By Bob Simon
Tampa, Fla,- Palm Medical Center (alpha) hosts its second senior fall festival to bring awareness toward the importance of mental health on November 17, 2023. The center is in North Tampa, especially on East Hillsborough Avenue. At this spot, their medical staff provide primary care services to all elderly patients who are living in this area.
At the main entrance, usually quiet, Yamil Torres – Hillsborough sales manager of the organization for Tampa – welcomes patients and visitors with pop music. Inside, the waiting room decoration with purple balloons highlights the party atmosphere of that particular event.
Torres’s excitement while welcoming attendees shows the enthusiasm of this organization, which helping Tampa’s senior residents for years.
Senior primary care is the main service that Palm Medical Centers usually offers to the community. This month, the organization hosts a senior fall festival with seven other businesses.
Among them is Metropolitan Ministries, which provides food and housing. Hillsborough Transit Authority so-called Hart for information about transportation. Quantum Field was at the exhibit alley, providing information on how to improve skin appearance.
Tampa Lakes for health and rehabilitation, 3D Mobile Mammography, and Aetna for health care insurance participated as well in the event.
Every vendor sitting behind their table exhibits their special elderly program to curious attendees who are seeking information.
The primary care liaison of this center, Jordan Gilman, described the bustle that surrounded the event.
The festival, previously set to take place from 11:00 a.m. to 01:00 p.m. in the parking lot. A few hours before, Torres rearranged the event in front of Palm Medical Center’s main entrance because of a drizzly day announced.
“We are having this festival to bring awareness from our company to show our resources that can be valuable for elderly who have Medicaid insurance,” Gilman said.
The festival is focused mainly on Medicare patients, whether they are 65 years old or older. We also include patients who have experienced disability for a few years but are eligible for Medicare. However, younger people are also invited to come.
Gilman also explained that the festival creates a pleasant spirit. It facilitates attendees to access additional information from businesses that can help the senior residents in the community.
Besides, the state of Florida had 4.5 million people aged 65 and older in 2021, according to the Statista Research Department.
The organization’s 2-1-1 Counts has received from November 19, 2022, to November 19, 2023, around 2500 calls related to mental health and addiction issues. So, mental health is a serious issue. It affects how people think, feel, and act and helps determine how they handle stress, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Again, the organization data shows that 16.5% of people seeking help for mental health in Tampa are 60 years old or older.
“We got about tens of people so far today,” said Gilman confidently while expecting to see more people show up. It was around 12:00 p.m.
Attendees entered the waiting room, walked toward a food table and served themselves with their favorite meal. Later, they walked through the business exhibition area while talking with vendors.
While each business shares significant information with attendees, Tores posts a new flyer announcing a third senior festival for December first. You can visit their website for more details.
DC of Tampa 
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