Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-02-2023; 8-h - Older Americans Month Proclamation 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 2, 2023 Action Agenda Item No. 8-h SUBJECT: Older Americans Month Proclamation DEPARTMENT: Aging and Advisory Board on Aging ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Proclamation Janice Tyler, Director, 245-4255 Heather Altman, Chair, Advisory Board on Aging PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation joining Federal and State governments in designating the month of May as Older Americans Month and a time to honor older adults for their contributions to the community. BACKGROUND: May is Older Americans Month, a tradition dating back to 1963. This year marks the 60th anniversary, and the hope is to challenge the narrative on aging. For many years the Orange County Board of Commissioners has issued a proclamation for Older Americans Month. This year's national theme is Aging Unbound. Just as every person is unique, so too is how they age and how they choose to do it — and there is no "right" way. This year's theme offers an opportunity to explore a wide range of aging experiences and to promote the importance of enjoying independence and fulfillment by paving each person's own path as we age. As one looks at aging through the Aging Unbound theme it provides opportunities to: • Embrace the opportunity to change. Find a new passion, be creative, explore classes/programs at the Seymour and Passmore Centers, and push boundaries by not letting age define your limits. • Explore the rewards of growing older. With age comes knowledge, which provides insight and confidence to understand and experience the world more deeply. • Stay engaged in your community. Everyone benefits when individuals stay connected and involved. Communities find strength in people — and people find strength in their communities. This has become even more evident as everyone continues to come out of a global pandemic. Volunteerism and community engagement is vital for the future in meeting the growing needs of the older adult in the community. • Form relationships. If people learned anything during the pandemic, it is that social isolation is deadly. An essential ingredient of aging well is being socially engaged and having relationships enhance the quality of life. Investing time with friends, family and community is good for yourself and those around you. 2 In the community, older adults are a key source of strength. Through their experiences, successes, and difficulties, they have built resilience that helps them to face new challenges. When communities tap into this, they become stronger too. Ensuring that older adults remain involved and included in the communities for as long as possible benefits everyone. Today, aging is about eliminating outdated perceptions and redefining the way you want to age. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Older Americans Act into law in July 1965. Since that time, the Act has provided a nationwide aging services network and funding that helps older adults live with dignity in the communities of their choice for as long as possible. These services include senior centers, daily lunch programs, caregiver support, community-based assistance, preventive health services, elder abuse prevention, and much more. While the Department on Aging offers outstanding programs and services to older adults year- round, Older Americans Month offers an opportunity to emphasize how older adults can access the home- and community-based services they need to live independently in their communities. It is also an occasion to highlight how the community is involved in implementing the 2022-27 Master Aging Plan and the continuing efforts to develop Orange County as an Age Friendly Community. Today there are over 32,000 Orange County residents who are 60+ years old, and of that group over 2,000 are age 85+. As large numbers of baby boomers reach retirement age, it is the goal to keep them physically and socially active through their 80s and beyond. Lifelong participation in community, social, creative and physical activities have proven health benefits, including retaining mobility, muscle mass and cognitive abilities. Older adults are not the only ones who benefit from their engagement in community life. Studies show their interactions with family, friends, and neighbors across generations enrich the lives of everyone involved. Everyone should celebrate aging and the journey! FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with approval of the proclamation. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, and programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. The Older Americans Act provides funding for senior centers, daily lunch programs, caregiver support, preventive health services, adult day care and other community based assistance. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact associated with this item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation designating May as Older Americans Month and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROCLAMATION OLDER AMERICANS MONTH- MAY 2023 THEME - "Aging Unbound" Whereas, Orange County includes over 32,000 persons aged 60 and older who contribute their time, strength,wisdom, and experience to our community; and Whereas, Orange County benefits when people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds have the opportunity to participate and live independently and embrace our age-friendly community model; and Whereas, Orange County recognizes the need to create a community that offers the services and supports older adults may need to make choices about how they age; and Whereas,Orange County can work to build an even better community for older residents by: • Not limiting our thinking about aging, • Exploring and combating stereotypes, • Emphasizing the many positive aspects of aging, • Inspiring older adults to push past traditional boundaries, and • Embracing our community's diversity. Now,therefore,we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim May 2023 to be Older Americans Month, and urge everyone to recognize the contributions of our older residents,help to create an inclusive society,accept the challenge of flexible thinking around aging and join efforts to support older adults' choices about how they age in their communities. The 2nd day of May, 2023. Jamezetta Bedford, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners