(NAPSI)—Many older Americans say they feel depressed—yet the majority of them are not planning to get help, according to a new national survey—though it could make a tremendous difference in their health and well-being.
With the onset of colder weather, fewer daylight hours, and the effect of the pandemic on holiday celebrations and traditions, more seniors than ever could be struggling with depression.
The GeneSight Mental Health Monitor reported that about two-thirds of adults 65 and older who are concerned they may be suffering from depression say they won’t seek treatment. That’s compared to fewer than half of adults over age 18. In addition, three in 10 of these older adults think “they can just snap out of it.”
“The ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ mindset and reluctance to talk about mental health may be preventing seniors from getting the help they need,” said Dr. Mark Pollack, chief medical officer of Myriad Neuroscience, makers of the GeneSight test, a genetic measure that identifies potential gene-drug interactions for depression medication. “People seek treatment for conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes. Depression is no different. It is an illness that can and should be treated.”
One GeneSight patient, Carmala Walgren, a 74-year-old resident of New York, agrees that depression should be treated regardless of age.
“There is such a stigma about depression among people my age,” said Walgren. “It is worth it to find treatment that helps you.” Continue reading
OCALA, Fla. (Nov. 23, 2020) – The City of Ocala, in partnership with the Ocala Housing Authority, continues to assist residents who have experienced, or are experiencing, financial disruption and loss due to the COVID-19 crisis. Eligible city residents may be assisted with temporary rent/mortgage and utility payments for up to ten months.
Applications will be accepted beginning Monday, Nov. 30 and will end at midnight Tuesday, Dec. 15, or when all funds are expended, whichever comes first. Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis with priority given to special needs households. Eligible tenants or homeowners must live in the City limits of Ocala.
City residents may receive any of the following forms of assistance:
- Rent payments not to exceed ten months, from March 1, 2020 to Dec. 30, 2020. Assistance can include late payments, late fees and charges and rent payments to prevent eviction.
- Housing re-entry assistance, such as security deposits, utility deposits, and temporary storage of household furnishings.
- Mortgage payments not to exceed ten months, from March 1, 2020 to Dec. 1, 2020. Payment can include late payments, late fees, HOA, condominium fees and other related fees to prevent foreclosure.
- Utility payments that include water, electricity, gas, Internet, cable including late payments and late fees and charges to prevent a discontinuation of essential services.
Applications may be obtained from the Ocala Housing Authority, 1629 NW Fourth Street, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or via the website at www.ocalahousing.org.
For additional information, please contact the Ocala Housing Authority at 352-369-2636 or email contactus@ocalahousing.org.
OCALA, Fla. (Nov. 23, 2020) – SunTran will be offering reduced bus fares Saturdays during the month of December. Beginning Saturday, Dec. 5 bus fares will be reduced to .25 cents per ride on all SunTran bus routes. The reduced bus rates will occur only on Saturdays throughout the month, and regular fares will resume Sunday, Dec. 27.
Reduced fares will only be valid the following dates:
- Saturday, Dec. 5
- Saturday, Dec. 12
- Saturday, Dec. 19
- Saturday, Dec. 26
Developed to help citizens utilize the public transportation system during the holiday season, the reduced rates provide a cost savings to citizens and show riders they are appreciated.
“We are proud to provide this long-standing holiday tradition of reduced bus rates,” said Steven Neal, SunTran Transportation Manager. “Residents are encouraged to use the bus system for their holiday shopping. If we can help reduce the holiday stress by providing reliable transportation at a lower cost for residents, we are happy to provide that service.”
For more information, please contact the SunTran at 352-401-6999 or visit https://www.suntran.org/home.
(NAPSI)—Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells. It first gained national attention as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the famous baseball player who was diagnosed with ALS in 1939. To date, the cause of ALS is unknown, and there is still no known cure. The disease strikes quickly, usually leading to death within 2–5 years of diagnosis. But every person with ALS has an individual story, and understanding these stories will help researchers ultimately piece together clues about the disease.
Ed Tessaro was diagnosed with ALS in 2009. As he learned to cope with this diagnosis, he reflects, “I’ve never considered myself a victim of the disease, because I believe in my heart all of us have a wheelchair. In my case, it’s quite literal, but with everything that goes on in my life, I realize that every family has had a crisis.” One of the things that helps him and others with ALS is reaching out for community support and resources. “The ongoing struggle is to encourage newly diagnosed people to come in and talk about their condition. I want to help people learn about the National ALS Registry, clinical trials, and other resources that can provide support and hope.”
The National ALS Registry helps gather information from those who are living with this disease. Researchers from all around the world can access the Registry data to help scientists learn more about what causes this disease. Everyone’s story is different, and everyone’s piece of the puzzle is essential. The Registry has found that more than 16,000 people with ALS live in the United States. It is important to include as many people as possible living with the disease to get the most accurate information. When patients join, it helps give researchers more information. This could lead to a better understanding of the causes of ALS, because learning more about the disease is one step further in the battle to defeat it.
If you or someone you care about has ALS, consider learning more about the National ALS Registry by visiting: www.cdc.gov/als.
(NAPSI)—The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have launched an emergency respite care fund for the family caregivers of wounded, ill, and injured veterans. The program, Respite Relief for Military and Veteran Caregivers, will provide non-medical, no-cost, professional home care to veteran caregivers who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. CareLinx, a nationwide professional home care network, helped launch the fund with a donation of $1 million worth of services. Wounded Warrior Project then contributed an additional $1 million to expand the program. The Foundation expects to provide 75,000 hours of care to more than 3,000 veteran caregivers.
“The lack of affordable, convenient, professional respite care has always taken a significant toll on the emotional and physical well-being of veteran caregivers,” said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “Now, due to the increased health risks and limitations created by the pandemic, we are seeing a spike in the need for short-term relief.”
