senior citizens

At the Sunday afternoon drum and sing-along class at The Palace in Coral Gables, music is the great healer. It eases niggling worries, soothes aching joints, mends grieving hearts, restores fickle memory.

“Music takes you to a good place,” says instructor Michael Cloyes, owner of Servant Response Entertainment.“It brings back happy memories, happy times. Who doesn’t like to sing?”

It’s a crime that requires no guns. It frequently goes unnoticed until after the fact, and the victims are unwitting U.S. taxpayers duped to the tune of $68 billion a year. Medicare fraud has become one of the most profitable illegal activities in the country — and South Florida is the most likely place to get fleeced.

At 86, Dr. Ruth Westheimer proudly announces that she goes out every night. Maybe that explains why so many people seem to have a story about meeting the gregarious sex therapist. This one met her on a cruise. That one met her dancing the hora in a New York City synagogue. I met her waiting in line at the bathroom of Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side. She lives in Manhattan but travels the country and the world (this summer she's headed to Israel and South Africa) having no-nonsense conversations about sex. 

04/23/14 - Wednesday's Topical Currents is a rebroadcast from 02/05/14/ with Elder Care of Florida founder Jacqueline Harris Chiodo. Over a 30-year career, she’s been a senior trust officer for numerous Florida banks.  She’s founded Elder Care of Florida, which provides “fiduciary” safety to Florida seniors. One in five seniors in the state who lost investment money have been defrauded.

02/05/14/ - Wednesday's Topical Currents is with Elder Care of Florida founder Jacqueline Harris Chiodo. Over a 30-year career, she’s been a senior trust officer for numerous Florida banks.  She’s founded Elder Care of Florida, which provides “fiduciary” safety to Florida seniors. One in five seniors in the state who lost investment money have been defrauded.

Kate GeMeiner, in a pixie haircut and a sensible brown pantsuit, holds up what, from the back of the room, appears to be a see-through balloon. It isn’t.

“Never use Vaseline with a condom,” she says in her best announcer’s voice. “Never, only KY jelly.”

The audience sits in rapt silence.

“And before you use a condom, check it for the expiration date.”

In a corner, a couple of women titter.

A Florida Senate panel Tuesday instructed the Agency for Health Care Administration to draft legislation --- fast --- that would allow the state to shut down unlicensed assisted-living facilities as quickly as possible.

"Tell them to hustle," said Sen. Alan Hays, a Umatilla Republican and vice-chairman of the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee.

Hays was addressing AHCA Secretary Liz Dudek, who briefed senators as they consider a third attempt in three years at tightening oversight of Florida's assisted-living facilities.