SeniorBridge, Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties and Jewish Family Services of Collier County Launch Educational Series for Seniors 

Hundreds of local baby boomers, hospital workers and financial and legal experts will participate in discussion of local implications of national research on aging 

Fort Myers, Fla - March 25, 2010 - SeniorBridge, a leading care management company that provides customized services to help people with complex chronic health conditions remain at home, today announced a partnership with the Jewish Federation, a cultural and educational organization in Collier, Lee and Charlotte Counties (JFLCC) , and Jewish Family Services of Collier County (JFCC), a local social services agency, to expand resources related to aging and caregiving.

To inaugurate the partnership, the organizations will offer a comprehensive discussion of healthcare planning and management called "Aging Today; Who's Aging? Not Me!" with Dr. Eric Rackow, a national authority on critical care medicine, complex care management and healthcare delivery systems. 

The program will address research from the Florida Department of Health that shows Southwest Florida has some of the highest rates in the country of hospitalizations for chronic conditions including diabetes, congestive hear failure, stroke, and respiratory diseases . 

"As we age, we see an increasing prevalence of complex chronic conditions that have medical, financial and emotional implications on the fastest growing segment of our population," said Dr. Rackow, professor of medicine at the New York University School and CEO of SeniorBridge. "With awareness of these situations, we can navigate the healthcare system and ultimately take action for a healthier community." 

The "Aging Today; Who's Aging? Not Me" program will be held on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Airport/ FGCU located at 16410 Corporate Commerce Way at Alico Road in Fort Myers. A media reception with light breakfast will take place from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. 

"We are proud to partner with SeniorBridge and Jewish Family Services of Collier County to initiate dialogue about coordinating care for our older community members," said Alan Isaacs, executive director of Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties. "Our first event together is expected to improve collaboration across county lines and ultimately provide more resources to more people." 

"By helping to empower people with important resources about aging well, we are pleased to build on our commitment to strengthen and preserve the well-being of individuals and families without regard to age, income or lifestyle," added Richard A. Goldblatt, Chair of the Board of Jewish Family Services of Collier County. "With this unique partnership, we are poised to offer improved information and referral for our community."

More About Eric C. Rackow, M.D.

Prior to SeniorBridge, Dr. Rackow was president and chief medical officer at NYU Hospitals Center. He has also served as chairman of the department of medicine at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center of New York. In addition to his role at SeniorBridge, Dr. Rackow is chairman of the board of trustees of the Weil Institute of Critical Care and a fellow of the American College of Physicians, American College of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Cardiology, and American College of Chest Physicians. Among his accolades, Dr. Rackow is the recipient of the distinguished award of Mastership of the American College of Physicians.

About Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties is to provide and support philanthropic, educational and social service programs that promote such Jewish values as Tzedakah (benevolence), Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and K'lal Yisrael (taking responsibility for one another), in order to strengthen and enrich the Jewish community locally, in Israel and throughout the world. For more information visit http://www.jewishfederationlcc.org

About Jewish Family Services, a Division of Jewish Federation of Collier County

The mission of Jewish Family Services, a division of the Jewish Federation of Collier County is to provide for social service needs of the Jewish community in keeping with our Jewish tradition, which teaches the infinite value of every individual. The organization's commitment is to strengthen and preserve the well-being of individuals and families without regard to age, income or lifestyle. For more information visit http://www.jewishnaples.org/