANCE JARVISLance is the co-Area Coordina-tor for the SHINE Program in Brevard County. He joined the program in 2009, volunteering his time to help Brevard Coun-ty's Medicare beneficiaries make informed health care insurance decisions.

If you have a question you would like the answered in our Ask Lance column, please email us at information@elderaffairs.org or send mail to Elder Update: Ask Lance, 4040 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, FL 32399-7000, and look for a response in one of the next issues.

What Is an Advance Beneficiary Notice?

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update6 SHINE

At the end of the February 2015 SHINE

Leadership Meeting, the Florida Department

of Elder Affairs was able to celebrate the

contributions of more than 526 statewide

volunteers. The Department's SHINE

Program (Serving Health Insurance Needs of

Elders) announced Janet Mills as the winner

of the Arnie Abrams Volunteer of the Year

award. We were also able to honor Hallie

Devlin, winner of the Harold Barnes Volunteer

Leader of the Year award. Congratulations to

both of our exceptional volunteers!

Outstanding SHINE Volunteers Honored During Annual Leadership Meeting

2014 Harold Barnes Volunteer Leader of the Year AwardHallie Devlin serves as a SHINE volunteer counselor and Local Coordinator for Collier County. She often does additional SHINE duties at the Area Agen-cy on Aging of Southwest Florida. Hallie started with SHINE in 2007 and stepped into the role of Leadership in 2009. In 2014, Hallie recorded 759 client contacts in Planning and Service Area (PSA) 8. Leadership is defined as a process of social influ-ence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task. Her SHINE Liaison shared the following, “Hallie embodies every part of the definition. Hallie is not only a leader for Collier County but a great example for all SHINE volunteers. Her willingness sets a great example to other volunteers and her positive outlook assists during the tough times. I believe Hallie’s dedi-cation, leadership, and advocacy efforts are a true fit for the Harold Barnes Award.”

This award is named for long-time SHINE volunteer, Harold Barnes and recognizes volunteers for their dedication to leadership. Candidates for the Harold Barnes award are nominated by SHINE Liaisons and volunteer leadership. All active volunteer leaders, including Area Coordinators, Local Coordinators, Assistance Coordinators, and Trainers are eligible to receive this award.

The following criteria are considered for the award named in honor of Mr. Barnes:

• Length of time spent as a SHINE counselor and experience in serving Florida's beneficiaries,

• Dedication to both clients and the SHINE Pro-gram, and

• Demonstrated leadership history of taking on dif-ficult volunteer management issues while serving clients and the communities we serve.

Hallie Devlin, we thank you for your leadership, devotion, and commitment.

2014 Arnie Abrams Volunteer of the YearJanet Mills serves as a SHINE volunteer counselor and Area Coordinator for Pasco and Pinellas coun-ties. She often does additional SHINE duties at the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. Over the last five years with SHINE, Janet has recorded 10,672 client contacts in Planning and Service Area (PSA) 5. Janet carries forward the legacy of Arnie Abrams, exemplifying his determination, tenacity, and sense of humor. As one of her fellow volunteers stated, “Janet is the most amazing volunteer! She’s a combination of energizer bunny, a small cyclone, and Mother Teresa. She has an abundance of energy with a heart of gold for serving the clients who call for assistance.”

This award is named for long-time SHINE volun-teer Arnie Abrams and recognizes volunteers for their dedication to clients and the program, reli-ability, compassion for clients and local community, and persistence with resolving each SHINE client's situation. Nominations can be submitted from any-one associated with the SHINE program.

The qualities of Arnie Abrams, considered for the award named in his honor, include the following:

• Length of time spent as a SHINE counselor and experience in serving Florida's beneficiaries,

• Dedication to both clients and the SHINE Pro-gram, and

• Demonstrated history of taking on difficult client cases or complex client issues.

Janet Mills, we thank you for your motivation, reli-ability, and kindness.

Anne Chansler SHINE Statewide Program DirectorFlorida Department of Elder Affairs

NEAR RIGHT: FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS DEPUTY SECRETARY RICHARD PRUDOM (LEFT) AND SECRETARY SAMUEL VERGHESE (RIGHT) STAND WITH AWARD WINNERS HALLIE DEVLIN (CENTER) AND (FAR RIGHT, CENTER) JANET MILLS.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 7SHINE

Patty ShafferSHINE ProgramFlorida Department of Elder Affairs

On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Medicare program that became the federal medical insurance for our aging popula-tion. A former president, Harry S. Truman, received the first Medicare card issued. The card stated the fol-lowing: “The Federal Government would pay half of the cost of this insurance. Your [the recipient’s] share of the cost ($3.00) will be deducted from your social security benefits.” Beneficiaries were first able to sign up for Medicare beginning July 1, 1966.

It’s been 50 years since Medicare was first signed into law. Wow, how things have changed! Medicare now pays 80 percent of approved covered services, and beneficiaries generally pay $104.90 for their Part B (medical) premium. Other applicable coinsurances and copays for health care may apply as well.

This year is also the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act (OAA), signed into law on July 14, 1965, and the month of May is celebrated nation-ally as Older Americans Month. The Florida SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our more than 515 SHINE volunteer counselors across the state who help educate, counsel, and advocate for Medicare beneficiaries. Many SHINE counselors are elders themselves and take time out of their busy lives to provide free and unbiased health insurance counseling for individuals with Medicare. A very heartfelt thanks to each of our counselors for

the many hours they spend each year helping elders find their way through the maze of health insurance and prescription drug issues. To find out more about volunteering with SHINE, please visit our website at www.floridashine.org.

The SHINE Program is administered through a grant from the federal Administration for Community Liv-ing (ACL). The ACL recently stated, “…in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act, we will focus on how older adults are taking charge of their health, getting engaged in their communities, and making a positive impact in the lives of others. The theme for 2015 Older Americans Month is ‘Get into the Act.’”

May is the month of several national health aware-ness days including such conditions as osteoporosis and arthritis, HIV vaccines, women’s checkup day, hepatitis, and more. SHINE would like to encour-age all Medicare beneficiaries to “get into the act” of taking charge of their health by learning about the many preventive services Medicare has to offer. Preventive services include certain vaccines, screen-ings, and other tests that are usually free of charge to beneficiaries. If you would like to find out more about these lifesaving health care services, please contact a SHINE counselor directly by dialing the Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). Visit our website www.floridashine.org for more information and the location of SHINE counseling sites.

Let’s all live healthier lives in 2015. Happy birthday, Medicare!

Patty ShafferSHINE ProgramFlorida Department of Elder Affairs

Have you ever heard someone say, “I have insur-ance, but I don’t know how it works in a disaster situation”? In preparation for the upcoming 2015 hurricane season, the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program would like to provide all Medicare beneficiaries, heir families, and caregivers with health insurance information that may be helpful when preparing for emergen-cies or disasters.

During a public health emergency or natural disas-ter, Medicare beneficiaries may be unfamiliar with how Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Prescrip-tion Drug Plans may cover urgently needed medical care. If you live in an area that’s been declared an emergency or disaster by the President, Governor,

or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the usual rules for your medical care may change for a short time.

To help answer questions on health care and insur-ance issues, the Centers for Medicare & Medic-aid Services (CMS) provides a publication entitled “Getting Medical Care and Prescription Drugs in a Disaster or Emergency Area.” This four-page fact sheet includes guidance on seeing doctors or other providers, obtaining your prescription drugs, getting dialysis treatments, receiving chemother-apy or other cancer treatments, replacing a lost Medicare card or Medicare plan membership card, and replacing lost or damaged durable medical equipment or supplies. For a copy of this informa-tive publication, you may call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). It is also available online at www.medicare.gov. Select the “Forms, Help &

Resources” then click on “Publications” and enter the publication number 11377.

In addition, Medicare reminds individuals on dialy-sis or kidney transplant patients to do the following: 1) register with the local emergency management office for special priority status if water or power is lost, and 2) make sure their dialysis center has a current street address and phone number for con-tact purposes. They have also provided a booklet entitled “Preparing for Emergencies: A Guide for People on Dialysis,” available in English or Spanish and found online through the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition at www.kcercoali-tion.com. Just click on “Patients.”

Whenever emergency or disaster strikes, the Cen-ters for Medicare & Medicaid Services Regional Office in Atlanta will work closely with Florida

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY, MEDICARE!

