The last couple of years have been challenging year for everyone, and now more than ever, it is important that we learn to take care of our health and well-being. Thankfully, there are free resources available in your community to support Living Healthy in 2023. The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida is offering a FREE workshop for older adults and adults with disabilities who are living with one or more ongoing health conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, pain, cancer, high cholesterol, depression, asthma, heart disease, or high blood pressure.
According to the Florida Department of Health, adults in SWFL are disproportionately hospitalized due to coronary heart disease, diabetes, and asthma. However, these chronic illnesses can be successfully managed, and their symptoms can be reduced. Part of managing almost any chronic condition involves making lifestyle changes. Our program can assist with developing the skills and confidence to self-manage your chronic health problems.
The Living Healthy workshop is a program to self-manage chronic conditions. Participants develop tools to support healthy nutrition, increase physical activity, manage pain and medication, and build a network of support through the shared experience of living with an ongoing health condition.
For further information, contact Gloria Lappost, Health and Wellness Coordinator at (239) 652-6914 or Clorivel.Lappost@AAASWFL.org. Now is the time to invest in your health!
To participate, you must reside in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, or Sarasota County.
Last Updated: August 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
New Florida Law Requires Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request After Each General Election
Recent Change in Florida Law: Expiry of Vote-by-Mail Ballot Requests
According to the new Florida law, all Vote-by-Mail ballot requests now expire after each general election. This means that if you wish to vote by mail in the 2024 elections, you must submit a new request for each election—Presidential Preference Primary, Primary, and General Elections.
Take Action Now: Request Your Vote-by-Mail Ballots
To ensure that you receive your Vote-by-Mail ballot for the 2024 elections, we encourage you to submit your requests to your County Supervisor of Elections as soon as possible!
Steps to Request Your Vote-by-Mail Ballot:
1. Locate your County’s Supervisor of Elections Click here for list of all Counties.
2. Locate the “Vote by Mail” section and follow the instructions provided to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot.
3. You may request a vote-by-mail ballot in person, by mail, email, fax or by phone.
4. Complete the necessary forms and submit your request for all elections: Presidential Preference Primary, Primary, and General Elections.
If you have any inquiries or concerns about the Vote-by-Mail process, please don’t hesitate to contact your County Supervisor of Election Office and they will gladly assist you.
Thank you to the Florida Council on Aging for making this information available with our community.
Last Updated: August 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Medigaps
Medigaps, what are they?
Medigaps are health insurance policies that offer standardized benefits to work only with Original Medicare (not with Medicare Advantage). They are sold by private insurance companies. If you have a Medigap, it pays part or all of certain remaining costs after Original Medicare pays first. It depends upon your Medigap plan type. Medigaps are designed to cover outstanding deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. People often refer to these charges as the “gaps” in Original Medicare’s coverage, hence the term “Medigap.” Some Medigaps may also cover health care costs that Medicare does not cover at all, like emergency care received when traveling abroad.
Download this helpful guide with tips on selecting a Medigap policy and where to go with questions.
Last Updated: August 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Commit to Living Healthy! Join a FREE Workshop to Manage Your Chronic Condition
The last couple of years have been challenging year for everyone, and now more than ever, it is important that we learn to take care of our health and well-being. Thankfully, there are free resources available in your community to support Living Healthy in 2023. The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida is offering a FREE workshop for older adults and adults with disabilities who are living with one or more ongoing health conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, pain, cancer, high cholesterol, depression, asthma, heart disease, or high blood pressure.
According to the Florida Department of Health, adults in SWFL are disproportionately hospitalized due to coronary heart disease, diabetes, and asthma. However, these chronic illnesses can be successfully managed, and their symptoms can be reduced. Part of managing almost any chronic condition involves making lifestyle changes. Our program can assist with developing the skills and confidence to self-manage your chronic health problems.
The Living Healthy workshop is a program to self-manage chronic conditions. Participants develop tools to support healthy nutrition, increase physical activity, manage pain and medication, and build a network of support through the shared experience of living with an ongoing health condition.
For further information, contact Gloria Lappost, Health and Wellness Coordinator at (239) 652-6914 or Clorivel.Lappost@AAASWFL.org. Now is the time to invest in your health!
To participate, you must reside in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, or Sarasota County.
Last Updated: August 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Easing Arthritis Pain with Tai Chi
By: Gloria Lappost, Health & Wellness Coordinator
For many years, the Area Agency on Aging for SWFL (AAASWFL) has been offering free Tai Chi for Arthritis workshops to older adults in Southwest Florida. The low-impact exercise classes were developed by Dr. Paul Lam at the Tai Chi for Health Institute and have been taught worldwide as an effective program to increase flexibility, strength, and balance in the aging population. Tai Chi for Arthritis has been endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation and is credited as an effective fall prevention program by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The workshop involves a set of Six Basic Movements and Six Advance Movements, taught over the course of an eight-week workshop. Practice focuses on controlled breathing, improved posture, and appropriate weight shifting.
