May is a month of fresh beginnings with flowers in bloom, blazing a trail of color around the city. May is also when we celebrate Older Americans Month by acknowledging older adults as a growing and increasingly vital part of our country. The contributions they make to our communities are varied and deeply rooted, including 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.
The theme for this May is “Blaze a Trail,” and gives us the opportunity to raise awareness about important issues facing older adults. Health and fitness remains a top priority for aging adults. The Older Americans Act was recently amended to include support for modernizing senior centers and highlighting the need for promotion of healthy living and disease prevention.
Senior Services of Alexandria and the Successful Aging Committee will be celebrating this month at the annual Senior Health and Fitness Fair on Wednesday, May 25 from 10 a.m.-noon at the Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. in Alexandria. This free event will showcase local experts talking about the importance of being prepared: How to maximize your doctor visits, the benefits of a personal emergency home response system, and simple ways to keep safe and healthy, plus fun cooking and exercise demonstrations, including tai chi and line dancing, and free health screenings. Register for this free event by calling Senior Services of Alexandria at 703-836-4414, ext. 110 or at www.seniorservicesalex.org.
Please take time this month to acknowledge the contributions that seniors are making to Alexandria by reinventing themselves through new work and new passions, engaging in our community, and blazing a trail of positive impact on the lives of people of all ages.
For more information on the Older Americans Act go to acl.gov/olderamericansmonth. To learn more about trail-blazing older adults, visit oam.acl.gov.