Generations
May 3, 2021 | Monthly News & Updates
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Older Americans Month: Communities of Strength
Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads our nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. The theme for 2021 is "Communities of Strength."
Older adults have built resilience and strength over their lives through successes, failures, joys, and difficulties. Their stories and contributions help to support and inspire others. This OAM, we will celebrate the strength of older adults and the Aging Network, with special emphasis on the power of connection and engagement in building strong communities.
There are many things we all can do to nurture ourselves, reinforce our strength, and continue to thrive. Connecting with others is one of the most important—it plays a vital role in our health and well-being, and in that of our communities. From finding joy in small things and sharing our stories, to looking at the big picture and giving to others, join us in promoting the ways we are connected and strong.
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Osceola Council on Aging Testimonials
"Moving to the Osceola Council on Aging housing program gave me a chance to find a bigger purpose and enjoy my golden years. I was on the brink of becoming homeless and without money. The housing program gave me help and provided me with hope when I felt that nobody really cares for me. Now I have a secure home, social services, food assistance, transportation and social activities. I don’t feel alone anymore. I have the Osceola Council on Aging family with me."
-Coy McFadin
Our mission is to provide services to enable independence and self-sufficiency for seniors, disabled adults, the disadvantaged, and families in poverty, and that's exactly what we do! If you have a testimonial and would like us to share with the community, please feel free to submit them to perezj@osceola-coa.com. We will be sharing client testimonials monthly on our website and Facebook page.
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The Rotary Club of Kissimmee West will host a student Virtual Art Exhibit with over 500 juried art exhibits from art students throughout Osceola County beginning April 26th and running through May 3rd on the Osceola Council On Aging website.
The artwork will be judged (based on grade), with prizes and ribbons being awarded to the students and teachers participating in the virtual art exhibit. The student with the most votes through the “People’s Choice Award” will receive $250, “Best of Show” winners will receive $100, and their teachers will receive $100 for art supplies. The remaining donations will support the Osceola Council on Aging’s Food Pantry.
There is a cost of $5 for each vote placed. By voting, you’ll be supporting student artists, teachers, and helping to end senior hunger in Osceola County.
To view and vote virtually go to Osceolagenerations.org from April 26th – May 3, 2021. An exhibit of all the prize winners (120+ pieces) will be on display at Kissimmee City Hall after May 3rd.
The proceeds will benefit charitable causes focusing on feeding the hungry, the Osceola Council on Aging, Polio eradication, as well as, children and youth education and development programs throughout Osceola County.
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The Florida Council on Aging invites you to join your aging network colleagues in presenting the year's most cutting-edge developments, innovations, and promising practices at this comprehensive training program. Call 850-222-8877 for information or go to: http://fcoa.org/Conference
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Want to be a Meals on Wheels volunteer?
We have been blessed with the most AWESOME, CARING, COMPASSIONATE and DEDICATED group of Volunteers! These angels have been there with us during our hardest times (COVID Pandemic). Day after day, some of them are doing more than a route, more than one day a week! WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO EACH ONE OF THEM!
Because of COVID, the number of people we serve has doubled, making the routes longer! We have had to split routes to make it more manageable for volunteers and to better control meal temperatures. This is the reason why we need more volunteers! We are in need of volunteers especially in Poinciana, Poinciana Blvd., Pleasant Hill Road, Good Samaritan, Campbell City, Holopaw, Old Canoe Creek Road, BVL area, 192 going toward Celebration, among others!
If you are interested or would like to know more about being a hero to our Seniors in need, please call Wilda at 407-847-2144.
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COVID-19 Vaccinations
Florida residents may pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccination by visiting http://myvaccine.fl.gov Currently, vaccine supply is extremely limited and the website lets residents save their place in line and be notified when new appointments are available in their area.
Those without computer access may call 866-201-6507 (or 833-476-1516 for TTY users) to pre-register.
The following populations of Florida Residents are currently eligible to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine:
- Individuals 40 years of age and older
- Long-term care facility residents and staff
- Healthcare personnel with direct patient contact
- Individuals deemed to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 by hospital providers
- Residents that do not meet the criteria listed above may sign up to receive email updates to learn when they may be eligible for the vaccine.
Effective Monday, April 5, 2021, all Florida residents shall be eligible to receive any COVID-19 vaccine as prescribed by the Food and Drug Administration. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for persons 16 and up. The Moderna and Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) vaccines are authorized for persons age 18 and up.
The State-supported vaccine location currently available in Osceola County is Centro Cristiano Dios De Pactos Church located at 1130 Simmons Road, Kissimmee, FL 34744. Appointments are required for these events. To minimize traffic congestion and wait times, those with appointments should arrive at their scheduled time. Those arriving early will not be allowed to proceed through the line.
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Our Home Care Department is committed to offering caring support to adults whose independence is limited because of age, disability, dementia or memory impairment, recovering from illness, surgery, or accident. We will provide for their safety, independence, and the betterment of their current lifestyle in the comfort of their home.
These are some of our services to choose from Personal Care, Homemaking, Companion, Respite Care, and Care Management
We accept Humana, Sunshine, Statewell, VA, and Private Pay clients.
