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When the idea about covering heathcare for the aging in Palm Beach County came up earlier this year, some of us in The Palm Beach Post newsroom knew it would be a winner.
That’s because many of us have been there; we’ve gone through trying to help our aging parents try to navigate a complex, sometimes financially draining healthcare system.
We knew we could provide coverage that would inform people going through similar situations and connect them with useful resources. We sought to engage with them, letting them know we were here to help.
It’s why we do what we do: cover Palm Beach County to help you, the readers, live more informed lives.
When looking for a reporter to head the project, we immediately turned to Anne Geggis. She had experience covering healthcare and is passioniate about the topic. She jumped at the chance. The project is called Aging in the Golden Years.
Anne provides trustworthy, accurate information that directly helps people make more informed decisions.
She reaches out to people, asking what they want to know about. If you have questions for Anne, please email her here: ageggis@gannett.com
One of the first people to reach out to Anne was Suzanne Antonich, of Okeechobee.
Antonich, 67, wanted more people to be prepared like she wasn’t by circumstances she knows more people will be facing: Her mother’s inability to live on her own. She said it hit her “like a truck.”
Understanding Medicare
So, Anne dug in and told people about a giant gap in Medicare that led to a lot of misunderstanding at a critical time when people’s bodies start outliving their ability to stay safe in a big, scary world. She told readers about some tentative steps to address that gap.
After that story ran, the outpouring was tremendous. A dozen people, including someone from Alabama, asked about what resources were available in their community.
COVID-19 vaccine availability
Then, when news of a push to prohibit the COVID-19 vaccine hit, readers reached out to Anne, concerned whether they could still get their vaccines from their usual retail pharmacies. Anne found an interesting interplay between federal and state rules in which the state Pharmacy Board approved allowing vaccinations through pharmacies.
 For Anne, and many others at The Post who live here, the elderly healthcare issue isn’t just business, it’s personal.
Anne has a soon-to-be 88-year-old parent who she said is “fiercely independent.” Anne, like the rest of us, want what’s best for her loved ones.
Some of you may know that the news industry is in a precarious position; traditional funding models aren’t working the way they once did. While we try to be as efficient as possible with our resources, sometimes it isn’t enought.
Our goal is to cover local news so you will be informed, connected and engaged. We provide trustworthy local information for the public good. We tell you about your property taxes, your schools, your local governments, your roads and transportation, your HOAs, your housing and insurance. We hold those in power accountable and inform you about upcoming storms or crime trends to keep you safe.
But it’s getting harder to cover it all.
Covering healthcare needs your support
Thankfully, we found what we hope is a solution through a partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, a verified 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (tax ID #84-2968843) that helps us invest in the future. In this case, covering healthcare. So, if you can, please make a tax-deductible donation at bit.ly/givebutterpbp today (or use our QR Code) and support local journalism that serves the Palm Beach County community.
Your support is essential. Community support doesn’t just keep our lights on, it enables us to experiment, grow and find new ways to expand our reach and relevance to better serve you.
We thank you for being a loyal member of our community, and we thank you for your support.
Make a tax-deductible donation to support The Palm Beach Post’s Aging in the Golden Years series that helps people navigate the complex, often financially draining healthcare system.
Support Aging in the Golden Years
