One of the major aims of the Older American Act, passed by
Congress in 1965, was to keep the elderly living independently in
their homes longer. The act helped each state develop a network
that would provide services and protections for older Americans to
help maintain health and independence in their homes and be able to
continue to function as part of their community.
From that act, came the Arapahoe County Council on Aging.
County Councils on Aging throughout the nation were mandated as
a means of identifying the needs and concerns of seniors in their
own county and to advocate for services to meet those needs.
The Arapahoe County Council on Aging was established in 1975 by
the Arapahoe County Commissioners to serve as the official advocate
for Arapahoe County's 70,000 elderly, to advise and advocate for
services that will best meet these needs by enlisting and
encouraging and cooperating and coordinating within the county.
On Oct. 9, the council will host the annual senior resource day
“Pathways to Wisdom: The Dynamics of Aging” at the Douglas H. Buck
Recreation Center from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. In 2008, over 400
seniors and their families attended.
The free event is designed to give people of all ages access to
information that will “help them as they journey along their own
individual path to health and wholeness,” the council said.
“Our goal is for seniors to remain independent, and to be aware
of the services to help them maintain independence,” said Arapahoe
County Council on Aging president Linda Haley.
Seniors and their families attending will learn about resources
related to healthy aging. A variety of exhibits including home care
providers, grant funded services, respite care and Meals on Wheels
booths will be on hand.
Visitors are also encouraged to bring up to two boxes of paper
that need shredding.
“We’re making it easy for seniors to find a lot of their options
in one location,” Haley said. “They do better when they are aware
they have choices,” Haley said.
Rick Crandall from KEZW radio will facilitate a panel discussion
addressing the dynamics of aging. Other guests and well known
experts on the myriad aspects of aging will be: Jeremy Bloom,
executive director of Wish of a Lifetime Foundation serving low
income seniors, Gaye Woods, President of Colorado Fitness and
Wellness, and Vicki Wickhorst, M.D., Director of Medical Sales for
Kaiser Permanente.
If you go:
Senior Resource Day
9:30 a.m.- 2p.m., Oct. 9
2004 W. Powers