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The In-Home Services department is following strict CDC Guidelines |
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May: National Physical Fitness & Sports Month
MOVE MORE!
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The evidence is clear-regular physical activity is good for everyone's health, and people of all ages and body types can be physically drive. Choose activities you enjoy and do it often!
Benefits of Physical Activity
- Prevents chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke
- Controls weight
- Makes your muscles stronger
- Reduces fat
- Promotes strong bone, muscle and joint development
- Conditions heart and lungs
- Builds overall strength and endurance
- Improves sleep
- Decreases potential of becoming depressed
- Increases your energy and self-esteem
- Relieves stress
- Increases your chance of living longer
Types of Physical Activity
Include exercise of each of the types of physical activity listed below in your weekly routine. Keep in mind, if you haven't been active in a while, start slowly, and build up.
Strength Training
Strengthening your muscles makes you stronger, stimulates bone growth, lowers blood sugar, assists with weight control, improves balance and posture, and reduces stress and pain in the lower back and joints. Use free weights, weight machines, resistance bands, and your own body weight. Form is key, so work with a physical therapist or certified fitness professional before you get started. Aim to strength train two times per week.
Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic gives your heart and lungs a workout, while increasing endurance. Aim for 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity. Examples: walking, climbing stairs, running, cycling, swimming, cross-county skiing, and aerobic classes.
Stretching
Routine stretching helps maintain flexibility, which increases your range of motion and reduces pain and the risk of injury. Aim for a stretching program most days of the week or at least three or four times per week.
Balance Exercises
Especially important as we get older, improving your balance makes you feel steadier on your feet and helps prevent falls. Add balance exercise into your strength training routine or sign-up for a yoga or tai chi class.
In accordance with Federal Law and US Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis or race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all program.) to file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 or 202-720-6382 (TTY) USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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Chronically high blood pressure or hypertension can cause damage to blood vessels and internal organs including your heart. Currently affecting nearly half of adults in the United States, hypertension has been called a silent threat because the condition itself has no symptoms. However, the effect on your body can be life-threatening over time. Engaging in health lifestyle behaviors at all stages of life can help to decrease your risk.
What You Can Do About High Blood Pressure?
The first thing you can do is visit your doctor for routine checkups. Even though high blood pressure rarely shows symptoms, the abnormal force of blood through the arteries, over time, can cause damage to your organs, including your heart, blood vessels, and kidneys. Thus, chronic hypertension increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and other serious health issues. Know your blood pressure and have it monitored. Regular physicals will determine if your blood pressure is within the healthy limits. A blood pressure of less than 120 over 80 is considered healthy. The top number, known as systolic pressure, often gets more attention when discussing the severity of high blood pressure. However, it's important to keep both numbers in the healthy range. If necessary, your doctor will discuss treatment options and supportive health care. Meanwhile, a registered dietitian nutritionist can provide you with guidance on a healthy lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure.
Age and other Risk Factors
High blood pressure tends to increase with age. Additionally, non-Hispanic Black Americans also are at higher risk of developing pre-hypertension and hypertension than non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaska Natives. Social determinants of health and access may play a role.
However, anyone can be at risk, especially people with diabetes or those with overweight or obesity.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices to Reduce Risk of Hypertension
Focusing on lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of hypertension. Getting regular physical activity, limiting alcohol intake, avoiding tobacco and focusing on a healthful eating style are all ways to help reduce risk.
Individuals at risk of high blood pressure may be advised to follow the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet to lower their blood pressure. The DASH diet is rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat and sodium. Studies show that the DASH diet can help lower your blood pressure.
Since most Americans are getting too much sodium from the foods they eat, it's important to learn ways to reduce it. Simply lowering sodium intake may have a significant impact on blood pressure and thus improve overall health.
Keeping up with regular health appointments is also important, especially if you have a chronic condition like diabetes. Remember that high blood pressure rarely shows symptoms, so following a healthy lifestyle can help to lower your risk.
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*Due to COVID-19 all regularly scheduled meetings are being held virtually by Zoom. For more information on meetings contact Janice Casler at caslerj@osceola-coa.com
Thursday, May 20th - Finance Committee* 12:00 P.M.
Wednesday, May 26th - Executive Committee* 3:00 PM & Board of Directors* 3:30 P.M.
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Thank you to all of our donors. We are not able to get a photo of every donor but we thank you all the same.
We are so fortunate to have had so many of you reach out to us asking how you can help and what you can do to ensure our community is well cared for. As an essential business we provide meals and other services to members of the community in need.Your donations are more critical now than ever to ensure they continue to receive these services during this unprecedented time.
Our greatest needs are contributions, both monetary and grocery items, for our community food pantry. We are trying to keep up with the new demand and increasing needs to feed the community. Leveraging your monetary donations allows us to stretch your dollars to serve even more individuals.
Thank You!
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MAY'S NEWSLETTER SPONSORED BY |
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Osceola Council on Aging | www.osceolageneration.org
Solicitation of Funds The Osceola County Council on Aging, Inc. #SC00067 has complied with the registration requirements of Chapter 496, F. S., Solicitation of Contributions Act. "A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE." 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com
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