NEWS

Column: May is Older Americans Month

May brings the promise of longer days, green landscapes, the warmth of summer and blooming perennials. It also represents the annual observance and celebration of Older Americans Month.

Not unlike the blooming perennials of spring and summer, older adults continue to contribute and enrich the landscape of our Clermont County community.

Proclaimed as a national observance by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the month of May provides us an opportunity to honor older Americans and celebrate their contributions. Recently, the Clermont County Board of Commissioners designated May 2016 as Older Americans Month in Clermont County, echoing the intent of President Kennedy and of the 2016 theme in the dtate of Ohio, “Aging. It’s Everybody’s Business.”

In Clermont County, there are approximately 41,000 adults age 60 and older, which aligns with projections made by the Scripps Gerontology Center of Miami University and anticipate that the number mentioned will grow to 51,000 by 2020. The Ohio Department on Aging reminds us that our growing and changing aging population presents both opportunities and challenges for Ohio and our communities to meet the needs of older adults, while also unleashing the collective power of older citizens.

In their Proclamation, the Clermont County Board of Commissioners direct that “… to fully face the challenges and reap the benefits of our aging population, we must work together to address the issues and opportunities within our aging community,” also stating, “…we have a responsibility within our community to recognize and respect the hard work and sacrifice older Americans have contributed by working to enrich their quality of life.”

Clermont Senior Services focuses on providing a broad range of services that help older adults remain in their homes, live as independently as possible and for as long as possible. For us, Service with Heart is about the way we serve, as well as the respect and regard we have for those we serve. We further acknowledge that we could not do the vast services we perform without the support, generosity and assistance of older adults in our community.

Today, approximately 77 percent of meals on wheels are delivered by volunteers, most of whom are over 60 years of age. Moreover, older adults volunteer for other support services, such as volunteer shoppers and home repair workers who give of themselves to assist with minor home repairs; install grab bars, smoke detectors and other home safety equipment; and, even, build ramps so that older adults can safely have access to and from their homes.

So, when we think of the nearly 6,000 older adults who received services in Clermont County last year, most of whom needed multiple services like meals-on-wheels, home care, adult day services and transportation, we must also consider the incredible amount of time that seniors give back to our community by helping others. Additionally, we celebrate the seniors who continue to enrich their lives and the lives of others by attending and volunteering at the three Lifelong Learning Centers in Clermont County.

As we celebrate the contributions of older Americans, whether in the field of military service to our nation and our freedom, or to enhancing the quality of life for our greater community and themselves, we do so with respect and regard, knowing that Aging (really is) Everybody’s Business.

Cindy Gramke is the executive director/CEO of Clermont Senior Services. Ideas and comments can be directed to Cindy at cgramke@clermontseniors.com or contact the agency at 724-1255 .