Nation, parish celebrate Older Americans Month

Older adults are a growing and increasingly vital part of this country.
The contributions they make to our communities are varied, deeply rooted and include influential roles in the nation’s economy, politics, and the arts. From 69-year-old NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr., to 84-year-old actress Rita Moreno to 83-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who took her seat as a Supreme Court Justice at age 60, older adults are blazing trails in all aspects of American Life.
In 1963, the nation began to acknowledge the contributions of older people by using the month of May to celebrate Older Americans Month. This annual observance offers the opportunity to learn about, support and celebrate our nation’s and our state’s older citizens.
This year’s theme, “Blaze a Trail,” emphasizes the ways older adults are reinventing themselves through new work and new passions, engaging their communities, and blazing a trail of positive impact on the lives of people of all ages.
While St. Mary Parish Council on Aging provides services to both active and homebound seniors, the agency will use this month 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 of our own. Throughout the month, SMCOA will conduct activities and share information designed to highlight local programs, resources available and success stories.
Executive Director Beverly Domengeaux invites says every citizen is encouraged to get involved by learning more about the activities; participating when possible and just remembering to give a Senior Citizen, a hand to hold, an ear to listen and a heart that cares and specifically thanks for being a trailblazer.