BLS Mission Statement

The Better Living for Seniors Consortium will promote continuing service
excellence to seniors through proactive, visionary, and ethical leadership
in networking, education and collaboration.

Better Living for
Seniors
Consortium of
Pinellas County,
Florida affiliated with
the Area Agency on
Aging of
Pasco-Pinellas, Inc.
An Aging and
Disability Resource
Center
9887  4th Street N.
Suite 100
St. Petersburg, FL
33702
www.agingcarefl.org
What is the Better Living for Seniors
Consortium?

The Better Living for Seniors Consortium is a group of professionals who work
with seniors. BLS was created in 1988 in affiliation with the Area Agency on
Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. There is a Board of Directors and four committees.

The members of BLS play a critical role in its success. Members volunteer their
time to be on one of the five BLS committees. Members gather together to
share information, network and educate each other. BLS has over 300
members.

Every quarter BLS members gather together for an event called the BLS
Consortium. Each of the four BLS committees take turns hosting and
organizing a consortium. Attendance at the consortium averages 100-140
people. Guests and members are welcome.
See Events for details.

Every quarter, just prior to the consortium,
The BLS BUGLE publication is
produced and mailed to members. See
The BLS BUGLE for details.   
The BLS BUGLE
The voice of Better Living for Seniors is The BLS BUGLE. This quarterly
publication was created for communications between members of BLS, the
committees, the Area Agency on Aging and senior professionals in the area.

Would you like to reach people who work with seniors in the Pinellas County,
FL Area?
See The BLS BUGLE page for rates and publication dates
The Better Living for Seniors Consortium
Other links:
AHCA - Agency for
Health Care
Administration
In 1988, there was a statewide mandate issued by the governor and the
State of Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services to create
what is now known as the Better Living for Seniors Initiative to address the
needs of our senior population.  The initiative included the following:

1)  Coalition and/or Consortiums
2)  Information and Referral (I&R) Helpline for Seniors
3)  Short Term Case Management

Under the guidance of the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. in PSA
5, the Better Living for Seniors (BLS) Consortium was organized in Pinellas
County.  The BLS Consortium that meets quarterly has identified core areas
which deal with both the needs of service providers as well as those of
seniors.  Each committee hosts a quarterly meeting.  The Area Agency on
Aging and the BLS Consortium work hard to integrate and strengthen existing
programs to meet the needs of the senior population.

In 1998, the very first Board of Directors for BLS took office.  The Board of
Directors is the policy-making body for BLS.  The Board is composed of the
Officers, Chairs of the standing committees, two At-Large members and an
AAA liaison.  The newsletter editor is also a non-voting member of the board.  

The committees that have evolved under the BLS Consortium are outlined
below together with their respective contact person(s).

Membership:  Responsible for identifying and integrating new members
within the Consortium and its committees.  

Public Advocacy and Networking Committee (PAN):  This committee
promotes a networking system among private and public senior service
providers and acts as sponsor for the Chomp & Chats, training, and the
dissemination of information on issues impacting the service system.  

Information and Assistance Committee (I&A):  This committee serves to
increase the visibility of the Senior Helpline  (727-217-8111) and its
resources.  It fosters awareness of service changes occurring in the
community, assists in coordinating services and promotes cooperation with
other I&A providers.  

COECHA/Partners in Care Committee:  This committee, formerly known as
the “Private Sector” Committee works to provide needed services to the
aging population by developing relationships between private sector and
public sector organizations in Pinellas County.  

Public Relations/Publications Committee: This committee oversees the BLS
Bugle newsletter, the BLS Website, advertising support and news releases
for BLS events.  
History/Structure of BLS
Communication
How BLS Began - The BLS Initiative, Printable Document
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