VIDEO: Helping Seniors of Brevard Dedicated To Improving Quality of Life For Area Residents
By Joe Steckler // January 25, 2017
Helping Seniors of Brevard
ABOVE VIDEO: Helping Seniors of Brevard is dedicated to improving the quality of life for area residents.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – In a county that has more than 550,000 people, with about half meeting AARP standards to qualify as senior citizens, there is a definite need for accurate and accessible information about senior care resources and programs.
What are seniors to do if such information is not available?
In 2011, Helping Seniors of Brevard County was formed to answer this question. We are a nonprofit organization engaged in making information, education, and resources available to seniors and those who care for them.
Ensuring that nearly 250,000 seniors are aware of assistance is not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing story that needs to be told daily.
We also advocate for seniors and essential programs like Meals on Wheels. According to Kaiser Health News, funding for Meals on Wheels is lagging behind the increase in numbers of elderly, causing a reduction of meals in many locations.
This has spurred some providers to build health and safety screenings into daily meal deliveries. By partnering with hospitals and insurers, Meals on Wheels can generate additional revenue while decreasing emergency room costs.
With the current thrust on repealing the Affordable Care Act, there could be a tendency for valuable programs such as Meals on Wheels to become endangered species.
Too often, the most needy of needs are not identified in the overall rush to reduce expenses. Meals on Wheels has been in existence for 60 years and is critical to the survival of many frail elderly who have no other source of nutritious food.
This is just one example of an elder care service we take for granted. Can you imagine how many people would be affected if this most necessary program was reduced?
Nonprofit organizations like Helping Seniors serve a vital function by informing us of needs that are not being met. In Florida we have about 50,000 people on wait lists for home care services. Now is the time to ensure that all counties have identified plans that will enable their citizens to age safely and with dignity.
Brevard County does not have an approved plan for seniors to age with dignity. There is a Commission on Aging but it has not taken an active leadership role in promoting the development of an active plan to develop financial resources to assist a rapidly elderly community.
Saying we are an elder friendly community requires an active effort to make it this. Government need not necessarily fund all resources but it does have a responsibility to take a role in the development of active elder leadership.
CLICK HERE for information about Helping Seniors of Brevard, e-mail info@helpingseniorsofbrevard.org or call 321-473-7770.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joe Steckler is the President of Helping Seniors of Brevard, a non profit organization designed to advocate, educate, and fundraise on behalf of Brevard’s senior citizens. Steckler is a long-time and knowledgeable Senior Advocate. A retired Navy Captain, he is known for his work in founding and developing the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation, as well as for launching Helping Seniors of Brevard in 2011.
Steckler is also a popular favorite on Space Coast Area TV and Radio, he has appeared in more than 400 TV programs, hosted his weekly Radio program for 15+ years, and appears regularly in print.
