Across the state, local Area Agencies on Aging are working together to promote mental health resources and programs for seniors through the Together Apart: Holidays at Heart campaign. While many older adults choose to stay safer at home and isolate themselves to prevent exposure to the coronavirus, ElderSource, in partnership with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA), are ensuring that no senior feels alone during the holiday season.
“Although we provide these services to our seniors year-round, it feels especially important to connect with them during the holidays,” said ElderSource CEO Linda Levin. “We must do our part as a community to protect the physical and mental health of our most vulnerable population by spreading holiday joy and cheer in the safest ways possible.”
Resources offered locally include:
■ Virtual Caregiver Support Group, which makes it possible for caregivers to connect face-to-face in real time with other caregivers using today’s technology.
■ Caring Connections Telephone Reassurance Program, which provides friendly telephone calls from trained volunteers to older adults who are living alone and/or are homebound.
■ Uniper, a service available for any home TV, computer or smart phone device that offers live and pre-recorded activities, access to healthcare experts, wellness programs and opportunities to connect with family and friends.
“This year has presented numerous challenges for everyone, but we know Florida’s older population has been disproportionately affected,” said DOEA Secretary Richard Prudom. “We want to make sure the holidays remain a time of joy and connection for our seniors by reminding them that even though they might be apart from loved ones, there are many ways to reach out and stay connected. The services provided through local AAAs give individuals a way to identify and meet these needs.”
For more information about Together Apart: Holidays at Heart, go to www.holidaysatheart.org, and to learn more about ElderSource, go to www.myeldersource.org. If you or a loved one are living with feelings of depression and loneliness this holiday season, call the Elder Helpline at (800) 963-5337.
