May is Older Americans Month. Since 1963, our nation has "taken this opportunity to recognize Older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm the nation's commitment to serving older adults."
This year’s theme is “Champion Your Health.” This theme emphasizes four different ideas aimed at improving a senior citizen's life. First, there is an emphasis on the need for Older Americans to focus on various prevention and wellness concerns of healthy aging. There is also emphasis on the need for Older Americans to take an active role in managing and advocating for their own health. They are also encouraging older adults to access preventive care and make informed decisions to support their own independence. And lastly, the Administration on Community Living (the folks who created the theme) want to encourage us to use evidence-based approaches, self management and community partnership to help us live healthier lives.
In other words, the Administration on Community Living wants us Older Americans to become more involved in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, with less dependence on others to do it for us.
This is all well and good, but I wonder if any of the folks who came up with this theme were 70 or 80 years old!
Great news for us Portage County Older Americans, there is finally going to be a levy on this year's ballot focusing on the needs of senior citizens. I was a member of a group “umpteen” years ago who tried to pass a Senior Services levy in Portage County and it went down to defeat “royally."
I know that none of us homeowners want higher property taxes, but we have to keep in mind that 80% of Ohio’s 88 counties have a Senior Services levy.
The issue which we will have an opportunity to vote on is a Human Services Levy. It will provide money for not only seniors but also abused and neglected children. This new ballot issue will include a renewal of an existing Children's Services Levy.
Is there a need for additional services for seniors in Portage County? Just ask Anne Marie, the director of Shepherd's House homeless shelter (40% of those seeking help are senior citizens), or talk to our local Adult Protective Service workers, who are seeing approximately a 10% increase in needed services every year without a designated budget to provide what is needed for Older Americans. Kellijo Jeffries, executive director of Portage County Job and Family Services, also has the responsibility of providing Guardianship Services for Seniors, and those numbers are increasing. The local courts mandate that protective services be provided for seniors who are in dangerous living situations, and of course in Portage County there is not always enough money to provide the services needed.
Dollars are being stretched, and the needs in our county are increasing. There are currently 85 seniors waiting to receive meals and personal care from the Area Agency on Aging. Last year, the Portage County Community Action Council provided home energy services for 3,000 area seniors. And 16% of the clientele of Catholic Charities of Portage and Stark County are senior citizens.
So yes, there is a need, and the Human Services Levy would only cost the average homeowner ($100,000 valuation) $14 a year. This isn’t very much, especially when it is your relative, or yourself who needs the help. And it is always worth remembering “there but for the Grace of God go I.”
On a lighter note, the Portage County Gardeners are having their Spring Garden Sale on Saturday, May 16. The group will not only have a multitude of plants for sale, but will also have baked goods, raffles and lunch available.
The Gardeners' Center is located on South Prospect Street in Rootstown.
If you are not already a member of a local garden club, you might want to think about this as a great activity for retirees. Great fellowship, and an active lifestyle outdoors.
Another sad but real fact of life of aging is losing one of our children at birth, from an accident, an overdose, cancer or some other tragic event. And it happens, and how do we deal with it emotionally?
The “Say my Child’s Name Foundation” has come up with one way we can memorialize them. This group is in the process of creating a “Child Loss Remembrance Memorial” in Adell Park in Stow.
The actual memorial was created by Loboda Monuments of Hudson. If you would like to have your child’s name ($75) on the monument, you can contact the Stow-Munroe Falls Community Foundation at P.O. Box 2244, Stow, OH 44224.
Contact Sally Kelly with your senior news at 330-687-9501 or sentrip65@yahoo.com.