MEDICARE AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update8 STORM OF THE CENTURY

Rick Burnham Editor in Chief, Elder UpdateFlorida Department of Elder Affairs

Shortly after midnight on March 13, 1993, what began as a nice weekend of fishing and relaxing on Florida’s Gulf Coast took a turn for the worse. For five Florida seniors, each in her late ‘60s or early ‘70s, it became, in effect, a real-life horror story.

It would later become known as the Storm of the Century.

The seniors – Bobbie Sue Blanton, Geraldine DePrat-ter, Carrie Nell Douglas, Carolyn Corman, and Kay Kurtz – had traveled from the Lake City area to the small coastal town of Suwannee, near where the river of the same name flows into the Gulf of Mexico. They had all been there before and knew the area’s reputation for seclusion and good fishing.

What no one knew at the time was that an absolute monster was forming in the Gulf of Mexico. Later, under pressure from then Florida Governor Lawton Chiles, whose state was ravaged by the storm, the National Weather Service initiated an overhaul of how it notified local areas of deteriorating conditions.

But the change was too late to help out the 21 Florida counties later declared disaster areas after the Storm of the Century, and it was too late to help out the five seniors from Lake City, who had unwittingly wan-dered into its path. Shortly after midnight, the coastal paradise transformed into something hideous, and it began with howling winds and a knock at the door.

“It was our neighbor,Paul Oehler, a retired Colonel, who was outside with a flashlight,” said Blanton. “The winds were already up to about 70 mph, and he told us that we ought to get out while we could.”

To give credence to his warnings, the water level – which was not even in their yard when they had gone to bed that evening – was now a foot up on their car, the single car they had traveled in to get to Suwan-nee. Sensing the danger, Blanton, 69 at the time, moved the vehicle to higher ground and then went back inside to assist with getting the others ready.

But by the time they made their way back out to the car, a mere 10 minutes later, the water was up to the dashboard. The car was gone.

Oehler’s van, however, was on higher ground – about 100 feet away – and quickly became their destination. Waist-deep water can present a challenge for anyone; however, and it presented very real challenges to the five seniors. Kurtz was recuperating from broken ribs and actually went under water twice on the way to the van. Douglas suffered from emphysema and nearly passed out from struggling against the seaweed and other debris in the water.

To make matters even worse, upon reaching the van, the group found that actually entering it would be a challenge in itself. The still-rising waters had already reached halfway up on the doors.

“We held onto the outside of the van for about 30 minutes before we decided to try and get inside,” Blanton said.

Once inside, the ladies sat there soaked and freezing for more than two hours. Outside, the water contin-ued to rise, sloshing over the top and slamming the van hard enough that they thought it would surely turn over. One of the ladies actually suggested they get back out and hold onto the outside. Silently, each began to ponder with near certainty that they would drown.

And then, seemingly out of nowhere, came the sound of a boat motor. Colonel Oehler, who owned a boat and had somehow managed to get to it, was on his way.

“He had been gone so long that we thought some-thing had happened to him,” Blanton said.

The current was so swift and the wind was so strong that it took Oehler nearly two hours to reach the van. Each time he got close, the wind would force him back again. It was Blanton who eventually jumped out of the van, into shoulder-deep waters, to retrieve a rope thrown by the colonel.

Corman and DePratter managed to tie the rope to the steering wheel, and, as daylight began to slowly seep through the trees, the ladies carefully made their way, one by one, into the boat. But nothing would be easy on this occasion. The boat’s motor was running hot by this point, and they “drifted around” for the next three hours.

Failing to make any headway in any other direction, they chose the closest refuge – the cabin from which they originally fled.

“The water had come up about four feet inside, but the tide was beginning to go out again,” Blanton said. “The only things that were dry were the top mat-tresses on bunk beds, so we wrapped up in blankets and sat there waiting.”

About 10 a.m. that morning, help came in the form of two men in a four-wheel drive pickup truck. They helped each lady wade out of the house, and then transported them up the road to a waiting school bus. From there, they were transported to Anderson Elementary School in Cross City, where Red Cross volunteers were waiting with warm, dry clothes, hot coffee, and big pots of spaghetti.

“They were wonderful,” Blanton remembers. “We were part of a group of about 500 people rescued from up and down the coast.”

Looking back on those long, fateful hours in Suwan-nee, Blanton, who is the only group member still liv-ing, says all five women – and Oehler as well – could easily have been lost. She credits faith in the Lord for avoiding disaster.

“He was sure looking after us,” she said. “There were all kinds of things in that water, and we had to walk waist deep in it. I will never forget what we went through.”

Lake City Elder Recalls “STORM OF THE CENTURY”

Above: March 1993 Superstorm Surge HeightsImage courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE – Look for this informative guide in July.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 9AGEISM

Brendan HareRetired Litigation AttorneyBoston, Massachusetts

Until I turned 66, retired, and officially joined the ranks of “the olds,” I lived for decades as an unre-flecting and unapologetic ageist. I’m not a mean-spirited person. I pride myself on being open-minded and progressive. I’ve always tried to guard against bias in my thoughts and actions, and to fight bigotry wherever it cast its sulphurous gloom. But somehow, my prejudices about old people seemed to be natural, to reflect the facts of life, to share in the universal consensus. Being old was simply bad, wasn’t it? This felt like a solid fact, an incontrovertible position and, in the U.S. of A., also a basically uncontroversial one. In America – youth-worshipping, plastic-surgery-tweaked America – ageism stands as one of the last widely acceptable social prejudices.

Everyone, it seems, indulges in it, even the most con-scientious among us. It’s reflected in our workplaces, courts, laws, and public policies. In movies, on televi-sion shows, on the nightly news, and in pharmaceuti-cal commercial after pharmaceutical commercial, we chuckle and grin to see seniors portrayed as cute, helpless, and feeble, stumbling through what’s left of their lives in a fog of befuddlement. We’ve developed a whole vocabulary to express such prejudices: Uh oh, are you having a senior moment? Can you hear me? Where are your keys? Do they still allow you to drive? Maybe just in the slow lane, with one turn signal flashing for no reason? Well, be careful. Are you sure you can handle all this by yourself? Wow, you’re so capable and independent. So youthful! How inspiring. I mean, for someone your age. But you know what they say, “eighty is the new forty.” What are your plans for the time you have left? A little bingo? A few laps around the old mall? Or maybe you’ll stay in, catch up on your programs? Wait! Did you remember to take your meds? Are you sure? Good for you.

The term “ageism” is an abstraction. It strains to capture a varied and complex phenomenon. As used here, ageism comprises systematic neglect, segrega-tion, isolation, and bigotry. Like other prejudices, it works by constructing artificial barriers. On one side of the wall, older people languish, mistreated and misunderstood, viewed less as persons than as ready-made types. On the other side, younger people lose access to a vast store of wisdom and experience, and are tempted to adopt a false vision of life—to live as if old age were something that only happened to other people. In this way, ageism acts like an envi-ronmental toxin. As it spreads, it imperils us all, old and young alike.

It is probably impossible to measure how much soci-ety loses by tolerating prejudice against the old. But for seniors, the consequences of ageism are trou-blingly apparent. First, it sets up a dangerous loop: Age discrimination tells seniors that time has made you infirm, obsolete, and worthless. In response—

as is natural—seniors feel pressure to accept and internalize this view of themselves, with disastrous consequences for their mental and physical health. Studies have correlated experiences of ageism with memory loss, cardiovascular sickness, and low self-esteem. One study suggested that experiencing age discrimination diminished older people’s will to live. Another reported that seniors who harbored nega-tive views about old age faced life expectancies that were, on average, seven-and-a-half years shorter than those of their peers. All of this is staggering when we consider how ubiquitous ageism is: In one study, 70 percent of seniors surveyed reported that they had been insulted or mistreated on the basis of their age.

Ageism, again like other forms of prejudice, is rooted in ignorance, lack of experience, and countless fail-ures to exercise curiosity, imagination, and empathy. A couple of years ago, I began conducting research for a project about aging in America. One of the people I interviewed, a resident in an assisted-living facility for seniors, asked the facility to arrange to put me up in a spare room for a night. He thought that spending a full 24 hours there would help my research. I declined as politely and as firmly as I

could. To be honest, the prospect made me deeply uncomfortable, as if old age were contagious—as if I might lose 20 years in one night. I got over this even-tually. But it made me realize that, for much of my life, I’d had relatively little exposure to elders. In this regard, I’m not alone. Our society has tacitly segre-gated ourselves on the basis of age. We are educated alongside people who share our birth year. We spend our working lives with people who are, in most cases, about our own age, or within a decade or two of it. When it comes time to retire—and there’s a socially acceptable age for that too—many of us flee to sunny places, to be close to other retirees, lest we get caught lingering in the noisy world of the whippersnappers. Consider: If you are young, do you have a friend or acquaintance outside your family who is over 70? If you are old, who do you know under 30?

