I am honored and excited to assume the position of Executive Director at Paradise Care Center and to lead such a passionate, dedicated and loving team of professionals.

I first want to thank everyone for the warm welcome, as well as Paradise Care Center’s President and CEO, Junior Carrascal, for his faith in my ability to lead this esteemed organization. I am prepared to take on the opportunities and challenges that this position brings.

I am a retiree with many years of experience at the administrative level and currently hold a master’s degree in Administration and Supervision and a doctorate degree. This rewarding experience has helped guide my vision for our future, a vision of continued commitment to providing quality service to our community.

Paradise Care Center will continue its mission to help our community set a course for living well past 60. With that comprehensive mission comes several initiatives that our organization is proud to lead, which include:

• Ensuring that programs and services are accessible in all areas of the county through the use of technology.
• Continue to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all Orange County adults age 60 and older.
• Collaborate with local partners to innovate and enhance the livability of our community through the 50+ FYI Lifestyle Guide and “Black Book” of resources, ensuring a safe and healthy lifestyle for residents of all ages.

Orlando’s older-adult population continues to grow; therefore, the need to support healthy aging continues to grow. To keep pace, our strategic plan includes the goal to diversify our revenue streams by expanding partnerships and increasing charitable donations.

Research released from the US Census Bureau for 2019 states: “Senior citizens (people over the age of 65) account for 20.9% of the US population in Florida.” The research mentioned that this percentage of senior citizens are often unintentionally excluded from programs offered at other recreational centers. By catering activities solely to younger crowds, recreational centers miss out on a good percentage of the population and a huge opportunity for further community engagement. We were astonished by this and Paradise Care of Orlando was born. We are wanting to make a difference and address the needs of Orlando’s older adults, and today, I am privileged to ensure that we will continue to be there every step of the way.

I look forward to working with you, learning from you, and, together, setting an even higher standard for aging well in our community. I welcome the opportunity to hear from you, whether to share your thoughts and ideas on how to age well in Orlando, Florida, simply to hear your story or just to say, “Hello.”

Sincerely,

Dr. Eileen Ramery Gelpi

Director of Paradise Care Center