Strength & Resilience: Celebrating Older Americans Month 2022
“Older adults have always been a vital source of strength and resilience in America. During the pandemic, many seniors came out of retirement to serve their communities in health care and education roles, filling job vacancies in critical shortage areas. Moving forward, we must ensure that older Americans have the appropriate resources to maintain their independence and stay connected to their communities.”
Those words can be found in this year’s White House Proclamation on Older Americans Month. May has been designated as Older Americans Month since it was first proclaimed by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
This year’s theme is Age My Way, and according to the Administration for Community Living, it’s an opportunity to explore the many ways older adults can remain in and be involved with their communities.
To nurture healthy aging and wellness, here are some key issues to consider:
- Planning: Think about what you will need and want in the future, from home and community-based services to community activities that interest you.
- Engagement: Remain involved and contribute to your community through work, volunteer, and/or civic participation opportunities.
- Access: Make home improvements and modifications, use assistive technologies, and customize supports to help you better age in place.
- Connection: Maintain social activities and relationships to combat social isolation and stay connected to your community.
Being able to access resources to support aging in place has never been more important. But aging well is about much more than just housing. It’s also about physical health, mental health and social connections.
Here are some of the key resources that Rhode Island seniors and their families should know about:
- Whether it’s help with dental care, paying for food, getting to medical appointments, home care or other financial or logistical needs, the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has many programs and services.
- Rhode Island is fortunate to have a robust network of nearly three dozen seniors centers, which offer just about every activity and program under the sun!
- Point is the United Way’s 24/7 resource assistance hotline for adults 55+, adults with physical or developmental disabilities, and their families, friends and caregivers. Call (401) 462-4444 to speak to a trained specialist in English or Spanish; interpreters for 100+ languages are also available.
- The Village Common of RI is a volunteer-driven registered non-profit whose mission “is to fundamentally change the experience of growing older here in RI by fostering the creation of communities of mutual support – villages – across the state and by directly supporting their long-term sustainability.” The organization has “Local Village” groups in Barrington, Edgewood, Providence and Westerly, with more developing Villages in the works.
Now is the time to ensure the seniors in your life have the resources and tools they need to age their way!