Life teaches us that nothing stays the same for long. I’m happy to predict that ageism, too, must change. I think it will be washed away, or at least signifi-cantly eroded, by the fast approaching “silver tsu-

Ageism and Its

End

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update10 VETERANS' AFFAIRS

Gov. Scott Awards World War II Veteran With the Governor’s Medal of MeritDuring a recent Cabinet meeting, Governor Rick Scott recognized Major General (Retired) Kennedy Bullard with the Governor's Medal of Merit. Major General Bullard served in the United States Army from 1939 to 1981. Upon his return to Florida, Major General Bullard served in the Florida National Guard and was the Adjutant General of the State of Florida from 1975 to 1981.

Governor Scott said, “I am honored to present Major General Kennedy Bullard with the Governor's Medal of Merit in recognition of his more than 40 years of service to our country. A World War II veteran and former Adjutant General of Florida, Major General Bullard has demonstrated an incredible dedication to protecting our families and our homes. I am proud to join all of Florida in recognizing him as a selfless American hero.”

The Governor's Medal of Merit recognizes Florida residents who are serving, or who have been honorably discharged from service, in the United States Armed Forces, Florida National Guard, or United States Reserve Forces and while on active duty, rendered exceptional meritorious service.

Major General Emmett Titshaw said, “Major General Kennedy Bullard’s life and legacy to this state and nation reflect great credit upon himself, his family, and the citizens of the great State of Florida. I am proud to have nominated Major General Bullard for this honorable distinction and to join Governor Scott in recognizing this great citizen of Florida.”

Major General (Retired) Kennedy BullardDuring Major General Bullard’s Army service, he fought in North Africa and Italy with the 1st Armored Division during World War II. It was also during this time that Major General Bullard served with distinc-tion at the Anzio Beachhead invasion, receiving the Bronze Star with “V” device and Purple Heart. Upon his return to Florida, Major General Bullard served in multiple positions at the battalion, brigade, and state headquarters levels of the Florida National Guard. He culminated his military career as the Adjutant General of the State of Florida from 1975 to 1981.

CALLING ALL VETSRick Burnham Editor in Chief, Elder Update Florida Department of Elder Affairs

We asked in November for Sunshine State vet-erans to share with us their experiences from World War II so we could relay to our reader-ship the sacrifices they made in support of our great nation. They did so in bunches, and their stories were heroic, compelling, and at times heartbreaking.

Now we are asking again. Send us your war stories so that we can publish them in the Elder Update. We will publish them in November, just as we did in 2014, just in time for Veterans Day.

This time around, we will welcome not only stories from WWII, but from the Korean con-flict and the Vietnam War as well. This opens up a war (Korea) that many know little about, other than what they saw on MASH. And, of course, it will bring to the forefront a difficult period for the country (Vietnam), one which saw the American serviceman face significant challenges both at home and abroad.

Tell us your experiences, good and bad. We’ll pass them along.

Of course, we would welcome your stories regardless of when or where you served. While we are focusing on Korea and Vietnam, if your story is not included in the November issue, it may be published at a later date.

Please send any stories, and any photos, from your time in uniform, to Elder Update, 4040 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Fla., 32399-7000. We appreciate it, and we thank you for your service.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (left), Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater (third from right), Commissioner Adam Putnam (second from right), and Adjutant General of Florida Maj. Gen. Emett Titshaw join Governor Rick Scott in recognizing Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Kennedy Bullard.

GOV. RICK SCOTT AWARDS MAJ. GENERAL (RET.)KENNEDY BULLARD WITH THE GOVERNOR'S MEDAL OF MERIT.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 11FLORIDA SENIOR DAY

Rick Burnham Editor in Chief, Elder Update Florida Department of Elder Affairs

The weather struggled to cooperate. So did the sound systems. But neither could dampen the spirits of those who gathered April 15 at the State Capitol to celebrate the lives and contributions of Florida’s senior population.

Senior Day 2015, by most accounts, was a stunning – albeit soggy – success.

Thousands converged in the Capitol Courtyard for this year’s event, cohosted by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and United Way of Florida. The day featured a Town Hall Meeting, presentations by state dignitaries, dozens of exhibits, song and dance rou-tines, and a brief concert by the Tallahassee Swing Band.

The concert was preempted by Mother Nature – a single bolt of lightning, and the urgent threat of more to come, sent entertainers and spectators heading for cover. A steady downpour followed, signaling the end to this year’s version of what has become the preeminent event for elders in the Sunshine State.

Long before that, however, sunny smiles ruled the day. Officials from the state’s Health and Human Ser-vices Agencies addressed key issues regarding senior life – primarily the goal of having Florida’s seniors remain in their homes and communities as they grow older – during a one-hour Town Hall Meeting. Later, crowds were entertained by a half-dozen performers, ranging from dance troupes to a Michael Jackson tribute. Then, several dignitaries addressed the group and spoke of the importance of taking care of the Sunshine State’s senior population.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater assured the crowd that hard work was being completed on their behalf to stop those who would commit fraud against elders. He noted one program in particular – On Guard for Seniors – that targets such culprits as computer scams and identity fraud. Another, called “Be Scam Smart,” educates seniors on the “psycholo-gy of a scam,” and “how to spot fraudulent behavior.” The official website of the Florida Chief Financial Officer – myfloridacfo.com – has key information about both programs, he said.

“You are the ambassadors; you are the champions,” he said. “Let us be of service to you.”

Secretary of Elder Affairs Samuel Verghese thanked those in attendance for their hard work and dedica-tion in making Florida a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

“Those of you here today represent seniors across the state who don’t just call Florida home – you actively live here, making contributions in countless ways,” he said. “Not only do our seniors contribute greatly to our economy, but they also give so much to the social and moral thread of our communities. Our state would simply not be as strong if not for you all.”

The secretary also thanked those in the crowd for the example they had set earlier on in life – being good parents and grandparents, and helping to mold men and women of honor to assume roles of leadership in the Sunshine State.

He also read a proclamation from Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who could not attend the festivities, making April 15 Florida Senior Day.

Tedd Granger, President of United Way of Florida, and Stephen Rodriguez, Vice President of Florida Sports, also spoke to the crowd.

Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman also used the occasion to present Janet Mills, a volunteer with the DOEA SHINE Program, with the coveted Cham-pion of Service Award.

Betty Moseley, of Miami Gardens, said the speeches were very informative, yet very brief – just like she likes them.

“There was good information and the speeches short and sweet,” she said. “For someone like me who can’t sit too long, they were just right. This entire event was very well organized.”

Tallahassee’s Lynette Halter, a first-time attendee of Florida Senior Day, echoed those comments, adding that the Town Hall Meeting was considerably well done. “It was very informative – very well done,” she said. “It was definitely worth my time.”

Raindrops became steady as the crowd awaited a performance of the Tallahassee Swing Band. Diane Milnes, one of a trio of seniors from Advent Chris-tian Village in Dowling Park, said "This is actually very nice,” garnering nods of agreement from Ann Thompson and Sharon McMann. “We will be back again next year.”

STATE CELEBRATES ANNUAL FLORIDA SENIOR DAY

ELDERS VISIT THE NUMEROUS EXHIBITS DURING THE FLORIDA SENIOR DAY EVENT.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update12 FLORIDA SENIOR DAY

A PERFORMER FROM JOE AND

THE ROCKETTES ENJOYS HER MOMENT

IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

A SENIOR COMPETES.

DOEA VOLUNTEER HANNAH MAHLER GREETS SENIORS AS THEY APPROACH THE CAPITOL.

A GROUP OF SENIORS

FROM MIAMI GARDENS

EXITS THEIR BUS.

NORTH FLORIDA PARKINSON'S AWARENESS CHOIR

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 13FLORIDA SENIOR DAY

CLOWNS AND COWS AND POLITICIALS GALORE: FLORIDA SENIOR DAY OFFERED FAR TOO MUCH TO BE DAMPENED BY A RAIN SHOWER OR TWO.

FLORIDA CFO JEFF ATWATER SPEAKS

TO THE CROWD.

