OLDER AMERICANS MONTH: Students give back to seniors

Published 6:30 am Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Students at Limestone County Career Tech Center, Creekside Elementary School and Elkmont High School recently donated their time and expertise to Limestone County seniors.

On May 9, students with Creekside’s Junior Beta Club visited the East Limestone Senior Center and engaged with senior citizens. The students learned about the meal program and senior activities, played games with the seniors and helped with a few housekeeping projects.

Students enrolled in the information technology course at the Limestone County Career Tech Center recently offered training classes to our seniors. Athens senior center patrons took a field trip to the tech center so students could offer tips on how to use social media and devices like iPads.

“… A couple of the seniors were excited to learn about Facetime so that they could see and talk to their grandchildren who live out of state,” said COA Director Susan McGrady.

Also this month, Elkmont fourth-graders used grant proceeds to purchase items and prepare shoeboxes for Elkmont Senior Center patrons. The students participated in a “walking field trip” from the school to the center to deliver the boxes and learn more about the center and its programs.

“I can’t express how proud I am of the students and teachers in this county,” McGrady said. “They truly have giving hearts. No matter our age or education level, we can learn from each other and help each other. The seniors have truly enjoyed the interaction with the kids.”

McGrady said she welcomes students to visit senior centers throughout the summer months. She added students can assist in meal deliveries, call bingo games or just learn from the experiences of older adults.

Another benefit to volunteering, she said, is the experience can be used on resumes and college applications.

For more information on how to volunteer with the COA, call McGrady or Madison Curnutt at 256-233-6412.

Older Americans Month

This month marks the 54th anniversary of the first Older Americans Month, while Monday was the 100th birthday of John F. Kennedy, the president who enacted the observance.

The monthlong celebration of older Americans began as Senior Citizens Month and was created following a April 1963 meeting between Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens. When the month was first established, only about 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday and about one-third of older Americans lived in poverty.

Now led by the Administration for Community Living, Older Americans Month offers an “opportunity to learn about, support and recognize our nation’s older citizens,” according to a release about the observance. This year’s theme, “Age Out Loud,” emphasizes the ways older adults are “living their lives with boldness, confidence and passion while serving as an inspiration to people of all ages.”

Officials with the Limestone County Council on Aging say they have acknowledged the importance of the observance while striving to fulfill their daily goal — to serve the county’s senior population “as best as we possibly can.”

“Each day we strive to help seniors have a fun-filled day, no matter what type of service they are utilizing,” said a press release from the local COA.

The agency stays busy year-round. During the county’s previous fiscal year, the agency helped 533 seniors save $159,199 through Medicare Part D counseling sessions. It provided 15,000 rides to those unable to drive to doctor visits and delivered 95,000 meals to homebound residents through Meals on Wheels.