'Celebrate long-term living' during National Older Americans Month in May

April 29, 2005

ATLANTA (GA) – ‘Celebrate Long-Term Living’ is the national theme for this year’s Older Americans Month. During May, the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services (DAS) will be joining Aging agencies nationwide to encourage consumers to explore options available to them and plan now for long-term life.

“Older Americans now have more choices than the long-term institutional care which once was the primary option for our senior citizens,” said Maria Greene, director of DAS. “More and more people of Georgia are remaining in their own homes and communities well into their later years. Keeping older adults healthy, independent, and engaged benefits all generations,” added Greene.

The theme ‘Celebrate Long-Term Living’ was selected to honor older Americans as a national treasure, and to highlight the need for mid-life and older persons to be prepared to live longer than previous generations.

Next year, the 78 million baby boomers will begin turning 60. Older adults and baby boomers need to make thoughtful choices now so they will be more likely to remain healthy, productive, and financially secure in their later lives.

The U.S. Administration on aging wants all Americans to know that better planning, better community-based long-term care options and more consumer-friendly systems, are allowing more older Americans to remain vibrant and independent.

“As Americans, we value choice,” said Greene. “Studies have shown that, given the choice, older adults will remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible.”

DAS offers services that help people remain in their homes longer and assists older individuals, at-risk adults and persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers to achieve safe, independent and self-reliant lives.

For more information, contact DAS at 404-657-5319 or your local Area Agency on Aging.

For information, contact:
Edna Jackson; 404-657-1386
[email protected]