MS. DOROTHY GORDON PERFORMS

HER TRIBUTE TO TINA TURNER.

A SENIOR LEARNS ABOUT BIKE SAFETY .

CHAMPION OF SERVICE AWARD WINNER JANET MILLS (LEFT) AND SHINE LIAISON

SUE SAMSON ENJOY THE WEATHER.

THE ALACHUA CHA CHAS TOUGHED OUT THE RAIN TO PUT ON A GREAT PERFORMANCE.

DOEA EMPLOYEES PREPARE CHICK-FIL-A LUNCHES.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update14 FLORIDA SENIOR DAY

Rick Burnham Editor in Chief, Elder Update Florida Department of Elder Affairs

The six individuals chosen to speak to elders at the Florida Senior Day Town Hall Meeting April 15 made up a diverse collection, representing organi-zations geared to assist with not only senior issues, but also those regarding health, disability, and the welfare of children and families.

But when it comes to Florida seniors, they all voiced a similar concern: taking the appropriate steps to ensure older Floridians are able to age with dignity in the communities and homes they are accustomed to.

More than 100 people crowded into the Governor’s Cabinet Room to hear the panel address key elder issues and answer a variety of senior-related ques-tions. Secretary of Elder Affairs Samuel Verghese was joined by Secretary Mike Carroll of the Depart-ment of Children and Families; Barbara Palmer, Director of the Agency for Persons With Disabilities; Secretary Elizabeth Dudek of the Agency for Health Care Administration; Florida Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong; and Randall Hunt, President of Senior Resource Alliance and the Florida Associa-tion of Area Agencies on Aging (F4A).

Anna Johnson, cohost of WCTV’s Ageless in Ameri-ca, moderated the event, which was simulcast online and to large monitors outside for hundreds of other seniors.

After a brief period in which each of the panelists gave a synopsis of his or her organization and its goals, Verghese fielded the first question from the audience: “How can seniors access more money for home care when local agencies have limited funds?”

“First and foremost, when it comes to any type of resource, it is important for us as a Department to safeguard it,” he said.“We see that it is more cost effective to keep people in their homes and commu-nities, and it is important for us to talk about it – how we can continue to do that better.”

Verghese detailed DOEA’s “State Plan on Aging,” a three-year projection devised by an advisory group of 20 stakeholders from the health care field, charged with planning for the future, including how to utilize a finite amount of money.

“It is important to think about the individual, and it is important to think about the taxpayer,” he said. “When we think about the individual, we want to make sure we are being caring and compassionate. When we think about the taxpayer, we have to look at things from a business aspect – because if we are doing things well, it becomes more cost effective, and we can reach more people.

“That is always the intention. We are always trying to walk that line and find the best solutions.”

A question regarding Medicaid Managed Care fol-lowed, and was fielded by Dudek, Armstrong, and Palmer.

“With Medicaid Managed Care, we now have ser-vices that will be available for the majority of indi-viduals,” Dudek said. “That is something that we are trying to build into everything we do.”

Armstrong said recent budgets offered by Gov. Rick Scott show a clear commitment to finding answers to important health questions for seniors.

“One of those areas relates to Alzheimer’s disease,” he said. “We know that in Florida, just under half a

million Floridians have Alzheimer ’s disease, but we know many more Floridians as family members and friends are affected by this challenge. Last year, in our budget and agreed to by our Legislature, close to $3 million to Alzheimer’s research programs, where we are giving grants to prominent researchers in our state to find answers to Alzheimer’s – not only to find cures, but to find ways to manage it and support families as they are helping their loved ones.”

Other questions followed – on hard-to-get medica-tions, the cooperation of state and federal agencies, and the proper reporting procedures on the neglect and abuse of seniors.

“We all have a responsibility in our community to speak up when you see abuse, neglect, and exploi-tation going on,” Carroll said. “I cannot encourage folks enough to call the hotline (1-800-962-2873). We have one of the quickest response times in the nation.”

Carroll added that one of the primary causes of abuse for seniors is self-neglect. He encouraged family members and those closest to seniors to call when they suspect abuse may be ongoing.

“Reporting is critical,” he said.

The Town Hall Meeting concluded with comments on building generational bridges, bringing the elder population closer to those around them.

Verghese said the Town Hall Meeting gave elders attending Florida Senior Day a clear indication of the commitment the State and its Health and Human Services agencies have toward taking care of their seniors.

“We are well aware of the vital role our seniors play in the success of our state, and we’re dedicated to taking care of them,” he said. “I think that was the central message today – that we are united in our efforts to assist in the challenges they face, and show appreciation for all that they have done and continue to do for the state of Florida.”

Agencies Converge for Town Hall Meeting

A PANEL OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY HEADS ANSWER QUESTIONS DURING THE TOWN HALL MEETING.

SENIORS LISTEN TO COMMENTS DURING THE TOWN HALL MEETING.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 15RESEARCH CORNER

Mindy SollischManager of Strategic InitiativesFlorida Department of Elder Affairs

How old do you feel? Many of us have asked our-selves this question. An assessment of one’s “self-per-ceived” age could reflect the age a person feels, the age a person thinks he or she looks, the age a person perceives himself or herself to act, or the age a person perceives to be reflective of his or her interests. Do you feel younger than your actual age? Older than your actual age? Previous studies show that most older people feel younger than their chronologic age. And is self-perceived age meaningful in reflecting mortality? Researchers from the University College London recently conducted a study aimed at answer-ing this question. That is, is feeling younger linked to a lower death rate?

Researchers examined data for over 6,000 individu-als who had taken part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. This study used computer-assisted personal interviews and self-completion question-naires conducted in 2004-2005 to collect economic, social, psychological, cognitive, health, biological, and genetic data on men and women age 50 and older living in England. At the start of the study, the aver-age age of participants was 66 years old.

Study participants were asked “How old do you feel you are?” Over an average follow-up period of more than eight years, the researchers tracked all-cause mortality and deaths from heart disease and cancer. The researchers divided study participants into three groups: those whose self-perceived age was close

to their actual age, those who felt more than one year older than their age, and those who felt three or more years younger than their age. Nearly 70 percent of participants reported feeling three or more years younger than their age. Approximately 26 percent reported feeling close to their age. The remaining 4.8 percent said they felt more than a year older than their actual age.

Findings Researchers found that people who felt older than their actual age had a 41 percent increased likeli-hood of death over the next eight years compared to those who felt younger (after adjusting for baseline health, physical disability, health behavior, and other covariates). Feeling older than one’s actual age was a predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Self-perceived age did not predict death from cancer.

These findings provide justification for targeting health messages and the promotion of positive health behaviors and attitudes toward aging to individuals who feel older than their actual age.

Note: Other reasons for the association between self-perceived age and mortality that were not included in this study, such as maintaining a healthy weight, may exist and merit further investigation.

Reference Feeling old vs. being old: associations between self-perceived age and mortality, Isla Rippon & Andrew Steptoe, JAMA Internal Medicine, doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.6580, published online 15 December 2014

Self-Perceived AgeCompared to Actual Age

FELT 3 OR MORE YEARSYOUNGER THAN ACTUAL AGE

SELF-PERCEIVED AGE WASCLOSE TO ACTUAL AGE

FELT MORE THAN 1 YEAROLDER THAN ACTUAL AGE

4.8%

25.6%

69.6%

Senior VoicesSenior Voices is a new feature of Elder Update, giving seniors in the Sunshine State an oppor-tunity to voice their opinion on a variety of topics. We will select seniors for each edition of the paper and publish their name, home-town, photo, and responses to a predetermined question.

This Issue: “What is the most important item to have on

hand in case of a hurricane?”

Feeling Younger Linked to Lower Death Rate

Next up: “Grandchildren: Spoil

them? Or not?”

Send your responses, along with a recent picture, your name, and where you live, to Elder Update, Department of Elder Affairs; 4040 Esplanade Way; Tallahassee, Florida 32399-7000 or via email to burnhamr@elderaffairs.org.

Carole Roberts WilsonMerritt Island, Florida

“I have been through many hurricanes since I have been living in Brevard County for 16 years. Flashlights, canned food that does not need cooking, and bottled water are important. Of course, a generator would be nice if the electricity goes out.”

