April 2008
Sedgwick County Department on Aging/Central Plains Area Agency on Aging Celebrate Older Americans Month 2008
The United States is nearing the start of a tremendous demographic shift. Beginning in 2011, the first of 78 million baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) will start transitioning into retirement, kicking off an expansion in the number of older people that will continue for decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one out of every nine baby boomers will live to be at least age 90.
Our Nation will benefit in many ways from a larger population of older adults, a group that constitutes one of our greatest resources. Older adults support our society and enhance our communities by providing millions of hours of volunteer work and through sharing and transferring knowledge of cultures, values, and life experiences among generations.
Thankfully, the contributions of older adults will continue to flourish in the coming years, since older citizens of today and tomorrow promise to be among the most active and engaged older adult populations in our Nation’s history.
An expanding older adult population also spotlights our responsibility to ensure the well-being of our older citizens. May is Older Americans Month, at this time Sedgwick County Department on Aging/Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (SCDOA/CPAAA) promotes this celebration to bring attention to the issues that affect older adults. This year’s theme is “Working Together for Strong, Healthy, and Supportive Communities,” which speaks to the opportunities we have to create better care and reinforce healthier societies for all ages. Working together, our communities, governments, and public and private health and social service organizations can improve older adults’ overall quality of life by helping them:
- Make behavioral changes in their lifestyles that can reduce risk of disease, disability, and injury.
- Obtain the tools they need to make informed decisions about, and gain better access to, existing health and long-term care options in their communities.
- Have more options to maintain their independence and remain in the housing of their choice.
To help promote Older Americans Month the SCDOA/CPAAA and the Sedgwick County Aging and Wellness Coalition will host the third annual Wellness in the Park at Linwood Park on May 9th from 9am-11:30am. Wellness in the Park will provide Tai Chi and fitness demonstrations geared toward older adults, body mass index screenings; demonstrations including pressure point massage, pickle ball, and Wii; nutrition tips; Mind Aerobics and much more. Promoting overall health and wellbeing is the focus of this morning event. Adults 55 and older are encouraged to attend (a complete list of activities is available upon request).
For more information about Older Americans Month or for Answers on Aging contact Sedgwick County Department on Aging/Central Plains Area Agency on Aging at 660-5120 or visit the Sedgwick County website at www.sedgwickcounty.org/aging.
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