Seniors – Eye on Palm Beach County

Home caregivers: March 1 is deadline to get licensed in Palm Beach County

Those providing in-home care to seniors and other vulnerable adults have had a year to get licensed. That grace period ends March 1, and those without licenses face a $500 fine and up to two months in jail, according to Palm Beach County’s Consumer Affairs Division.

The Palm Beach County Commission voted in October 2015 to require caregivers who hadn’t already done so to submit fingerprints and undergo a national criminal background check. Commissioners said their goal was to make it harder for seniors and physically or mentally disabled adults to be abused by those purporting to care for them.

Those who have committed a serious criminal offense such as fraud, elder abuse or exploitation, homicide, burglary or theft will be ineligible for the license, which must be renewed every five years.

Home-care agencies that already require employees to undergo fingerprinting and a background check must provide the county with an affidavit attesting to that fact. In those instances, the employee would still be required to be photographed and obtain a physical license, which is expected to cost $20.

Others working independently must undergo the background check, fingerprinting and photographing at a cost of about $75.

105-year old WWII vet honored by PBC

William J. Ely, a 105-year old Delray Beach resident, said there are three reasons he has lived so long: good luck, good genes, and the love and caring of his wife, Helen, to whom he was married for 70 years before her death in 2014.

Ely, believed to be the oldest living graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was honored by the Palm Beach County Commission on Tuesday.

Commissioner Steve Abrams, whose district includes Delray Beach, presented Ely with a proclamation honoring his 33 years of service in the Army, including service in the Pacific during World War II.

Ely earned an Army Distinguished Service Medal, a Bronze Star, a Silver Star and two Legions of Merit.

After receiving his proclamation, those attending the commission meeting gave Ely a sustained standing ovation.

(Eliot Kleinberg/The Palm Beach Post)

Palm Beach County to offer stress help for caregivers

If you’re a caregiver and, like most, you’re stressed out, there’s help.

Palm Beach County’s Division of Senior Services will conduct a 6-week, once-a-week course, “Powerful Tools for Caregivers,” on Thursdays, Oct 13 through Nov. 17.

Sessions will be 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Mid County Senior Center at 3680 Lake Worth Road, in suburban Lake Worth.

The course helps caregivers to take care of themselves, which helps them better care for their relative or friend. They’ll learn how to reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, and increase their ability to make tough decisions and find helpful resources.

Admission is free and includes a copy of “The Caregiver Helpbook.”

Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. Call (561) 357-7135.

PBC honors 92-year-old for fighting elderly scams

Fla CFO Jeff Atwater was on hand at Tuesday’s Palm Beach County Commission meeting as the county honored activist Lynn Laredo for work fighting financial exploitation of seniors.

“I’m a Ms., but I’m not a mess,” quipped Laredo, who proudly gave her age: 92.

Atwater, of North Palm Beach, said Laredo developed a video to educate people over 80 about the risks of identity theft and sometimes dresses as “Wonder Woman” for seminars.

“There is a tremendous need for ongoing commitment to financial literacy,” Atwater said, standing alongside Laredo.

Home caregivers must be licensed by April 4

Starting next Monday, April 4, those providing in-home care to seniors and other vulnerable adults in Palm Beach County will need to undergo a licensing procedure that includes a criminal-background check and fingerprinting.

Palm Beach County commissioners, hoping to make it harder for seniors and physically or mentally disabled adults to be abused by those purporting to care for them, voted in the new rules in October.

Instituting the new rules had to wait until the commission inked a deal with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct the background checks. In March, commissioners set fines and penalties.

Those needing a license would contact the Consumer Affairs Division of the county’s Public Safety Department.

Read a copy of the new ordinance.