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update16 LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN

LTCOP Student Ombudsmen Receive RecognitionJanine RogersOffice of Volunteer & Community ServicesFlorida Department of Elder Affairs

The Department’s Office of Volunteer & Com-munity Services recently recognized two student volunteer interns in the Long-Term Care Ombuds-man Program. They are Jeremiah Meinck and Willie Walden II, both from Orlando. Both young men contributed over 120 hours each to volunteer service in the program.

Mr. Meinck is a student at the University of Central Florida who will graduate in the summer with a bachelor of science in Health Care Administration. He is a recipient of a Bright Futures Scholarship and a member of the National Society of Colle-giate Scholars. His goal is to use the experience in the program and his degree to work in revenue cycle management and medical delivery methods in health care. Mr. Meinck plans to maintain his volunteer status with the program after graduation.

Mr. Willie Walden II is also a University of Cen-tral Florida student with plans to graduate in the

spring with a bachelor of science in Health Services Administration. He is a Legacy Campus represen-tative, a 4Ever Knights Ambassador, and a VITAS volunteer. In addition to his studies, he is a Senior Fiscal Assistant in the campus health center. Mr. Walden hopes to use his experience and education in the health care field.

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman student intern-ship program began in the summer of 2012. Each student volunteer intern who participates facilitates assessments of facilities and investigates complaint calls. In addition, they attend district meetings once a month and are fully certified as ombudsmen while in the program.

If students are interested in this volunteer oppor-tunity, they should contact the District Manager in their area to see if there is an agreement in place with their respective university. Bryan Morgan, the Ombudsman Program Recruiter, works with each student to expedite the training process and offer the support needed to manage university or college requirements.

Morgan, who also contributed to this story, can be reached at the East Central District Office, 400 West Robinson Street, Suite N110, Orlando, Florida, 850-510-3920, or via email at morganb@elderaffairs.org.

Shannon KnowlesLong-Term Care Ombudsman ProgramFlorida Department of Elder Affairs

Each May since 1963, our nation has celebrated Older Americans Month. This national observance serves as a theme of activity for seniors in their com-munities and provides the public an opportunity to honor the wisdom, talents, and contributions of older Americans.

In recognition of Older Americans Month, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) hosts statewide various activities and presentations at long-term care facilities during local council meetings. Our district managers work with staff and volun-teers to coordinate special events that include games, refreshments, and guest speakers. These activities will center on this year’s theme “Get Into the Act,” and focus on educating residents on how to take charge of their health, engage in their community, and make a positive impact in the lives of fellow residents.

By the year 2020, more than 55 million U.S. adults will be over the age of 65. Older Americans Month is an opportunity to celebrate the many ways they contribute to our lives. While the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program works to improve the quality of life for all Florida’s long-term care residents year-round, Older Americans Month offers an opportunity to recognize these residents for their contributions by helping them stay healthy, active, and engaged as they age. It is also an occasion to highlight how long-term care residents are engaging within their respective facility’s community.

Throughout May, Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombuds-man Program will be encouraging long-term care facilities to celebrate this special month, conduct activities to honor older Americans, and provide tips on how to stay active within their community. To learn more about Older Americans Month and how you can participate in local events, contact your local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office by visiting ombudsman.myflorida.com or calling 1-888-831-0404 to find ongoing opportunities to celebrate and support older Americans.

OLDER AMERICANS MONTH 2015: “GET INTO THE ACT”

Sudoku © Kevin Stone [Protected Puzzle]

SUDOKU SOLUTION3 1 7 9 5 4 8 6 26 2 4 8 7 3 1 5 98 9 5 2 6 1 4 7 37 6 9 4 1 2 5 3 85 3 2 6 9 8 7 4 14 8 1 5 3 7 2 9 69 7 6 1 2 5 3 8 41 5 8 3 4 6 9 2 72 4 3 7 8 9 6 1 5

Residents of long-term care facilities need you!

Become an advocate today!Contact us today at:1-888-831-0404

“The most rewarding experience I have ever had.”

-Volunteer Ombudsman

ombudsman.myflorida.com

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 17EMPLOYMENT

Beth FradyEnterprise Florida

Enterprise Florida, Inc., (EFI) is a pub-lic-private partnership between Flori-da’s business and government leaders, and its mission is to expand and diver-sify the state’s economy through job creation. In pursuit of its mission, EFI works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.

EFI’s activities have championed Flor-ida as the premier location for busi-ness expansion and relocation, created a renewed interest both nationally and internationally in Florida as a top state for business, and resulted in a signifi-cant number of new jobs and capital investments.

Enterprise Florida recruits new busi-ness to the state and works to retain and expand existing industry and business. EFI focuses its economic development efforts on a wide range of industry sec-tors, including aviation and aerospace, life sciences, information technology, defense and homeland security, clean energy, financial and professional ser-vices, manufacturing, and beyond.

During Fiscal Year 2013-14, EFI estab-lished projects that will create more than 36,000 high-skill, well-paying private-sector jobs across the state – an increase of more than 16,000 jobs when compared to Fiscal Year 2010-11. Additionally, the average wage for those announced jobs was $63,327, which is an average salary increase of

more than $11,500 as compared to Fis-cal Year 2010-11.

EFI is the state’s primary entity for trade and export development support-ing more than 60,000 Florida export-ing businesses. The organization also supports small and minority busi-nesses through its capital programs. Another key aspect of EFI’s respon-sibilities is the marketing and promo-tion of Florida as a premier business destination.

As a result of EFI’s trade initiatives, Florida small businesses are the num-ber one users of the U.S. Commercial Service’s Gold Key Matching Service, allowing companies to find potential overseas agents, distributors, sales rep-resentatives, and business partners. In Fiscal Year 2013-14, there were $820.4 million total projected export sales as a result of EFI’s export assistance and export development programs, and more than 700 Florida small businesses participated in EFI international events.

EFI was created in statute, and a poli-cy-driven Board of Directors oversees the organization. The Board is com-prised of appointed members and a diverse group of investors represent-ing some of the nation’s most notable corporations in Florida. In addition, each member of the Florida Cabinet holds a position on the board includ-ing Florida Governor Rick Scott, who serves as the Chairman. Florida’s Secretary of Commerce Bill Johnson serves as president and CEO of Enter-prise Florida.

Public-Private Organization Designed to Create Jobs

First Name Last Name

Phone Number Year of Birth

Business/Organization, if applicable.

Street Address or P.O. Box No. Apartment/Suite

City State Zip Code

Florida County

Signature Date

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SUBSCRIPTION FORM

Postal regulations require that the person receiving the subscription be the one requesting the subscription.Medicare contractors, fiscal interme-

diaries, carriers, Medicare Advan-tage, and Prescription Drug Plans to ensure that health care services continue to be provided as needed without concerns for payment. Often times, Medicare has specialists in place here in Florida before a storm hits, and they closely coordinate with all aging programs, including SHINE.

SHINE counselors are available year-round to provide free health insurance counseling and informa-tion to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers. These same counselors are greatly appreciated as they serve tirelessly to provide assis-tance during emergency and disas-ter situations. To contact a SHINE counselor, please call the statewide Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-963-5337 (1-800-96-ELDER).

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS…CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

nami.” America will soon experi-ence a demographic upheaval of a scale not witnessed since the Baby Boom. During the next two decades, as these Boomers age, the number of Americans over 65 will double. There will be approximately 80 mil-lion of us, and we’ll constitute about a fifth of the national population. Thanks to remarkable advances in medicine and technology, we can look forward to better health and longer average life expectancies. We will also, on average, be wealthier than many of our younger cohorts. In short, we are primed to live long

and live well, and to serve as the standard-bearers of an idea whose time has come: ageism, in all its forms, is unacceptable. More than this, we’ll be able to demonstrate that it is possible, even natural, to lead a vibrant, engaged life well into old age. Indeed, it is our responsibility to do so, and not only for ourselves. We owe it to the youngsters to show them how it’s done. After all, with any luck, one day they’ll get to be old too. (Brendan Hare is the author of From Working to Wisdom: The Adventures and Dreams of Older Americans)

AGEISM AND ITS END …CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update18 HOME & SAFETY

Cory Livingston Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist Florida Department of Elder Affairs

Maria and Ted told their friends that Maria’s hip replacement surgery was a “piece of cake.” What they didn’t tell their friends was the nightmare that Ted experienced each time he tried

to help Maria in the bathroom. After all, sharing with friends tidbits about activities that happen in the bathroom was so rude!

After her surgery Maria was able to seat herself independently on the toi-let, but she could not rise from the toi-let. Ted had to pull her up each time.

