When FISH of SanCap asked the community to look into the future, older adults were noticeably on respondents’ minds.
Senior services ranked second among the community needs respondents believe FISH should prioritize, selected by 73.8% of participants in the organization’s recent Resiliency Hub Community Survey. When respondents were asked about the challenges most likely to affect Sanibel and Captiva in future years, 57.6% identified the aging population.
The open-ended responses provided additional insight into what seniors may need as they age, including transportation, caregiver support, help with aging in place, services for those who are homebound, access to medical equipment and appointments, and opportunities to stay active and connected.
“The responses confirmed how important senior services are to this community,” said Erika Arnowitz, FISH Senior Services Director. “They also showed that people are thinking about the full picture of aging on the islands, including staying connected, getting help at home and knowing where to turn when circumstances change.”
FISH has long provided programs and services for older island residents, while continuing to look at how those needs are changing. In 2021, FISH conducted a Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults, or CASOA, a national benchmark survey that provided a closer look at the needs of Sanibel and Captiva seniors, including areas where additional support may be needed.
In the 2021 CASOA survey, Sanibel and Captiva received strong ratings as a place to live, while the results also identified several areas where older adults may need additional support. About 40% of respondents were caring for another person, and approximately one in five caregivers reported feeling emotionally burdened. Twenty-seven percent reported feeling lonely or isolated, and one-third reported at least minor difficulty finding adequate information or dealing with programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. These findings are separate from FISH’s 2026 Resiliency Hub Community Survey, but several of the same senior needs surfaced again five years later.
FISH currently provides Friendly Faces luncheons, Meals-by-FISH, Food Pantry access, reassurance calls, non-emergency transportation, medical equipment loans, hurricane preparedness assistance, community education and individualized support. The goal is to help older adults remain connected and age in place while providing a place to turn when circumstances change.
Respondents also offered ideas about the Resiliency Hub facility. Suggestions included senior-friendly design, accessible entrances and interior spaces, fall prevention considerations, flexible rooms for activities and programs and spaces that could support social connection. Several respondents encouraged FISH to work with other organizations serving older adults. Partnerships were a recurring theme throughout the survey.
FISH Executive Director Maria Espinoza said that approach fits the organization’s current model and future plans for the facility. “The goal is to create space that strengthens FISH programs while also making collaboration easier,” Espinoza said. “FISH does not need to provide every service itself. Strong partnerships can help connect older adults and their families with the resources that make sense for them.”
FISH will continue that collaborative approach at its upcoming November Senior Health Fair, working with Lee Health and other senior health professionals and providers to connect community members with information and resources.
FISH’s former building was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022. The planned Resiliency Hub is being developed with support through a federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) reimbursement grant. Community input will continue to inform planning as the project moves forward.
For more information about FISH services and its Resiliency Hub planning, contact Maria Espinoza, Executive Director, at maria@fishofsancap.org or 239-472-4775. For additional information about senior services, contact Erika Arnowitz, Senior Services Director at FISH.
