Hello
and welcome to our website! This website is devoted to the members of
our population aged 60 and over, and the caregivers, loved ones, social
workers, advocates, friends, and family members that serve them. The
hurricane seasons over the past several years have been stressful. The
older adult population in Southwest Florida has been hit especially
hard. During the hurricane seasons, lives were disrupted, daily
activities were non-existent, and precious memories were lost forever.
Despite these disruptions, the older adult population proved to the
community and the world that they are survivors. They can overcome even
the most traumatic circumstances. But, in some cases, a little bit of
assistance was needed. This tiny bit of assistance may be the
difference between being able to remain in one?s own home and going into
an assisted living facility or premature placement into a nursing home
setting. Some assistance needed by older adults include everyday normal
activities such as eating a hot meal each day, cleaning their home,
mowing their yard, and taking a bath. Our goal is to preserve one?s
dignity. We want our older adults to remain in their own homes or
environment as long as it is safely possible. The older adults in our
community are the history and foundation of our country, our community
and our family. So, let us keep them where they belong ? among family,
friends, and caregivers.
The Area Agency
on Aging for Southwest Florida was created in 1978. We are one of
eleven Area Agencies on Aging in the State of Florida. The Older
Americans Act of 1965, reauthorized in 2000, established Area Agencies
on Aging and defined their role in the aging network. The Area Agency
on Aging receives funding from the State of Florida, Department of Elder
Affairs. The funding consists of both federal and state funds. In
2005, the annual operating budget will exceed $21 million dollars and
services will be provided to more than 15,000 consumers. The Area
Agency on Aging serves seven counties including Charlotte, Collier,
Desoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Sarasota. We contract with a ?care
coordinator? within each of the seven counties. The ?care coordinator?,
or case manager, assesses each client to determine his/her service
needs. Then, the care coordinator determines if the client is eligible
to receive services within the program funding administered by the Area
Agency on Aging.
Once the care plan is completed, the ?care
coordinator? orders the necessary services. Consumers have a choice in
providers. Consumers can work with the ?care coordinator? to make sure
they have the option of changing to some other agency if they are not
satisfied with the care provided by the service provider.
A couple of new developments for our agency
include the addition of the Elder Help Line. You can call the Elder
Help Line about your concerns, issues and needs. The Elder Help Line
was established to provide information to seniors and provide options to
them on the available services (known as referrals.) You can reach the
Elder Help Line by calling 1-866-41ELDER (1-866-413-5337). In addition,
the agency has volunteers available to help older adults with questions
about Medicare. Many seniors are faced with the daunting challenge of
trying to decide the best insurance plan or perhaps a prescription
plan. Our trained volunteers have the ability to provide older adults
with information on the availability of plans. While the agency does
not endorse any particular insurance plan, older adults are provided
with the information to make an informed decision on the best plan for
them. In addition, these volunteers can assist seniors in proactively
reviewing their Medicare insurance claims with hospitals, doctors, etc.
This program is called the SHINE program. SHINE is an acronym for
Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders. The volunteers traditionally
participate in the Medicare program themselves and are very familiar
with the challenges faced by older adults when participating in this
program.
We have 21 full time employees that are
charged with program compliance, quality assurance, and economic
effectiveness. Our employees are well respected within the community
and the aging network. Their primary role is to assure clients are
receiving effective services, choices in service providers, and care
coordinators are effectively managing their consumer caseload.
I have been employed by the Area Agency on
Aging since 1990. I was previously the Chief Financial Officer. It is
an honor to be appointed as the Executive Director. Throughout my
travels, I have had the pleasure of meeting many older adults. It is an
awesome opportunity to hear about historical events through their eyes.
Many of the stories have colorful tidbits of information. The older
adult population lived through several wars including World War II.
Many consumers have shared their knowledge of the Great Depression. If
only the younger generation would listen to all the wonderful stories
the older adults have to share. We would not need history books
anymore. I look forward to serving the senior population as an
advocate, educator, and liaison. I am excited about this new
challenge. I hope you will share your issues, concerns, comments, and
questions with me.
Our website is designed to assist you in learning about our programs and the possible ways we can help our older adults remain independent and in their environment. Feel free to browse this website. If you continue to have questions, then e-mail me at director@aaaswfl.org. Or, feel free to give us a call. The Elder Help Line number is 1-866-41ELDER (1-866-413-5337). Or call the office direct at 1-800-398-4233 ? toll-free within the state of Florida. Or you can call us at (239) 332-4233. We hope to hear from you soon.
Ms. Leigh Wade
Executive Director
Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Inc.