She was embarrassed and Ted was concerned.

“I’m afraid that I may not be strong enough to help Maria with all of this. And, I worry that I may drop her when I’m trying to help her,” Ted told the salesperson at a local big box hardware store. Ted was there shopping for what he called “a higher commode, one like they have in the handicapped stall at the steak house on Main Street,” he said.

“The doctor told her that she needed a raised toilet, but I don’t know anything about this stuff. We love our house. I don’t want to do a major rebuild just so that she can be independent. I don’t want to think about my wife ever hav-ing to lose her dignity. She’s top in her ladies bowling team,” Ted sighed.

Margareta, the salesperson, smiled and nodded, “Let me get you started. You may also want to consider install-ing grab bars at the toilet. That will help your wife to pull herself up into a standing position. They now come in designs that are more pleasing to the eye and can fit naturally into the décor of your bathroom.”

“Here we are,” she said sweeping her arms wide over the shelves of bath-room fixtures, “There are many brands and models from which to select. I always recommend that people install a permanent fixture – a toilet – rather than adding a temporary plastic acces-sory device type of riser or seat.”

Ted listened intently, but frowned slightly, “What do you mean by ‘acces-sory device’?”

Margareta pointed to a toilet seat designed with half a foot of foam, hooks, and hinges. Beside it sat a toilet seat with handles attached to its sides. There was also a small hard plastic shelf, which had a model of a toilet sit-ting atop it.

“These types of seats or a riser are good if your teenager breaks a leg and you only need the additional height of the toilet for a limited time, but from what you’ve said, you plan to stay in your home…to age in place. What I call an ‘accessory device,’ is something that

can be installed and removed when it’s no longer needed. Like when your teenager’s broken leg has mended. A permanent raised toilet is just that: per-manent. You need permanent.”

With this she passed her hands over several porcelain toilets.

“We have 17-inch toilets, 19-inch toi-lets, and the standard 15-inch toilet: That’s the height of the toilet from the floor. We have high-efficiency toilets that will save water. I understand that you want to fix this situation for your wife as soon as possible, but a bit of homework will make this choice easier for you and will help you to select a toilet that is best for your family and you,” Margareta finished with a flour-ish and reached behind the sales desk for several brochures.

Ted already felt overwhelmed, but looking at the glossy brochures that Margareta thrust at him, his face fell.

“How do I do this?” he moaned.

Margareta said, “It’s so much easier than it sounds. Measure your space and decide which shape of toilet seat will fit best and which you prefer. Seats come in round or oblong. The round seats take less space. Measure your wife’s height. Do the same for yourself. Leg length is important in deciding what height toilet you buy and install. You want feet to hit the floor while seated on the toilet. You may find that a 15-inch toilet works best for your wife. Most people say that the 16-inch toilet works better for all family mem-bers. Other considerations include that water saving feature I mentioned ear-lier, as well as color and style. You’ll be fine, Ted.”

“What about those grab bars and installation?” Ted asked.

“Ted,” Margareta laughed, “You can only eat the whale one bite at a time. I’m here Monday through Friday. Decide what toilet you want. We can talk about grab bars and installation once you do that.”

Ted smiled. “Thank you, Margareta. I’ll probably see you again tomorrow.”

KEEPING YOUR BATHROOM USER FRIENDLY

IF YOU OR YOUR SPOUSE HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES DUE TO AGING OR INJURY, YOU MAY NEED TO UPGRADE YOUR OLD BATHROOM WITH A PERMANENT, RAISED TOILET AND GRAB BARS.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 19HOME & SAFETY

Katie ArnoldSafe Mobility For Life Coalition

It is no secret that Florida is a great place to retire. Warmer winters, beautiful landscapes and beaches, and an affordable cost of living are just a few of the reasons that 3.4 million people over the age of 65 have chosen to call Florida home. It doesn’t stop here, either. As Baby Boomers retire in greater numbers, Florida’s population of residents age 65 and older will increase to 25 percent of the entire state population by the year 2030! Here’s another fun fact: over 80 percent of older adults say they want to grow older in their own homes. With all this in mind, how is Florida preparing to meet the mobility needs of our aging population?

One of the ways that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is preparing to help keep aging road users safe and mobile is through their Safe Mobility for Life Coalition. This statewide Coalition is a collaboration of many different agencies with a focus on keeping Florida’s aging population safe

on the road and mobile in their communities, even after they stop driving. Through FDOT’s partnership with the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy at Florida State University, our Coalition is able to have a broader approach, not just working to prepare our roadways, but communities and drivers as well to stay safe and remain mobile. Many resources and tools are available now for individuals and communi-ties to help meet the mobility needs people have as they plan to age in place.

One of the tools the Safe Mobility for Life Coalition has developed is an Aging-in-Place Checklist. This checklist provides a thoughtful list of features to con-sider to be proactive about your future and plan for the healthiest retirement possible. By completing the Checklist, you can determine whether your commu-nity, or the one you want to live in, has the features and services you want that will keep you mobile and engaged as you age in place. Many communities in Florida have committed to being Communities for a Lifetime, which means they are cities, towns, and counties that plan and implement improvements which benefit their residents, both young and old. Is your community one of them? Visit www.FLsams.org/AginginPlace.htm to find that out, as well as lots of terrific information on your statewide and local transportation options.

The newest tool that the Safe Mobility for Life Coali-tion can share is our statewide Community Outreach Coordinator. Katie Arnold is a personal resource for individuals and communities to assist in connecting their safety and mobility needs with resources that are available. Through this resource, our Coalition can help Florida’s aging road users maintain safe mobility while they are either planning for their gold-en years or are already living them! How can Katie help you? By working to provide the right resources to best meet the wide variety of transportation needs aging road users have in order to stay safe and mobile in their communities while they age in place. Would you like to know what some of your local resources are to help maintain safe mobility so you can age in place? Please email Katie at karnold@fsu.edu, or call her at 850-410-5645 for her assistance.

Realtor Partners With DOEA to Provide Educational ProgramsJan TimbrookWeichert Realtors/Hallmark Properties

As a senior real estate specialist in Oviedo, Florida, my husband, Stan, and I work directly with families and individuals who are relocat-ing to Florida to enjoy their retirement or mov-ing across town to accommodate a change in family size. The population of Oviedo is grow-ing, and the most recent U.S. Census (2010), showed that a quarter of Oviedo’s population is 45 and older: the perfect demographic to consider aging-in-place topics.

Our Oviedo realtor team partners with the Department of Elder Affairs, Communities for a Lifetime Unit. Our business is real estate, but our passion is helping to improve the lives of Oviedo’s seniors and others. We do this through volunteer service, being part of the senior referral network, and by sponsoring edu-cational programs. Believing that knowledge is power, Stan and I are driven to learn all that we can in order to provide better service to members of our community, which includes sponsoring helpful seminars and workshops to Oviedo seniors. This is where the partnership with CFAL is so important.

Surveys show that most people want to grow older in their own homes and in the neighbor-hoods in which they have lived and raised their families (AARP, 2012). For that reason the first workshop that we sponsored in Oviedo was held at the Oviedo library in December of 2014. This was the SAFE Homes Program, created by Buddy Cloud of the Department of Elder Affairs CFAL Unit at DOEA Headquarters in Tallahassee. Attendees enjoyed an entertaining and informative program that taught them how to evaluate the livability of their homes and showed them many ways to make their homes safer, more accessible, and functional environ-ments in which to actively and independently age in place.

Plans are in the works for the next Oviedo senior workshop. This workshop will be about falls prevention (another CFAL creation). We are working with Korinna MacNeill at DOEA Headquarters to plan an event in May.

NEW TOOLS FOR MOBILITY PLANNING

THE AGING IN PLACE CHECKLIST IS A TOOL DEVELOPED BY THE SAFE MOBILITY FOR LIFE COALITION.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update20 VOLUNTEERING

Tiffany Nelsen Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

Last spring, I found out about Tallahassee Memo-rial Healthcare’s (TMH) Animal Therapy Program and set out to join with my smooth collie, Kenna (a smooth collie is one with short hair). The pro-cess was much more involved than I had anticipated and required three steps to complete: pre-screening, training classes, and a final “Pet Partners” evalu-ation. The pre-screening was to determine how Kenna and I would do during an actual therapy visit. During the pre-screening, we had to work through several scenarios that were simulations of environ-ments we might encounter. We passed this step easily and moved on to the second step, which called for five weeks of training classes. The class met once a week to learn about basic dog behavioral information and included several other dogs and handlers, who worked together in preparation for the final evalu-ation. After successfully completing this step, we moved to the final “Pet Partners” evaluation, which we officially passed in October 2014. “Pet Partners” is the organization that certifies therapy teams.

