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With 30+ years of local expertise, we make finding the right senior living community in Southwest Florida easier. Whether it’s independent living, assisted living, or memory care, we’ll guide you every step of the way.
Blue Zones Project is a community-wide well-being improvement initiative to help make healthy choices easier for everyone in Southwest Florida.
A vital part of Southwest Florida’s well-being improvement initiative, Blue Zones Project encourages changes to our community that lead to healthier options. When our entire community participates – from our worksites and schools to our restaurants and grocery stores – the small changes contribute to huge benefits for all of us: lowered healthcare costs, improved productivity, and ultimately, a higher quality of life.
HISTORY OF BLUE ZONES
What began as a New York Times bestseller by National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner has evolved into a global movement that’s inspiring people to live longer, more active lives with lower rates of chronic disease.
From Sardinia, Italy, to Okinawa, Japan, to Loma Linda, California, people are living vibrant, active lives well into their hundreds. Buettner calls these areas Blue Zones and they’re the inspiration behind his book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest. Buettner’s research, along with a global longevity study, have led to a program that helps us live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
Established in 1986, The Florida State Guardianship Association (FSGA) is a 501c3 non-profit organization. FSGA is the premier statewide organization promoting and supporting excellence in the practice of guardianship and is the voice advocating for the incapacitated and their guardians.
The Florida State Guardianship Association is dedicated to the protection of the dignity and rights of incapacitated persons and to increasing the professionalism of guardianship through education, networking and legislative action.
The FSGA is approximately 550 members strong, made up of guardians, attorneys, care providers, fiduciaries, social workers, nurses, court personnel and many other disciplines, and many others make up this dynamic not for profit member organization. We have a statewide presence through our thirteen chapters and our members meet regularly for education, training, networking and development in their own communities.
Address:
Florida State Guardianship Association (FSGA)
P.O. Box 1185
Palm City, Florida 34991
The National Aging in Place Council® is a senior support network. We work together to solve your problems. NAIPC® was founded on the belief that an overwhelming majority of older Americans want to remain in their homes for as long as possible, but lack awareness of home and community-based services that make independent living possible.
Most Americans do not make a plan to age in place, although you should start thinking about one before you plan to retire. Creating a plan can prevent unexpected events from turning into crises that compromise one’s ability to live independently.
Just as many of us made a plan to go to college, we should have a plan to age. In planning for college, we knew what school we would attend, approximately what we would spend on books and tuition, where we would live and what we would do for transportation. A plan to age needs to be just as detailed and just as common.
If that is your goal, we urge you to take advantage of our senior support network. Our members are experts in healthcare, financial services, elder law, design and home remodeling. We are dedicated to helping meet the needs of our aging population, and assist you so that you can remain independent in the housing of your choice.
Our Mission
NAIPC® wants to be your primary informational resource so that you remain active and healthy throughout your retirement years.
We have established a network of professionals from the private, public and non-profit sectors who can help you plan for your future housing and care needs.
Our web site provides additional ideas and information to help you accomplish whatever goals you may have.
NAIPC® works to achieve our mission by:
Reaching out to seniors.
Establishing local Aging in Place Councils among businesses, public agencies, non-profit organizations, the aging in place professional network, and the health care system. Homeowners benefit if professionals from the various disciplines are knowledgeable about one another, and better professional referral networks are established.Increasing the level of knowledge and skills of Aging in Place professionals from a wide variety of fields whose collaboration and involvement is essential to insuring greater public access to programs and support services that promote independent living.
Advocating for policies, regulations and business practices that promote Aging in Place.
Promoting National Aging in Place Week and other events through various media. During this week, members of the National Aging in Place Council® coordinate events in their communities to highlight local programs and services available to help increase independent living.
BLUE ZONES PROJECT RECOGNIZES SENIOR HOUSING SOLUTIONS
The Blue Zones project is based on the world travels of Dan Buettner, who identified communities worldwide where people share traits of great longevity. He wrote a New York Times bestseller about the nine principles of longevity. The “Power Nine” principles include eating a plant-slant diet, moving naturally by walking, biking or similar activity, having a sense of purpose, limiting alcohol intake, putting family first, belonging to a social group and more.
Buettner retained Healthways for program guidance in communities that are seeking Blue Zones
designation, where a significant percentage of the populace is taking steps to change their
environment and lifestyle so healthier choices are preferred.
“Blue Zones Project is thrilled to have Senior Housing Solutions as our newest organization to become Blue Zones Project Recognized in Southwest Florida! Not only did Senior Housing Solutions go above and beyond in their commitment to the project, but Bruce Rosenblatt has become a wonderful ambassador- helping to foster well-being throughout the community.”
“After learning more about the Blue Zones project, I feel that the core principles are very similar to that of my organization in promoting successful aging… Living with a purpose, making healthy choices, staying physically and socially active and enjoying a community lifestyle.” “The more people can embrace these principles, the less likely they will need extended long term care as they age,” said Bruce Rosenblatt
To date, 25 businesses, country clubs, schools churches, nonprofits, restaurants and the like
in Southwest Florida have earned Blue Zones designation where at least 25 percent of people
within each group have taken the pledge to adhere to healthier selections and the business or organization
has made structural changes accordingly.
The NCH Healthcare System is the sponsor of the local project.
It may seem very easy to open a phone book or search the internet for a name of an elder law attorney; however, finding the RIGHT one that fits your needs actually will require some research.
Over a cup of coffee, I met with a friend and colleague to discuss how exactly do you chose the right Elder Law attorney. According to Elder Law attorney, Ed Smith of Southwest Florida Estate Planning, (www.southwestfloridaelderlaw.com), there are some key factors involved in selecting the right elder law attorney. These include:
Seek a referral/recommendation. Talk with your friends, your financial advisor, your accountant, your family attorney and your anyone else that may know of an elder law attorney.
Evaluate the credentials. Attorneys must be licensed in the state that they are practicing law and must be registered by the Bar Association of that specific state. In addition, Elder Law attorneys can be members of National Elder Law consortiums, such as ElderCounsel (www.eldercounsel.com) or NAELA (www.naela.org) which can be a resource to use for credentials and overall information. Attorneys can also become Board Certified or maintain other awards which can assist with learning about the attorney’s credentials.
It’s all about the relationship. Utilizing the services of an elder law attorney is very personal. It is important that you trust that your attorney is looking after your best interests. Many attorneys can provide you the end result, however a good elder law attorney will present you with a number of options to help solve your situation. Empathy is an important consideration as well. Your attorney should truly understand your situation and have a genuine interest in helping you.
Understand the fee structure. Some attorneys will charge hourly while others will charge a flat rate. It is important to know this upfront and be comfortable with the arrangement. A flat rate might appear a bit high at first, however you won’t be nickel and dimed for every 5-minute phone call you make. The scope of work should be defined as well terms should be clear should you want to terminate the agreement.
There are many types of attorneys, however an Elder Law attorney specializes in Medicaid and Long term planning, veteran benefits, and other special need and government assistance planning. An Elder Law attorney is not a financial planner but should be willing to work with your financial planner and CPA to help you develop a solid plan for your future.
A good elder law attorney should help understand your current status and have an open discussion about what you want to accomplish in the end. You and your attorney should openly discuss goals, objectives, as well as pros and cons of certain approaches.
