April 2025

Get Prepared for Any Disaster

Take Control in three simple steps

Since 2003, September is celebrated as National Preparedness Month, but we feel it is important to highlight being prepared before hurricane season begins, especially as disasters increase in size and frequency. Hurricanes Hilary and Idalia, as well as recent wildfires in Hawaii and on the west coast, remind us that disasters and emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time and that now is the time prepare. 

This year’s theme, “Take Control in 1, 2, 3,” highlights the importance for older adults to prepare by taking three essential steps – assess your needs, create a plan, and engage your support network. These steps empower older adults with tools and strategies to be more prepared.

1 - Assess your Needs

An individual’s needs during a disaster aren’t always the same. It’s important to assess your needs and the needs of each of your family members so you can make a plan that works for you. 

Here are some questions you can use to assess your needs before you make a plan:

• What are the natural hazards create a risk for you? (i.e., floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, extreme heat, or hurricanes) 
• How will you receive emergency warnings and alerts? (cell phone, TV)
• Do you have access to transportation if you need to evacuate? 
• Do you have enough supplies if you are without power for several days?
• Are there others under your care that need to be considered in your planning?
• Do you have a service animal or pet that needs their own supplies or plan?
• Do you have a list of shelters that allow pets?
• Does your medical equipment require a power source?
• Do you use assistive devices, such as hearing aids, glasses, a cane, or a walker?
• Do you take medications? (make a list of the name, dosage and reason for usage)
• Is your property insured for disasters most common in your area?

2 - Make a Plan

Once you’ve assessed your needs, it’s time to make sure you have a plan in place that addresses those needs. Your plan should include the following:

• An emergency kit. The kit should include items that address your needs. In addition to basics like food and water, this kit can include prescription medicine, a backup power source for medical equipment, a battery powered radio, supplies for a service animal, games or other activities for children, and important family documents. 
• Emergency meeting locations. Your family may not be together during a disaster so plan to meet at a specific location. Have plans for how to get there. 
• Contact information. Keep a contact list of those who can help you in a disaster. Store it in a watertight container in your emergency kit and on your electronic devices.
• Evacuation information. Do you have accessible transportation? It’s important to plan ahead for accessible transportation for evacuating during a disaster. Check with local transit providers as well as with your emergency management agency to identify appropriate accessible options. 

3 - Engage Your Support Network

Once you’ve assessed your needs and have all your information and supplies gathered, consider pulling others into your plan. Start by creating a support network of family, friends and others who can assist you during an emergency. 

• Know your network. Identify the friends, family, fellow congregants at places of worship and neighbors who can help you and check on you during an emergency.
• Make sure someone in your support network is aware of your specific needs. 
• Ensure that you have people in your network that have an extra key to your home and know where you keep your emergency supplies. If needed, make sure someone knows how to use critical medical equipment and administer medicine if needed. 
• Know your clinic/hospital’s emergency plans and identify backup service providers.
• Participate in a community preparedness event or initiative. 
• Make yourself part of someone else’s emergency network. 

By adopting these principles and taking proactive steps, we build a safer, more resilient future. To see more disaster preparedness tips and information, click the button below.

Resources: https://www.fema.gov/blog/national-preparedness-month-reminds-us-take-control-1-2-3-disasters

Volunteer for SHINE

Be a shining light for seniors who need help navigating the Medicare System

For nearly 35 years, the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program has been providing free, unbiased health insurance information, counseling, and assistance to Florida’s seniors, so they get the maximum benefit out of their Medicare health insurance. SHINE’s dedicated volunteer counselors, trained by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, are the foundation of SHINE’s success. 



Over the years, SHINE Counselors have assisted thousands of seniors and caregivers. However, many additional seniors are simply unaware of all the benefits that they may be entitled to. It is for this reason that SHINE is such an invaluable service. 

If you are looking for a challenging, yet rewarding volunteer opportunity that is certain to help many needy seniors in our area, please consider becoming a SHINE Counselor. 

Here’s a sampling of what SHINE Counselors do:



• Navigate the complex network of available programs and services available to Medicare beneficiaries in a way that is understandable.
• Compare costs and benefits of various options and helping them enroll in a health insurance program or drug plan that best fits the beneficiary’s needs.
• Help individuals with limited resources to enroll in programs that may be available to help with their out-of-pocket Medicare expenses.  
• Teaching beneficiaries to detect, protect, and report suspected Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse and preventative ways to avoid becoming a victim.
• Help individuals find long-term care insurance.
• Assist with Medicare appeals and grievances.
• Being available to answer other Medicare-related questions.

If this sounds like a volunteer opportunity you’d like to explore, you are invited to contact the local SHINE Liaison, Chris Polzer, to learn more at 866-467-4624 or chrisp@aaanf.org.  

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Recognizing Sexual Violence Against Older Adults

When a person who is older than 60 experiences unwanted sexual activity, it is always considered sexual violence. Age does not protect someone from sexual assault. It can increase the risk in many ways. Abuse can happen at any point in a person’s life, and may happen many times. Some older adults are not believed when they tell about abuse. This may be because many people do not see older adults as sexual beings. Health problems and disabilities can increase risk and reduce a person’s ability to seek help.

Common Factors

• Bruising or injuries to the person’s body
• Fear, mistrust, and dramatic changes in behavior
• Another person sees the abuse happening
• The older adults talk about the abuse

Barriers to response

Sexual violence against people in later life is underreported. Valuing and believing older adults is an important first step in addressing the issue. Some challenges to respond include:

• A person’s fear of further harm 
• Reluctance to report, especially if perpetrator is a family member
• Thinking that disclosure is part of dementia and of physical evidence as “normal” markings on an older body

Prevalence Statistics

• Older adults make up less than five percent of victims who report. Many believe that this crime is highly underreported
• Most identified older victims are female; however male victims have been reported in almost every study
• In addition, genital injuries occur with more frequency and severity in post-menopausal women than younger rape victims
• Older victims are also more likely to be admitted to a hospital following the assault
• Victims, ranging from age 60 to 100, experienced psychosocial trauma whether or not they could discuss the sexual assault. There was no significant difference between those with and without dementia in post-abuse distress symptoms
• Sexual abuse of older family members often involves female victims and male perpetrators.

It is important that we listen to our friends and family members of any age when it comes to reporting sexual abuse. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center has lots of informative tools to help you advocate for older adults.

Click the button below for more information:

Resources: https://www.nsvrc.org/lifespan-sexual-violence-against-adults-later-life

If you believe an older adult has been assaulted, sexually or physically, you are legally obligated to call the Elder Abuse Hotline at 800-96- ABUSE and make a report.