May is Older Americans Month

In 1963, there were only about 17 million Americans who had reached their 65th birthday -- about nine percent of the nation’s population. One third of those, almost 6 million, lived in poverty. There were few programs designed to meet their needs.

That began to change when President John F. Kennedy designated May as “Senior Citizens Month.” The name was changed to “Older Americans Month” in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. It’s the time each year when special attention is called to the issues that affect older adults -- with the goal of helping them improve their quality of life.

Today, there are more than 36 million Americans age 65 and older -- about 12 percent of the population. By 2030, it is estimated that number will grow to represent 20 percent of the population.

The Meals On Wheels Association of America (http://www.mowaa.org/) is dedicated to the mission of eliminating senior hunger in our country. Nearly 40 percent of deaths in America can be attributed to poor health habits, including poor eating habits. Meals On Wheels programs across the United States provide vital services for homebound individuals who are nutritionally at risk.

In Stark and Wayne counties, the number of seniors outpaces the national figures. According to the 2007 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Stark County was 378,614, of which 15.5 percent were age 65 and above. In Wayne County, 13.3 percent of the 113,554 residents were 65 and older.

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties serves as many as 2,000 meals a day to homebound individuals of all ages, but our core demographic group is seniors in the two-county area – and, as the numbers reveal, it’s a larger proportion of the population than the national average. In addition, we offer congregate dining at 14 of our sites. People age 60 and over who can access transportation are able to dine in a social setting. Studies have shown that engaging in social activities within the community can greatly improve mental health.

Research has also demonstrated a strong relationship between volunteering and mental health, including improved mental and physical health, greater life satisfaction, lower rates of depression and lower mortality rates. The majority of volunteers with Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties are seniors, and we applaud them for their dedication and service. We wouldn’t be able to fulfill our mission without them.

We are pleased to join with all Americans in saluting our seniors during Older Americans Month 2009.

For more information about Older Americans Month: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/004210.html

See a report on Older Americans at the Meals On Wheels Association of America website: http://www.mowaa.org/Document.Doc?id=69