As a registered therapy team, Kenna and I now have the ability to visit patients in various Tallahassee

facilities who partner with TMH, to include patients in the hospital. We have made visits to several resi-dential facilities in town and make weekly visits to the Big Bend Hospice House. We have also partici-pated in presentations to an afterschool program at a local elementary school.

When we go on visits, I am always amazed by how Kenna seems to instinctively “know” who needs her the most. On one particular outing, we visited with an elderly patient who was very alert, upbeat, and full of questions about Kenna. We visited with this patient for close to 30 minutes. When we left, we ran into the volunteer coordinator of the facility, and she asked how our visits went. I told her about visiting with this particular patient, and she could not believe it. Until our visit, that patient had not spoken a single word to the staff, and this patient had been in the facility for four days. Before this conversation with the coordinator, I did not think the visit was that noteworthy. I was stunned when I heard that Ken-na’s presence in the room had made such a profound impact on the patient. On another visit, we stopped to visit another elderly patient. Kenna, who usually is not overly affectionate, went up to the patient and laid her head on the patient’s chest. The patient spent

several minutes hugging Kenna, and telling her how beautiful she was.

My favorite part about being involved with the pro-gram is watching Kenna in action. At home, she tends to be more skittish, and usually keeps to her-self. When we go out on visits, however, she is not afraid of anything. She has encountered all sorts of medical equipment such as elevators, public school cafeterias filled with children, etc., and acted like all of these are part of her daily routine. When we’re visiting, she wants to meet any person that she sees. She is not happy until everyone she lays eyes on has had a chance to greet her.

For more information about the TMH Animal Therapy program, visit www.tmh.org/services/animal-therapy.

HARDWORKING CANINE VOLUNTEER AIDS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ELDER ABUSE

Volunteering With TMH Animal Therapy

Susan SamsonSHINE ProgramArea Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas

May is National Pet Appreciation Month, and no one appreciates his or her pet quite like Kathy Cornwell.

Cornwell is a Victim Advocate with the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc., (AAAPP) Senior Victims Advocacy Program, and her dog, Little Horatio, is her “four-legged victim’s advo-cate.” He travels with Kathy when she puts on crime forums or has training for professionals and the pub-lic. She does this to educate the community about the horrors of elder abuse. Horatio, in his role as advocate, puts a new and different face on the fight against elder abuse.

Little Horatio’s journey began at the hands of an abuser. He was abused by his elderly owner’s son. The victim stated that her son beat her and her dog all the time. The son used the dog to control the mother, threatening to abuse the animal if the moth-er did not give the son what he wanted. Fortunately,

Kathy became involved in this situation when the mother finally decided to come forward and tell authorities about the abuse.

The outcome was the abuser son was jailed, and the mother moved up north with her other sons. Unfor-tunately, her dog couldn’t go with her. Kathy and her volunteer could not let the dog be put to sleep after all he had done for his owner. So Kathy spent about a year rehabilitating him. The dog was renamed Little Horatio after the trusted and loyal character in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. As a result of the abuse that he sustained, he has an indentation on his head. He also wears Doggles (dog goggles) outside when it is very sunny as his pupils are dilated.

On his time off, Horatio and Kathy spend time play-ing with her other dogs and running around her five acres. “Horatio,” Kathy says, “is my friend, my companion, and my hero.”

VICTIM ADVOCATES LITTLE HORATIO AND KATHY CORNWELL.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 21ELDER UPDATE

Progress Not PerfectionJeremy WarrenOffice of Volunteer & Community ServicesFlorida Department of Elder Affairs

Remember the first time you rode a bike? Once you got on you realized that riding it might prove tricky. Maybe after a fall or two, you started to question why you ever wanted one. But you pressed on and soon the falls disappeared. The excitement was almost enough to elicit a scream, and the fun and enjoyment of riding overshad-owed the difficulties. You weren't the perfect rider, but you kept at it until your skill level improved.

Volunteering is like that shiny new bike. After reading all of the wonderful benefits of volun-teering, you decide to give it a try. Even though there may be bumps and bruises along the way, pretty soon the excitement overshadows the dif-ficulties. So when you find yourself wondering why you volunteered, just remember that bike and how the fun outweighed the difficulty. Each volunteer effort may not be perfect, but steady progress propels each organization toward its goals.

Remember, even the smallest progress is still progress. An ancient Chinese proverb states, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now.” If you have always considered volunteering but just never got around to it, now would be the perfect time to start! Even a small commitment of time can make a huge difference in the lives of others. If you aren’t quite sure how to start, try setting small goals to keep yourself motivated to follow through. For example, if you have identified an organization that you would like to join as a volunteer, a small goal could be filling out the application or meet-ing the volunteer recruiter. In another instance, if you already volunteer a portion of your time, a small goal could be increasing the number of hours volunteered per month. Even if it is only an increase of two hours per month, those hours can make a big difference.

Volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and have a wide variety of talents. No matter your age or skill set, there are volunteer programs that can use your help. As President Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.” There are many ways to make an impact within our communities. No talent is too small to make a difference.

No matter how you choose to volunteer, stay motivated and remember that if you make steady progress, the rewards will be immense.

Show Your Support of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Wear Purple on June 15Allison Bryant Communities for a Lifetime Florida Department of Elder Affairs

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and by wearing purple, you show your recognition of the importance of ending elder abuse. Why purple? The color purple represents royalty, a position of respect, and a dignified personage. Elder Floridians are key to Florida’s future. Their experience, knowledge, and continued vitality are essential resources. Elder abuse threatens that resource.

International partners first marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2006. Their goal was to bring attention and action to the extremely significant health and human rights issue, elder abuse. Since the inception of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, groups around the world mark the day with a variety of events and programs.

The following information is according to the Admin-istration on Aging’s National Center on Elder Abuse:

The impact of abuse, neglect, and exploita-tion also has a profound fiscal cost. The direct medical costs associated with violent injuries to older adults are estimated to add over $5.3 billion to the nation’s annual health expendi-tures, and the annual financial loss by victims of elder financial exploitation was estimated to be $2.9 billion in 2009, a 12 percent increase from 2008. (www.ncea.aoa.gov/Library/Data/#problem, March 2015).

Each year during his tenure in office, Governor Rick Scott issues a proclamation to recognize June 15 as Florida’s Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The issuance of a yearly proclamation serves as a call to action for all Floridians to work together to prevent elder abuse. The prevention of elder abuse means that our most

valuable resource, the elder population, is safe from neglect, exploitation, and abuse.

To learn more about what you can do to prevent elder abuse and what events are happening in your area on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER at (1-800-963-5337) and ask to speak with your local elder abuse prevention coordinator. For more information from the Internet, visit www.inpea.net/weaad.html. And remember to wear purple on June 15. Tell your friends and family to wear purple, and tell them the importance of wearing purple on that special day.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update22 SENIOR ATHLETES

Floridians Love to Travel for Senior Games ActivitiesNick Gandy Florida Sports Foundation

Florida’s active Senior Games athletes are well known for their traveling abilities to the National Senior Games. Florida consistently ranks among the top five states in participation numbers for the bien-nial event, taking place July 3-16, in Bloomington/Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.

In the last five National Senior Games events, dating back to 2005, more than 2,000 Floridians have trav-eled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2005); Louisville, Kentucky (2007); San Francisco, California, (2009); Houston, Texas (2011); and Cleveland, Ohio (2013).

This summer’s trek to Minnesota is no different, as nearly 400 athletes have registered to compete.

But for Carol “Zippy” Wartenberg of Havana, travel-ing to participate in senior athletic events, especially softball tournaments, is nothing new.

A sought-after player, Zippy, as she prefers to be called, has played for medal-winning teams in sev-eral Florida Senior Games State Championships and the National Senior Games. To prepare for the 2015 National Senior Games, approaching in July, Zippy and the Golden Girls 70s team, from Virginia, began a schedule of tournaments in April, starting in Pensacola.

“I’m playing with a team that likes to have fun,” she said. “We might not win a medal, but we will have fun.”

