Blog
The Effect of Loneliness on Seniors
Forward: In October, the funeral of veteran Edward Pearson at Sarasota National Cemetery received national attention when the funeral home printed that he had no immediate family to attend his funeral. More than 4,000 people showed up at the memorial service,...
THE “AGING REBELS” – Discussing the Aging Process
Michael Karp never considered himself a rebel. A former attorney, Michael was used to going by the book – literally. But after he retired, he realized that there were ways he could use his knowledge to give back to the community. ...
Pet Therapy – Not Just for the Dogs
Taffy’s ears perk up as soon as the music starts in the Activity Center. As a therapy dog, Taffy has been temperament tested for the pet therapy program and exposed to different noises, walkers, wheelchairs, canes, hats, children and more. But she has not yet heard a...
Robotic Pets – The Next Big Thing in Dementia Care
“Love” has wide black eyes, white furry paws, and meows and purrs gently while she is held. The orange tabby brings comfort to older adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia related diseases at The Caregiving Place at Friendship Centers. But “Love” is not a cat, and her...
“My Journey” designated a Program of Excellence
In June, Friendship Centers’ “My Journey” program was designated a Program of Excellence by the National Council on Aging’s National Institute of Senior Centers. This award is designed to honor and promote outstanding efforts made by senior centers throughout the...
DESTINATION AGING: The Health Benefits of Travel
Retirement is a wonderful time to finally visit all of the places you’ve been dreaming about. Your golden years can be some of the best of your life, especially if you’ve worked and waited your whole life to travel. It has been said that traveling is the only thing we...
HULA FOR HEALTH: Hawaiian Dancing for Fitness
At most dance for fitness classes, loud, upbeat music rocks the room as the dancers perform high energy moves. But at Friendship Centers, the gentle island melodies of hula are motivating older adults to exercise and get healthy. “Hula is an interpretive form of...
Run for the Roses
Heading to the Kentucky Derby Marilyn Belvoix is a fan of the longshot. In 2005, she put $50 on a horse at the Kentucky Derby with 50-1 odds…and won big. Belvoix, who is assistant manager of the Friendship Centers Activity Center in Sarasota, has attended the Derby...
Advance Care Planning: A gift for me and my loved ones
Do you and your loved ones know what you want in the event of a sudden illness or injury that leaves you unable to communicate?
A health crisis can hit any of us, anytime, at any age. Be in control of your health care wishes by completing your advance care plan. It is the greatest gift you can give yourself and your loved ones.
Time to Give Back – Finding New Purpose as a Volunteer
From the minute she walked through the door at Friendship Centers in 2016, Teddy Picard knew she was in the right place. Recently retired and bored, she was feeling useless and down in the dumps, and was looking for more out of life. Picard had worked in advertising...
Guide to Medicare in 2019
We are now well into 2019, and new changes to Medicare this year feel more concrete. Approved changes to Medicare came by-way of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 and have already taken effect to inside the national healthcare system that millions of seniors rely on....
The Truth About Seniors and Depression
In the U.S., we often think of retirement as a period of relaxation - a time when we can finally lay all our worries to rest and live the remainder of our lives in relative tranquility. But sadly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that older...