News Briefs -- Enhanced Home Care for the Elderly, Professional of the Year; DAR Joshua Stevens chapter new officers

Enhanced Home Care for the Elderly funding deadline approaching

Central Florida seniors have until June 30 to apply for up to $6,000 in assistance for essential tools, technology and home modifications that can allow them to age in place safely and with dignity, the state’s Department of Elder Affairs said.

The Enhanced Home Care for the Elderly (eHCE) program focuses on low-cost, high-impact interventions that create lasting benefits – especially for older adults who would otherwise be at risk of moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home.

Through the program, qualifying seniors can use the money for enhancements such as home modifications (noslip ramp or shower grab bar), fall detection or door-opening detection alerts, medical monitoring devices that track vitals, blood pressure or glucose, accessible smart home devices, such as vacuums, thermostats or doorbells and other high-impact interventions that support independence.

To be eligible for the eHCE program, an adult must be 60 years old or older and either be enrolled in Florida Medicaid or be at risk of nursing home placement. Assessment and services are provided through local organizations like the Osceola Council on Aging in Osceola County. Find out more by calling the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (35337)

Osceola Chamber’s Pilkington named Professional of the Year

Christina Pilkington, the Director of Administration at The Osceola Chamber, has been named the 2022 Florida Chamber Professional of the Year at the annual conference of the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals. According to the Chamber, she was recommended for the award for her dedication to her job and her significant role in the team’s success, especially for leading the effort to receive U.S. Chamber of Commerce accreditation. This is the third time that The Osceola Chamber has won this award, in addition to being named Chamber of the Year in 2001, 2017, and 2021.

“The mission statement of The Osceola Chamber is ‘Champions for Business and The Osceola Community.’ Christina’s effort both exemplifies our mission and enables all our members to be champions in their own right,”Chairman of the Board Allison Beeman said. “She deserves this award for consistently going above and beyond.”

The Osceola Chamber President/CEO John Newstreet said Pilkington is, “A perfect example of the best the Chamber profession has to offer.”

“It is humbling to be part of a team of professionals that excel at a job which empowers people to achieve their best and, at the same time, effects positive change in the community,” Newstreet said. “This work cannot be done by any one individual, but there are those among us who best represent the sacrifice, dedication and initiative required to be successful in our chosen career.”

Pilkington has been with the Chamber since 2015.

DAR Joshua Stevens chapter names 2023-25 officers

The Joshua Stevens Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) held its annual meeting May 13 in St. Cloud. Board members were installed during the meeting: Regent Kimberly Tennison, Vice Regent Ginny Brown, Chaplain Lori Swaby, Recording/ Corresponding Secretary Debra Main, Treasurer Judy Christopoulos, Registrar Susan Smith and Historian Sandy Vogelpohl.

As is tradition in Joshua Stevens Chapter, Past Regent Patricia Whipple pinned new Regent Kimberly Tennison with the Regent pin that has been passed from Regent to Regent for many years. Then on behalf of the chapter, Mrs. Tennison presented Mrs. Whipple with the Past Chapter Regent pin. Regents serve a two-year term in the chapter.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. Today’s DAR is dynamic and diverse, with over 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad. DAR members annually provide millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and world.