President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation on April 18, 1963 designating the month of May as Senior Citizens Month, later to become known as Older Americans Month.
May's designation as Older American's Month has created a time for us all to pause and acknowledge the contributions of our most experienced citizens, particularly those who served and defended our country. We at GA Foods have proudly served older Americans through Meals on Wheels programs since 1973. And for over 15 years, the SunMeadow® brand has become a mainstay in the knapsacks and cargo pant pockets of U.S. troops on the move. We are proud to take this time to pause and reflect on the accomplishments and contributions of those we serve.
The average age of the seniors we serve is 78 years old. Someone that is 78 was born in 1937 or 1938. At that time, Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States, the Hindenburg crashed in New Jersey, and the Golden Gate Bridge opened in San Francisco. Since then, our "average" senior has lived through the Attack on Pearl Harbor, WWII, the Korean War, the ratification of six amendments to the United States Constitution, the discovery of DNA, Brown vs. Board of Education, the development of the polio vaccine, the Vietnam War, the signing of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960 and 1964, the Cuban Missle Crisis, the assassinations of President Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Apollo 11's landing on the Moon, Watergate, Roe vs. Wade, and eight different government administrations...and that was just in the first half of their lives so far!
The knowledge and wisdom that an entire generation has accumulated through those events is a national treasure. For all of you who have "well experienced" adults in your lives, be it your parents, grandparents, other family or friends, we urge you to take the time in May to reach out and visit with this special person. Listen to their stories. Receive their wisdom and perspective on life. Be there to lend support...even for "simple things" that are no longer quite so simple for them.
While GA Foods provides home delivered meals to older adults year-round, we will use May to focus on how older adults in our community are leading and inspiring others, how we can support and learn from them, and how we might follow their examples to blaze trails in our own lives. We wish all "older Americans" great health and happiness!
Wellness Resources for Olders Adults
Brain Health
Source: Administration for Community Living
Falls Prevention
Source: National Council on Aging
Go4Life Exercise & Physical Activity Campaign
Source: National Institute on Aging
Healthy Eating As We Age
Source: USDA
Long-term Care Planning
Source: Department of Health and Human Services
Older Adults and Oral Health
Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Sleep and Aging
Source: National Institutes of Health
Discover OAM: Visit http://acl.gov/olderamericansmonth
Contact your Area Agency on Aging:
Visit http://www.eldercare.gov/ or call 1-800- 677-1116
