Fort Myers family brings free senior health panel to Collaboratory
The Floridant/10351345

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- Three generations of a Fort Myers family are bringing together medical, legal and community leaders at Collaboratory for a free senior health panel on Thursday, Oct. 22, to help older adults and their families navigate complex healthcare decisions with greater confidence.

Hosted by the Dobbins family, From Crisis to Confidence: Building a Future Where Every Senior Thrives will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2031 Jackson St. in Fort Myers. The discussion will address challenges seniors and caregivers face when coordinating medical care, understanding available resources and making decisions about their health and well-being.

Scott Dobbins, co-founder of Legacy Senior Advocates, will moderate the discussion. Panelists include Brian Sykes, vice president of healthcare services at Shell Point; Dawn Belamarich, president and CEO of Collaboratory; Carl Zacharia, founding partner of elder law firm Zacharia Frey; Lawrence Hobbs of Lee Physician Group at Lee Health; and Pat Dobbins, a registered nurse and founder of Legacy Senior Advocates.

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The event grew out of the Dobbins family's personal experience navigating a sudden health crisis that required complex medical decisions and intensive care. With 53 years of experience in nursing leadership and healthcare advocacy, Pat Dobbins helped her family manage the situation, highlighting the challenges faced by those without similar experience or support.

"I can navigate the medical maze," Pat Dobbins said. "But I realized that most people cannot. For seniors who are managing it alone, it can be overwhelming and put them at risk."

The family subsequently established Legacy Senior Advocates, a Fort Myers-based company that provides personal health advocates to help seniors and their families coordinate care and navigate the healthcare system.

"Navigating the healthcare system shouldn't be a journey you take alone," Scott Dobbins said. "We want to reduce the frustration and errors while increasing understanding for seniors and their families as they manage an increasingly complex healthcare system."

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From Crisis to Confidence is free and open to the community, including older adults, family members, caregivers and others interested in senior healthcare. Food and refreshments will be provided. For more information, visit http://www.legacysenioradvocates.com/.

To learn more or become involved with Collaboratory, call 239-274-5900 or visit Collaboratory.org (http://www.collaboratory.org/).