Participants of AAASWFL’s Tai Chi for Arthritis workshops have not only seen improvement in their balance, they have also noticed changes in their general overall health as a result of their increased physical activity. Participants report an improved comfortability with increasing activity and continuing a regular exercise routine as a result of the program.
Beginning a new exercise program can be intimidating at any age, but especially so for older adults who have become increasingly less active over time. It is wonderful to see people regaining their strength and mobility through gentle exercises and physical activity. The positive changes to their physical and mental well-being are priceless.
In order to provide Tai Chi for Arthritis workshops at no cost to participants, AAASWFL depends on local community volunteers to become certified and lead the classes. Individuals who are interested in a volunteer position with the Health & Wellness department are eligible to become certified in any of AAASWFL’s Health & Wellness programs at no cost to the individual. Tai Chi for Arthritis certification involves a workshop-based training with a Tai Chi for Health Institute Master Trainer. The certification course allows prospective trainers to dive further into the principles of Tai Chi and of creating safe and inclusive classroom environments for future Tai Chi practitioners.
For more information on Tai Chi for Arthritis classes or on how to become a certified Instructor, contact the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida at (866) 413-5337.
Last Updated: July 31, 2023 by Leave a Comment
We’re Hosting Our First Community Health & Resource Fair on September 15 as Part of Our 45-Year Anniversary Celebration!
The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (AAASWFL) is thrilled to announce that it will host its first Community Health & Resource Fair on Friday, September 15, 2023 as part of its celebration of 45 years of dedicated service to the community’s older adults, individuals with disabilities and caregivers.
The fair will offer free health screenings, community resources, education and more! It will be held on September 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida located at 2830 Winkler Avenue, Suite 112, Fort Myers, FL 33196.
Follow link to register for this free event.
This is a great opportunity to connect with members of the community, share services and products, and increase awareness of community resources. All benefit when older adults and adults with disabilities remain engaged, independent and included.
To learn about sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://aaaswfl.org/health-wellness/sep-15-community-health-resource-fair-sponsorship-opportunities/.
The deadline to register for sponsorships has been extended.
Funds raised will be directed to AAASWFL’s Agnes Laitinen Unmet Needs Crisis Fund. This fund assists older adults and adults with disabilities in crisis when no other resources are available.
Last Updated: July 25, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Happy 65th Birthday! Have questions about your new Medicare coverage?
SHINE is your FL SHIP, talk with a SHINE counselor to learn about Medicare, how to sign up, and your coverage options. To request SHINE counseling, call the Elder Helpline at 866-413-5337.
Posted: July 20, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Hurricane Season in Here – Volunteers Needed
Hurricane season runs from June 1 until November 30. The Department of Elder Affairs is recruiting volunteers to be part of the Hope Heroes Program to be ready to support seniors before and after a hurricane strikes. What does disaster assistance look like as a Hope Hero?
Sign up today at helpcreatehope.com so you can be ready to help as soon as the need arises!
Last Updated: August 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Beware of Home Repair Scams After a Hurricane
As we head into Hurricane Season, Southwest Floridians need to be on their toes as door-to-door scammers may attempt to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. Scammers have been known to specifically target older adults who might be dependent on hired workers to clear debris or perform repairs on their home. Some scammers may pose as home repair specialists or licensed contractors but are simply con artists looking for easy access and easy money.
Florida seniors can protect themselves from becoming victims of home repair fraud by following these important tips:
Important Contacts:
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation: (850) 487-1395
Florida Attorney General’s Office – Price Gouging Hotline: (866) 966-7226
Seniors vs. Crime Project: (800) 203-3099
Insurance Information: (800) 342-2762
Florida Senior Legal Helpline: (888) 895-7873
Elder Abuse Hotline: (800) 96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida – Elder Helpline: (866) 413-5337
The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida is a nonprofit organization that has served Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee, and Sarasota Counties for more than 40 years. In partnership with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the organization is committed to connecting older adults (ages 60 and over) and people with disabilities to resources and assistance for living safely with independence and dignity.
AAASWFL is the state’s designated Aging and Disability Resource Center for Southwest Florida.
More information is available by visiting the AAASWFL website (www.aaaswfl.org) or by calling the Elder Helpline: (866) 413-5337.
Last Updated: August 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Upcoming Public Meetings: Seeking Information on Local Broadband Internet Access
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is hosting a series of public meetings virtually and across Southwest Florida to learn more about Floridian’s access to broadband internet services. Your feedback will help bring internet access to more people in our community.
Collier County Workshop (in-person)
Date: Monday, July 10, 2023
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Collier County South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway #9005, Naples, FL 34113
Virtual Workshop #1
Date: Friday, July 14, 2023
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Register Here
Virtual Workshop #2
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Register Here
Virtual Workshop #3
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Register Here
search this site
AAASWFL Programs & Services
popular pages