Zippy’s softball playing motto, “Have Glove, Will Travel,” is a testament to her devotion of staying

active as she moves into the 70s age group. She tells tales of travels that include playing for 13 hours over the course of a weekend, traveling to Palm Springs, California, and Canada, quite a few miles from her North Florida home.

“I’ve played with so many teams,” she says with a laugh. “I’ll play with anyone. There are a lot of teams hunting for players now in the 70s age group. There’s just not too many people like me out there.”

Zippy’s playing skills usually land her in the outfield due to her ability to run. “My son will tell you I can’t run, but compared to others, I do a pretty good job.”

Her outgoing nature and fun-loving personality land-ed her the job of lighting the torch at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2014 Capital City Senior Games in Tallahassee in March. She claims it was “right up her alley.”

Kristy Carter, a Capital City Senior Games Orga-nizer, agrees wholeheartedly.

“She came running into the ceremony with such spirit and spunk,” she said. “Her energy and enthusi-asm was so wonderful, we’re wondering how we can top it in future years.”

Besides her “Have Glove, Will Travel” softball-play-ing attitude, torch-lighting skills, and ability to whip a crowd into a frenzy, Zippy played pickleball at the 2014 Florida International Senior Games & State Championships in Fort Myers in December.

“I love it. I love it. I love it,” she enthusiastically professed. “I was told when I started by some other players, once you play pickleball, it will become first on your list of activities.”

She manages to find time for both sports but admits she didn’t last very long in the 2014 State Champion-ships against the tough statewide and even national competition.

Zippy’s enthusiasm for Senior Games activities and life in general is matched by the more than 400 ath-letes who will travel more than 1,000 miles to Min-nesota to represent the State of Florida in July at the 2015 National Senior Games.

To follow the progress of the Florida athletes at the National Senior Games and a schedule of Fall Florida Senior Games series qualifiers, visit www.flasports.com. The 2015 Florida Senior Games will be held December 5-13 in Clearwater.

SENIOR SOFTBALL ATHLETE CAROL "ZIPPY" WARTENBURG OF HAVANA, FLA. HOLDS ALOFT THE CEREMONIAL TORCH AT THE 2014 CAPITOL CITY SENIOR GAMES.

Zippy’s softball playing motto, “Have Glove, Will Travel,” is a testament to her devotion of staying active as she moves into the 70s age group.

MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update 23ELDER RESOURCES

Information & Referral

1-800-96-ELDER(1-800-963-5337)

Access to information regarding elder ser-vices and activities is available through the Elder Helpline Information and Referral service within each Florida county. For the hearing or speech impaired, all Elder Helplines can be accessed through the Florida Relay by simply dialing 711 from anywhere in the state.

Florida Area Agencies on Aging (Counties Served)

Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc. 5090 Commerce Park Circle Pensacola, FL 32505 850-494-7101 • 1-866-531-8011 (Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties)

Area Agency on Aging for North Florida, Inc. 2414 Mahan Drive Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-488-0055 • 1-866-467-4624 (Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington Counties)

Elder Options 100 SW 75th Street, #301 Gainesville, FL 32607 352-378-6649 • 1-800-262-2243 (Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Sumter, Suwannee and Union Counties)

ElderSource 10688 Old St. Augustine Road Jacksonville, FL 32257 904-391-6600 • 1-888-242-4464 (Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns and Volusia Counties)

Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. 9549 Koger Boulevard North Gadsden Building, Suite 100 St. Petersburg, FL 33702 727-570-9696 (Pasco and Pinellas Counties)

Senior Connection Center, Inc. 8928 Brittany Way Tampa, FL 33619 813-740-3888 • 1-800-336-2226 (Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk Counties)

Senior Resource Alliance 988 Woodcock Road, Suite 200 Orlando, FL 32803 407-514-1800 (Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties)

Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida 15201 N. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 1100 North Fort Myers, FL 33903 239-652-6900 • 1-866-413-5337 (Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Sarasota Counties)

Your Aging Resource Center 4400 North Congress Avenue West Palm Beach, FL 33407 561-684-5885 • 1-866-684-5885 (Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie Counties)

Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County, Inc. 5300 Hiatus Road Sunrise, FL 33351 954-745-9567 (Broward County)

Alliance for Aging, Inc. 760 NW 107th Avenue, Suite 214 Miami, FL 33172 305-670-6500 (Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties)

If you need information about, or referral to, a service provider outside Florida, call the national Eldercare Locator Service at 1-800-677-1116. An information specialist will assist you Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. Eastern time. For people with Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf (TDDs), all Elder Helplines, as well as the Eldercare Locator Service, can be accessed through Florida Relay Service at 1-800-955-8771.

FLORIDA ELDER HELPLINE DIRECTORY Please call the telephone number below in your area for information and referrals.

Are you worried that an elder relative or friend may be the victim of abuse? You can report known or suspected cases of abuse by calling Florida’s Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873).

Elder Helpline Can Assist Non-English Speakers

By calling the Elder Helpline, Florida’s elders can access information and referral services through a translation service. Telephone interpreters provide live, on-the-line assistance by translating from English into as many as 148 different languages.

Alachua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-242-4464Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Bradford . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Brevard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407-514-0019Broward . . . . . . . . . . . . . 954-745-9779Calhoun . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Charlotte . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-413-5337Citrus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-242-4464Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-413-5337Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 DeSoto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-413-5337Dixie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Duval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-242-4464Escambia . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-531-8011Flagler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-242-4464Franklin . . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Gadsden . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Gilchrist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Glades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-413-5337Gulf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Hardee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-336-2226Hendry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-413-5337Hernando . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243Highlands . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-336-2226Hillsborough . . . . . . . . . 800-336-2226Holmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Indian River . . . . . . . . . 866-684-5885Jackson . . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Jefferson . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Lafayette . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243

Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-413-5337Leon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Levy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Liberty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Madison . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Manatee . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-336-2226Marion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-684-5885Miami-Dade . . . . . . . . . 305-670-4357Monroe . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305-670-4357Nassau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-242-4464Okaloosa . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-531-8011Okeechobee . . . . . . . . 866-684-5885Orange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407-514-0019Osceola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407-514-0019Palm Beach . . . . . . . . . 866-684-5885Pasco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 727-217-8111Pinellas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 727-217-8111Polk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-336-2226Putnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Santa Rosa . . . . . . . . . . . 866-531-8011Sarasota . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-413-5337Seminole . . . . . . . . . . . . 407-514-0019St. Johns . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-242-4464St. Lucie . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-684-5885Sumter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Suwannee . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-262-2243 Volusia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-242-4464Wakulla . . . . . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624Walton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-531-8011Washington . . . . . . . . . .866-467-4624

FLORIDA SENIOR DAY PARTNERS MAY/JUNE 2015Elder Update24

FloridaSeniorDay.org | 850.222.3869

Many thanks to all the partners who made this day possible!

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PREMIER PARTNERSMEDIA PARTNERS

STATEWIDE PARTNERS

The Magazine For GRANDparents & Their Families

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

CAPITOL PARTNERSADT LLC/ADT Health

American Audio VisualCapital Health Plan

Coventry Health Care of FloridaCovenant Hospice

Department of Children & Families - Adult Protective ServicesElder Care Services, Inc.

Florida Assisted Living AssociationFlorida Guardian ad Litem

Florida KiwanisLabor Ready

Photo Fun BoothTBA Communications, Inc.

Tallahassee Senior Center and FoundationTarget Copy

WellCareZiffer Stansberry Advertising/Public Relations

NON-PROFIT 'ONE VOICE' PARTNERS

Ability 1stAdvent Christian Village

Agency for Persons with DisabilitiesAging with Dignity

Budd Bell Clearinghouse on Human ServicesCapitol Regional Medical Center

C. Colburn Hardy Older Advocate AwardCity of Miami Golden Gardens

Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration - FloridaHealthFinder.gov

Florida ALFAFlorida Alliance for Assistive Services & Technology

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer ServicesFlorida Department of Business and Professional Regulations

Florida Department of Financial Services Florida Department of Health - Injury Prevention Section

Florida Department of TransportationFlorida Division of Blind Services

Florida Institute of CPAsFlorida Public Service Commission

Florida Senior Medicare PatrolFlorida Health Care Association

Florida Podiatric Medical AssociationFSU Institute for Successful Longevity

Leading Age FloridaLeon County Tax Collectors OfficeOsher Lifelong Learning Institute

Pepper Institute on Aging and Public PolicySafe Mobility for Life Coalition

Westminster GardensWestminster Oaks