Blog
5 Ways To Support a Friend Dealing With The Loss of a Loved One
by Nat Juchems Losing a loved one is something most of us will experience at some point in our lives. For those who have experienced it, you’ll know the anguish and heartache it brings. For those who haven’t, you can no doubt imagine the level of pain it would cause....
Senior Friendship Centers “Blooming Friendships” Signature Event Benefits Local Seniors in Need
On Thursday, January 30 at 5:30 p.m. Senior Friendship Centers (SFC) will present “Blooming Friendships,” a festive dinner to celebrate SFC’s mission: to promote health, dignity and quality of life throughout the journey of aging. The signature event will be held at...
Color Outside the Lines
A Collaborative Program with The Ringling The Ringling Museum is pleased to announce Outside the Lines, a new monthly collaboration with the Senior Friendship Centers of Sarasota. Beginning January 2020, Ringling museum educators will bring an open-ended art making...
Home Sharing: Is It Right For You?
Home share is a simple concept: it brings together people with space in their homes and working individuals who are happy to chat in return for affordable, sociable accommodation. Together, home providers and homesharers share a home life, time, skills and experience....
Lights of Friendship
The holiday season brightens our lives. Christmas lights adorn trees and our community, glowing candles in a Hanukkah menorah brighten our homes, and the seven candles in a kinara (candle holder) celebrate Kwanzaa: African heritage, unity, and culture. Senior...
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...