PrimeTime Institute (PTI) provides a wide variety of educational programs for people age 50+ that foster wellness, encourage personal and intellectual growth, and that provide an environment for developing new interests, making new friends, and becoming involved as volunteers.
PTI is a program of ElderCare of Alachua County, a non-profit organization providing various services for seniors such as Meals-on-Wheels, Alz Place, etc. All PTI programs and activities are planned and presented entirely by volunteer members and speakers, with expenses supported by optional memberships and donations. Additional information about PTI, including program updates, is available at our website www.primetimeinstitute.org or by contacting Susan Williams at 352-214-6219.
We appreciate the speakers who provide free programs for our seniors; however, please understand that PTI does not endorse any company, product, or service.
We continue with HYBRID programs — the speaker in-person at the Senior Recreation Center, along with attendees willing to gather there, and a simultaneous online webinar option through Zoom. We have learned that many people are able to participate online who are unable to come to the Center for a variety of reasons. Watch for Sunday messages each week to learn of any changes in that week’s Thursday program.
To participate in the webinar version of a program, you can log in on your Internet-connected computer, tablet, or phone as the program gets underway. Advance registration is required for attending online. Please send your request to primetime.inst@gmail.com.
If you do register for the webinar version, you will receive a confirmation message and, at an appropriate time, a link to click on so you can join in. No camera or microphone is needed to see and hear the presentations online.
Our programs are also recorded for people who are not available on Thursdays. We share links to those recordings when the Senior Center staff has them available so people can watch at their convenience. Those links are shared in the program reminder messages we send each Sunday to those on PTI's email distribution list.
TIME: Unless otherwise noted, programs will be on Thursdays from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Nov. 7th, Veteran Services In recognition of Veteran’s Day on the 11th, information will be provided on services available locally for veterans. James “JP” Dunn, Alachua County Director of Veteran Services will discuss veterans’ benefits and the VA claim process. Susan Holloway, Group Leader of the Quilters of Alachua County for the Quilts of Valor Foundation will share information about their quilt awards to our veterans and their policies and goals, including a display. Even if you are not a veteran, please come to honor those who served our country.
Nov. 14th, Update and Overview of Florida's Laws on Exploitation and The Exploitable Brain (Rescheduled from September 26th when it was cancelled because of Helene) In previous sessions, we’ve learned about brain changes that can occur with aging and how that can affect our susceptibility to scams. Research continues on this subject and the new results are having an impact on Florida’s laws to protect seniors. Attorney Genna Fasullo LaPeer from the Miller Elder Law Firm will bring us up to date on recent legislative actions and available resources.
Nov. 21st, Hurricanes and Mobility Resilience in Late-Life Our speaker will be Todd Manini, PhD, UF Division Chief of Clinical and Population Health Integration and Co-Director of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center. His presentation will explore how the rising frequency of hurricanes driven by climate change affects community mobility across all age groups.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
REMEMBER that you must register for any Zoom-based sessions (webinar or meeting) you want to participate in at primetime.inst@gmail.com
Recent Events
Strolling to the River Sink
Outing to O'Leno State Park
Located along the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee River, the park features sinkholes, hardwood hammocks, river swamps, and sandhills. As the river courses through the park, it disappears underground and reemerges over three miles away in the River Rise State Preserve. One of Florida's first state parks, O'Leno was first developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The suspension bridge built by the CCC still spans the river. During our visit, park staff gave a fascinating presentation on the exploration of the underground portion of the Santa Fe.