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
May 8th, Modern Dentistry – From Toothpaste to Implants Our speaker, Meredith Goodrich, DMD, a Gainesville family dentist, will guide us through the toothpaste options in store dental aisles. You can find ones that target strengthening, remineralization, gum health, whitening, and sensitivity. Teeth can be made whiter from toothpaste, whitening strips, gel trays, or dental office whitening. Sensitivity can accompany dry mouth, which puts you at risk for cavities and gum disease, but a number of products offer solutions. There are many modern advances in restorative options, including prismatic tooth-colored filling material and implants. They are not just about esthetics. When you can chew food well, it can affect whole body health. Implants can increase bite strength and improve chewing ability. Natural teeth are best, but with modern dentistry, there are some good solutions to restore smiles.
May 15th, Caregiving and Caregivers Support Systems Connie Uphold, PhD, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, is Assoc. Director of the Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center at the VA and also an Assoc. Professor in the UF College of Medicine (Dept. of Aging and Geriatrics) and the College of Nursing. Dr. Uphold will share the research she has done on caregiving.
May 22nd, The Things Birds Do Have you ever wondered why birds do the things they do, and would you like them to do those things in your yard? Ron Robinson, a popular speaker and local expert on birds returns to share an updated program about birds. Bring your questions and brief experiences to share.
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.