Life: Act 2
National Social Innovator and Aging Expert Addresses United Way Groups
- Marc Freedman, founder of San Francisco-based Civic Ventures, dicusses Baby Boomers and The Encore Career.
PRIME TIME
Reprinted from The Florida Times-Union
Lots Going On This Summer
- July 2008 -
Well, that’s just not so at Life: Act 2. Leaders and Task Forces continue to meet, programs are moving forward and information continues to be gathered to benefit the senior members of the metropolitan Jacksonville community. A few examples are listed below:
Falls Prevention: Since launching this pilot program in partnership with Brooks Rehabilitation in targeted Jacksonville zip codes early this year, Balance for Life—Helping NE Florida Seniors Prevent Falls By Remaining Active And Independent, has conducted five community events and assessed over 130 seniors. Each assessment includes education, assessment by a physical therapist and an exercise component. This summer, planning will begin for year two, which will expand the program into other areas of the community. For more information, contact the program manager, Lale Gerger at 390-3224 or laleg@uwnefl.org.
Caregivers in the Workplace: Following on the heels of a fact finding meeting with HR managers from leading area companies regarding the impact and needs of caregivers in the workplace, a core development group has been formed and will begin meeting this summer to help develop and design an educational effort for large and small businesses in Jacksonville. For more information on Life: Act 2’s caregivers in the workplace initiative contact Life: Act 2 Director, Mark LeMaire, at 390-3234 or markl@uwnefl.org.
Bridging Elder Care Networks (BECN): More than a year ago, Life: Act 2 hired its first Elder Care Advocate, who has been working with patients at Baptist Medical Center and UF Shands Jacksonville. Advocate Amy Surber coordinates with social workers and case managers at these facilities to help provide transitional services for seniors when they are discharged from the hospital. These services help patients avoid being re-admitted due to reoccurring problems or other issues that arise after discharge. The program has proven to be a big success for patients and their families with 96% stating they would not have gotten the services they needed without United Way. As a result, United Way has added a second Elder Care Advocate. Kristy Miller joined the Life: Act 2 team on June 30th, allowing full-time support to begin at both hospitals this summer. For more information on the Elder Care Advocate Program, contact Mark Jeannie Burhans at 390-3292 or jeanb@uwnefl.org
Florida Council on Aging Conference: This annual event will be held in Orlando August 11-14, and for the fourth consecutive year, United Way of Northeast Florida is a conference sponsor. Life: Act 2 leadership will convene a networking session during FCOA and will share with other communities about the processes and activities that have been so effective here in Jacksonville for our senior population. More information about the conference is available at www.fcoa.org.
Civic Engagement: Because of our work on May 7th with national expert, Marc Freedman, regarding seniors in the workforce, United Way has been invited to attend a summit, along with Jacksonville community leaders, in December 2008. The summit will bring together national leaders to launch a national Encore Careers campaign. The Life: Act 2 Civic Engagement Task Force, which has been meeting since the beginning of the year, will continue its work until the summit and will then begin to support the Encore Careers initiative locally. For more information on seniors in the workplace, contact Mark LeMaire at 390-3234 or markl@uwnefl.org.
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