Even as states re-open, some of the most critically wounded or ill veterans and their caregivers will have a long journey back to the pre-pandemic world. These veterans often have vulnerable immune systems that require their caregivers to take every precaution against exposure. By asking family and friends to keep their distance, they are losing a vital source of daily support.
“We are grateful to CareLinx and Wounded Warrior Project for helping us respond to this urgent need,” Schwab continued. “We hope other organizations also step up, so we can ensure every veteran caregiver suffering during COVID-19 receives the help they need.”
The program is rolling out in select regions and will expand nationwide over time. Eligible caregivers can request services that include companionship, grocery shopping, cooking, mobility assistance, transportation, bathing, and other activities of daily living. AARP and Bob Woodruff Foundation have also joined as key collaborators for this effort to help spread the word to military and veteran caregivers.
To learn more and apply, visit www.hiddenheroes.org/respite.
Post Date: 10/23/2020 4:12 PM
OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2020) –SunTran will be offering free bus rides for citizens to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Free ridership on Election Day will only include the seven regular SunTran routes and not the paratransit service provided by Marion Transit. Citizens should plan their trip by identifying their polling location with the Marion County Supervisor of Elections and then utilize the SunTran bus route system at www.suntran.org.
Regular bus fares will resume on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
For more information, please contact the SunTran at 352-401-6999.
Post Date: 10/23/2020 4:15 PM
OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2020) – The First Friday Art Walk will take place in downtown Ocala Friday, Nov. 6, 6 to 9 p.m. The First Friday Art Walk occurs on the first Friday of each month, September through May. The following activities will be included in November’s event:
- Hands-on art activities and demonstrations for all ages provided by local non-profit arts and cultural organizations, local artists selling their works throughout downtown and participating businesses with extended hours.
- 20 artists throughout the downtown area, including My Uncle’s Friend playing ambient music
- Art organization booths will be located around the downtown square and Marion Theatre
Hands-on art activities, which are provided by the participating community arts organizations, will be a one-use, make and take item. Sanitation protocols will be in place at each art station, and each activity provided will be health and safety conscious. Continue reading
OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 15. 2020) – The City of Ocala, through its Cultural Arts and Sciences and Parks Divisions, announces the installation of new sculptural seating at Tuscawilla Art Park, 223 NE Fifth St., on Friday, Oct. 16.
“The newly installed structural seating’s design contributes to the aesthetic and functionality, while communicating the purpose of the art park as a creative space for visual and performing arts,” said Jennifer Normoyle, Grants and Outreach Manager, City of Ocala.
The customized sculptural seating will provide an integrated look for the Art Park and replaces the temporary seating installed during the construction of the park three years ago. The new seating will complement the existing shade structure and complete the overall look of an artist’s palette from an aerial view.
About the Artist
Local fabricator and artist, Mike Zeak has over 30 years in custom welding, fabrication and restoration. Though his company, Zeak Technique, he has worked on both private sector and local government projects and has learned that his true passion is developing unique solutions and creating custom designs. Continue reading
~Popular winter holiday event cancelled~
DUNNELLON, FLA. – The Friends of Rainbow Springs has announced that Santa Over the Rainbow, a popular event held in December each year, has been cancelled for 2020.
The annual event provides family-friendly activities focused on the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus at Rainbow Springs State Park. The couple typically arrives by boat.
The event is hosted by the Friends of Rainbow Springs, an organization of volunteers who support the park year-round.
“The Friends of Rainbow Springs group enjoys the Santa Over the Rainbow event more than you will ever know. We spend many months planning and working to make this event happen,” said President Connie Santoro. “This year, for the health and safety of everyone in our community, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our event until 2021.”
Due to COVID-19, the Friends of Rainbow Springs have evaluated events normally held this time of year. Santa Over the Rainbow is one of the largest. For the safety of visitors, volunteers and staff, the organization made the hard decision to cancel the event for 2020.
Hopefully this event will continue in December 2021. We thank everyone for your continued patience and support as we navigate our way through this crisis.
About Friends of Rainbow Springs: The organization raises money to purchase equipment, make repairs and improvements to the property, and to create programs that can presented at the park. The organization provides volunteers to take part in park maintenance, operations and other projects as well. The business affairs of Friends of Rainbow Springs are managed by a 13-member Board of Directors who are elected by the voting members of the organization.
Serving Since 1885
MEDIA
R E L EA S E
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 1, 2020
Contact: Ashley Lopez, Public Information Officer Telephone: (352) 629-8306
Mobile: (352) 817-5914
Ocala Fire Rescue Launches the Ocala Recovery Project
(OCALA, Fla.) Oct. 1, 2020 – Ocala Fire Rescue is launching the Ocala Recovery Project (ORP), a complimentary program for addiction rehabilitation.
Funded by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant and the Marion County Hospital District, the ORP was designed to reduce opiate overdose deaths and dependency. Through a systematic approach comprised of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, and counseling, the ORP addresses participants’ emotional, psychological, and physiological well-being.
The program aims to help recurring overdose patients, new and expectant mothers suffering from substance dependency, Substance Exposed Newborns (SEN), and anyone ready to begin the path toward recovery.
“Addiction can affect anyone, at any time,” said OFR Captain Jesse Blaire. “With a hands-on approach, including emotional support and comprehensive medical care, we are certain that participants will achieve program success.”
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioids are currently the main driver of drug overdose deaths. Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2020, first responders in Marion County received 1,101 calls resulting from overdose or poisoning. Moreover, 1,022 doses of the opiate blocking drug, Narcan, were administered in Marion County during this period.
For details about the ORP, contact Captain Jesse Blaire at 352-266-4769.
