Always Watching for At-Risk Elders (AWARE)

Some elderly customers suffer from grave problems that put them at risk of needless suffering. FPL's AWARE Program, coordinated by Customer Service - Special Consumer Services, is designed to help identify such elders, using FPL field employees as an invaluable set of "eyes and ears" as they perform their work throughout the community.

Through employee observation and reporting, AWARE helps to identify and refer needy elders (and others) to various social service organizations that may provide the help they need and deserve.

Because specially-trained FPL field employees are AWARE and concerned, hundreds of elderly have received assistance, care and ongoing support from the various agencies who partner with FPL in this program.

In March 2003, FPL was awarded the inaugural "Ambassadors for Aging" award by the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs, in recognition "for outstanding advocacy for elder Floridians." A significant factor in receiving the award was the statewide implementation of the AWARE Program, and other utilities in Florida have been encouraged to implement similar programs.

In May 2003, FPL received the Claude Pepper Memorial Award (Corporate Service Category) from United Home Care Services - Miami-Dade County, again in recognition of AWARE.