Local Pasco and Pinellas County, Florida, Resources

These links focus on local aging resources. For additional links to local web sites that have a caregiver focus, click here.

ABC Action News: www.wfts.com. Local ABC television affiliate Channel 11 in Tampa Bay, Florida area. Investigators have helped consumers.

Alzheimer's Association, Gulf Coast Chapter (formerly Tampa Bay Chapter): www.alz-tbc.org. Web site of Alzheimer's Association chapter which serves Pinellas and surrounding counties in Florida. Includes information and support groups by county, Caregiver's Day Out, Safe Return Program.

Alzheimer's Family Organization: www.alzheimersfamily.org Alzheimer's Family Organization offers educational programs, respite care, and support groups in Pasco and other central Florida counties.

Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. (AAAPP): www.agingcarefl.org. This web site is being developed as part of the Caregivers REST Project, a collaborative effort of AAAPP and St. Petersburg College, funded by the U. S. Administration on Aging. If you are reading this review online, you are visiting this site now. Caregiver information can be found at For Caregivers. Coming soon: The AAAPP's Senior Helpline plans to add a searchable, on-line data base to increase access to government funded programs, non-profit agencies, and private businesses serving seniors in Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Bay Area Legal Services, Inc.: www.bals.org. Receives funds through AAAPP contract to provide legal assistance in Pasco County with priority given to economically and socially needy seniors.

Bay News 9.com: www.baynews9.com. Associated with Bay News 9 Television Station in Tampa Bay, Florida area. Health, Weather, News by County, Coupons, and more. Bay News 9 features a weekly segment entitled Extra on Senior Living. Click here to link to the recent topics covered by Extra on Senior Living.

Better Business Bureau of West Florida: www.bbbwestflorida.org. Offers consumer information and assistance in resolving disputes between consumers and companies.

Caring and Sharing Center for Independent Living: www.cascil.org. Non-profit organization in St. Petersburg, Florida, identifies options for housing, transportation, personal assistance services, equipment for loan, etc. for persons with disabilities. Site lists ADA rules.

Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) (formerly Center Against Spouse Abuse): www.casa-stpete.org Domestic violence, safety planning, shelter, and services information with links to related resources.

Community Aging and Retirement Services, Inc. (CARES, Inc.): www.caresfl.org. Receives funds through AAAPP contract to serve as "lead agency" in Pasco County. Provides case management with a variety of support services. Also provides homemaker, health promotion, and other services.

Directions for Mental Health, Inc.: www.directionsmh.org. Receives funds through AAAPP contract to provide counseling services in North Pinellas County.

Fox 13 Tampa Bay: www.wtvt.com. Fox local affiliate Channel 13 in Tampa Bay, Florida area. Includes Investigators, Consumer Lawyer, One-Tank Trips.

Guardian Association of Pinellas County: www.guardian-association.com "The misson of the Guardian Association is advocacy and education; to promote the welfare and quality of service for wards by development and improvement of the capabilities of guardians through education programs, lectures, discussions, and various methods of instruction."

Gulf Coast Community Care (Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, Inc.): www.gcjfs.org. Receives funds through AAAPP contract to serve as one of two "lead agencies" for Pinellas County. Provides case management with a variety of support services. Also provides homemaker services. Other funds provide HIV/AIDS programs, Geriatric Crisis Team, and support for disabled adults.

Gulf Coast Legal Services, Inc.: www.gulfcoastlegal.org. Receives funds through AAAPP contract to provide legal assistance with priority given to economically and socially needy seniors.

Gulfport City: www.ci.gulfport.fl.us. The City of Gulfport, Florida, receives funds for senior center administration and transportation through AAAPP contract and donates space for a Caregivers Resources Center. On the City home page, click on Departments followed by Community Services to find Senior Center.

Hospice of the Florida Suncoast: www.thehospice.org. Organization providing hospice care (end-of-life) in Pinellas County, Florida area also offers bereavement support, caregiver education, and other services for the public and training of professionals. Web site links to various end-of-life sites.

