Locals invited to first-ever free Providers Parade
Melissa Barry
Several agencies in Lehigh Acres are planning a Providers Parade, a first ever parade held in Lehigh where participants do not walk, but ride in a comfortable bus to sites for food and information for their advanced years.
“It’s a novel idea that came about from Carol Misiolek, who is the marketing at Brookdale in Lehigh” said Melissa Barry, director of the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center.
It’s scheduled for June 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“You have to be 55 years and older,” said Barry.
The event is still in the planning stages and more things may be added.
Basically, the Providers Parade is a bus ride to several agencies where citizens can make new friends, visit different facilities that they may need as they advance in age and will be provided with food.
Barry said seniors will be able to learn what services are offered for them as they grow older. As it is now, seniors are not fully aware of what happens when and if their health breaks during their golden years.
The Providers Parade is free, the ride on the bus is free and so is the food at the different agencies.
“If this goes as we hope it will, we may do this again in a year. Those who have come together and discussed this concept believe it is truly worth doing and will provide lots of information that seniors need,” Barry said.
She said they expect somewhere between 20 and 30 senior citizens to take part in this first Providers Parade.
They will meet “providers” of certain services that will be available as they grow older. Barry said many seniors may not know of all the services available and this will help to prepare them for the future with a lot of information.
The event begins at the senior center and travels to the Fountain Crest Retirement Community, Brookdale Lehigh Acres, Lehigh Regional Medical Center, Lehigh Acres Health and Rehabilitation Center, and Hope Hospice.
“At each stop, there will be food starting at the senior center with finger foods, then a fresh salad at Fountain Crest,” she said. “Soup will be served at Brookdale and then on to the hospital where there will be sandwiches and wraps available. Dessert will be served at Lehigh Rehab and then on to Hope Hospice where tea and coffee will be available.
“It’s the different stages that many seniors may face as they age,” Barry said.
She noted that the many people involved at the different agencies mostly know each other and each can call on someone to answer a problem posed by a senior. That includes placement, treatment and cost, and everything from Medicare to Medicaid.
“We’ll have raffles at each stop and a really big raffle at the end of the trip,” Barry said.
“I think those who come to our first Providers Parade will be well informed and they can ask questions at any stop for straight answers about their care and treatment,” she said.
Mailers may be handed out to senior citizens at various locations.
For more information about the Providers Parade, contact Barry at the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center at (239) 369-5355.
It is at 219 Plaza Drive.
Locals invited to first-ever free Providers Parade
Melissa Barry
Several agencies in Lehigh Acres are planning a Providers Parade, a first ever parade held in Lehigh where participants do not walk, but ride in a comfortable bus to sites for food and information for their advanced years.
“It’s a novel idea that came about from Carol Misiolek, who is the marketing at Brookdale in Lehigh” said Melissa Barry, director of the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center.
It’s scheduled for June 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“You have to be 55 years and older,” said Barry.
The event is still in the planning stages and more things may be added.
Basically, the Providers Parade is a bus ride to several agencies where citizens can make new friends, visit different facilities that they may need as they advance in age and will be provided with food.
Barry said seniors will be able to learn what services are offered for them as they grow older. As it is now, seniors are not fully aware of what happens when and if their health breaks during their golden years.
The Providers Parade is free, the ride on the bus is free and so is the food at the different agencies.
“If this goes as we hope it will, we may do this again in a year. Those who have come together and discussed this concept believe it is truly worth doing and will provide lots of information that seniors need,” Barry said.
She said they expect somewhere between 20 and 30 senior citizens to take part in this first Providers Parade.
They will meet “providers” of certain services that will be available as they grow older. Barry said many seniors may not know of all the services available and this will help to prepare them for the future with a lot of information.
The event begins at the senior center and travels to the Fountain Crest Retirement Community, Brookdale Lehigh Acres, Lehigh Regional Medical Center, Lehigh Acres Health and Rehabilitation Center, and Hope Hospice.
“At each stop, there will be food starting at the senior center with finger foods, then a fresh salad at Fountain Crest,” she said. “Soup will be served at Brookdale and then on to the hospital where there will be sandwiches and wraps available. Dessert will be served at Lehigh Rehab and then on to Hope Hospice where tea and coffee will be available.
“It’s the different stages that many seniors may face as they age,” Barry said.
She noted that the many people involved at the different agencies mostly know each other and each can call on someone to answer a problem posed by a senior. That includes placement, treatment and cost, and everything from Medicare to Medicaid.
“We’ll have raffles at each stop and a really big raffle at the end of the trip,” Barry said.
“I think those who come to our first Providers Parade will be well informed and they can ask questions at any stop for straight answers about their care and treatment,” she said.
Mailers may be handed out to senior citizens at various locations.
For more information about the Providers Parade, contact Barry at the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center at (239) 369-5355.
It is at 219 Plaza Drive.
Locals invited to first-ever free Providers Parade
Melissa Barry
Several agencies in Lehigh Acres are planning a Providers Parade, a first ever parade held in Lehigh where participants do not walk, but ride in a comfortable bus to sites for food and information for their advanced years.
“It’s a novel idea that came about from Carol Misiolek, who is the marketing at Brookdale in Lehigh” said Melissa Barry, director of the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center.
It’s scheduled for June 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“You have to be 55 years and older,” said Barry.
The event is still in the planning stages and more things may be added.
Basically, the Providers Parade is a bus ride to several agencies where citizens can make new friends, visit different facilities that they may need as they advance in age and will be provided with food.
Barry said seniors will be able to learn what services are offered for them as they grow older. As it is now, seniors are not fully aware of what happens when and if their health breaks during their golden years.
The Providers Parade is free, the ride on the bus is free and so is the food at the different agencies.
“If this goes as we hope it will, we may do this again in a year. Those who have come together and discussed this concept believe it is truly worth doing and will provide lots of information that seniors need,” Barry said.
She said they expect somewhere between 20 and 30 senior citizens to take part in this first Providers Parade.
They will meet “providers” of certain services that will be available as they grow older. Barry said many seniors may not know of all the services available and this will help to prepare them for the future with a lot of information.
The event begins at the senior center and travels to the Fountain Crest Retirement Community, Brookdale Lehigh Acres, Lehigh Regional Medical Center, Lehigh Acres Health and Rehabilitation Center, and Hope Hospice.
“At each stop, there will be food starting at the senior center with finger foods, then a fresh salad at Fountain Crest,” she said. “Soup will be served at Brookdale and then on to the hospital where there will be sandwiches and wraps available. Dessert will be served at Lehigh Rehab and then on to Hope Hospice where tea and coffee will be available.
“It’s the different stages that many seniors may face as they age,” Barry said.
She noted that the many people involved at the different agencies mostly know each other and each can call on someone to answer a problem posed by a senior. That includes placement, treatment and cost, and everything from Medicare to Medicaid.
“We’ll have raffles at each stop and a really big raffle at the end of the trip,” Barry said.
“I think those who come to our first Providers Parade will be well informed and they can ask questions at any stop for straight answers about their care and treatment,” she said.
Mailers may be handed out to senior citizens at various locations.
For more information about the Providers Parade, contact Barry at the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center at (239) 369-5355.
It is at 219 Plaza Drive.
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