Jacksonville, FL --- ElderSource, theArea Agency on Aging and Aging & Disability Resource Center for Northeast Florida, honored TCARE with its Leaders in Innovation award during its annual A Night with the Stars event held Nov. 16 in Jacksonville, Florida.

In presenting the award, ElderSource’s CEO Linda Levin cited work done by TCARE (Tailored CaregiverAssessment & Referral Program) in supporting family caregivers at risk of burnout. “TCARE has helped reduce nursing home placement on average of 21 months and improved the health and wellbeing of both the caregiver and care recipient,” Levin said. “TCARE has had a personal impact on thousands of family caregivers who, through TCARE, have learned how caregiving impacts their personal life, directs them to accept help, support, while understanding the value of implementing the practicing of self-care during this journey.

The A Night with the Stars event, presented by Humana, celebrates professionals who work in jobs that support the caring of older adults. The highlight of the event was the presentation of the 2022 Delores Barr WeaverElder Advocate Award given to the Community Foundation’s LGBTQ Fund for NortheastFlorida for its work supporting seniors and caregivers in the LGBTQ community.The award, now in its eleventh year, is named after Northeast Florida philanthropistDelores Barr Weaver who has been a devoted and passionate advocate for seniors.

The Luminary Award winners represent professionals working in agencies that provide food, transportation, and other essential services to seniors in seven Northeast Florida counties.

Proceeds from the event support ElderSource’s Senior to Senior Fund which provides assistance to older adults experiencing unexpected financial crises. The fund has paid electric bills for those at risk of losing power, rental fees for those facing eviction and to exterminate homes of pests including bedbugs and rodents. The fund has also helped seniors receive dental work, wheelchair ramps, heating, cooling units and refrigerators to prevent loss of medicines such as insulin. The fund is also supported by a grant from the Jim Moran Foundation.

A Night with the Stars is supported by the Delores Barr Weaver Forever Event Fund through the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida. Additional sponsors include Florida Blue –Medicare, Sunshine Health, United Healthcare, Florida Power and Light, First Citizens Bank, iVenture, UF Health, Florida Community Care, Gunster Law Group, The Bailey Group, Mutual of America Financial Group, JEA, and Fran Pepis.

ElderSource provides aging and disability resources that empower people to live and age with independence. Located inJacksonville, ElderSource serves thousands of seniors per year throughout its seven-county service area that spans Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St.Johns and Volusia counties. The organization’s guiding mission is to empower people to live and age with independence and dignity in their homes and community.

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