Menorah Manor Jewish Hospice: www.menorahmanor.org. On the home page, click on Jewish Hospice for information about hospice services within the context of Jewish cultural practices and beliefs provided through the collaborative efforts of Menorah Manor and Hospice of the Florida Suncoast.

Neighborly Care Network (formerly Neighborly Senior Services, Inc.): www.neighborly.org. Pinellas County agency receives funds through contract with AAAPP to provide adult day care, transportation, home-delivered meals, and congregate meals. Other services are available.

News Channel 8: www.wfla.com. NBC Television local affiliate News Channel 8 in Tampa Bay, Florida area. Investigators have helped consumers.

Pasco County Government: www.pascocountyfl.net. Select Departments followed by Public Transportation for bus routes and schedules, Emergency Management for disaster planning, Elderly Nutrition for meals programs, and Social Services for Energy Assistance (EHEAEP). Pasco County receives funds through AAAPP contract for Transportation, Nutrition, and EHEAEP.

Pinellas County Government: www.pinellascounty.org. This is the Pinellas County Government home page. Pinellas County Human Services (formerly Social Services) receives funds for Energy Assistance for the Elderly (EHEAEP) through AAAPP contract. Click on Departments, then on Human Services. Other departments can be accessed on the Departments page.

Pinellas County Consumer Protection: www.pinellascounty.org/consumer. Direct route to this Pinellas County government department. Consumer brochures, database of consumer complaints, and online complaint form.

Pinellas County Emergency Management: www.pinellascounty.org/ema. Direct route to this Pinellas County government department. Click on Local Disaster Preparedness at the top of the page. Information includes St. Petersburg Times Hurricane Guide and other disaster planning information.

Pinellas County Public Library Cooperative: www.pinpublibcoop.org. Click on Cooperative Libraries to access the card catalogs of Pinellas County, Florida libraries or choose Anywhere-Anytime Library for larger system. Use your local library card number to search catalogs by topic, author, or title. Reserve books and videos online and have them sent to your choice of libraries.

Project Grace: www.p-grace.org. Project Grace, with offices in Tampa, Florida, provides community education regarding making end-of-life decisions in advance. Includes online forms for recording wishes.

St. Petersburg College: www.spjc.edu. St. Petersburg College (formerly St. Petersburg Junior College) web site includes information for regular and online courses, college library online, and career development center for students and others. St. Petersburg College is collaborating with the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. on the Link to Caregivers REST Project.

St. Petersburg Times: www.sptimes.com. Site related to the St. Petersburg Times newspaper. Read news online, find Coupon Book and Restaurant Guide in Marketplace section, and use Weekend section to plan outings. The Action Column investigates consumer complaints and offers a Guide to Consumer Services. The Seniority Section is also available on-line.

Suncoast Center for Community Mental Health, Inc.: www.suncoastcenter.com. Receives funds through contract with AAAPP to serve as one of two "lead agencies" for Pinellas County. Provides case management with a variety of support services. Also provides counseling in South Pinellas County area.

2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares or 211 Tampa Bay: www.211tampabay.org. Online database for support groups, volunteer opportunities, organizations that help people with various diseases, and other resources. Available in multiple languages for Florida's Pinellas and Hernando Counties. Pinellas County information may also be requested by dialing the telephone number 211 (not 911, as in emergencies).

Tampa Bay 10: www.wtsp.com. CBS local affiliate Channel 10 Television News in Tampa Bay Area of Florida offers Health, Ask the Doctor, Around the Bay, and more.

Tampa Bay Online (TBO.com): www.tbo.com. Web site related to the Tampa Tribune newspaper and Channel 8 News in Tampa Bay area of Florida has Consumer section with stories about investigations of consumer complaints, etc. Health section includes Caregiver Guide.

University of South Florida (USF) Public Television: www.wusftv.usf.edu. Public Television Channel 16 in Tampa Bay, Florida area. Education, public affairs, news, arts, and culture. Links to web site of USF Public Radio 89.7 fm, home of the volunteer Radio Reading Service for print-impaired listeners.