Lee County

Enjoy a meal in a friendly social setting for the 60+ crowd at our dining sites in Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, and Bonita Springs. In addition to a nutritious lunch, you can participate in activities to strengthen your mind and body – and it’s a great way to connect with others. We can also arrange for the delivery of meals to isolated seniors through our Home Delivered Meals program. To find out which dining centers are currently open, call (239) 275-1881.

Learn More at Nutrition & Dining

While Senior Friendship Centers no longer accepts applications for the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP), we remain committed to helping older adults understand where to turn for energy bill assistance and find the right next step.

If you are age 50+ and need help with an electric or gas bill, assistance may still be available through Florida’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP.  Older adults may apply online at https://floridaliheap.com or contact the local LIHEAP Community Action Agency that serves their county. To find your local agency, visit www.FloridaJobs.org/LIHEAPHelp.

If you have a shut-off notice or your service has already been disconnected, please contact your local LIHEAP agency right away. Before applying, gather your utility bill, photo ID, proof of income or benefits, and any shut-off notice you may have.

Senior Friendship Centers cannot process energy assistance applications, but we can help point you in the right direction. Please call (941) 955-2122 for guidance. For other local resources, call 2-1-1. For immediate danger or a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.

Isolation is a challenge older adults often deal with when they choose to age in place. Especially if a spouse or partner passes away, survivors sometimes fail to thrive on their own without intervention. This program offers many benefits to seniors who are home-bound. We provide these programs:

• Telephone Reassurance – Volunteers will call once or twice a week to check on their clients and engage them in conversation.
• Friendly Visitor Program – Volunteers are matched with a senior who requests a friend to come and chat, help with errands, play games or just enjoy companionship.
• Supportive Intervention Programs – Our Friendship at Home coordinators can help clients with limited mobility access community resources to meet their needs.

We can help arrange for the most appropriate care for your older relative and you. Knowledge, experience, respect and compassion ensure that you and your loved one feel comfortable with the decisions made and the quality of care provided. Our trained case managers provide assessment of needs, coordination of in-home services, follow-up visits and monitoring of care. Call the Elder Helpline at (866) 413-5337 to schedule an assessment to determine eligibility.

RELIEF stands for Respite for Elders Living in Everyday Families. The program provides much needed respite for a few hours to caregivers. The temporary service is provided free of charge and is offered during nights and weekends, beyond the normal workday hours, making it possible for caregivers to enjoy a dinner, a movie or just a walk outside. If you are a caregiver in Lee County and need respite, please call (239) 236-8680 for more information.

Our success is built on a network of volunteers who share our belief in the value of “people helping people.” Volunteers assist with visiting or making calls to local seniors, as well as food deliveries. Our volunteers receive as much as they give.

Find Out More About Volunteering