News About Aging

May was designated as Older Americans Month (OAM) 56 years ago to recognize the contributions of this growing population. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM provides resources to help older Americans stay healthy and independent and to help communities support and celebrate their diversity.

Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) will sponsor a team at the Walk Against Hunger on Saturday, April 27.

Philadelphia has a host of organizations seeking volunteers. Here are three possibilities for you to consider. Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University The academy has many volunteering pos- sibilities. “In some positions you greet guests while in others you work behind the scenes,” says Maria Morales, the academy’s manager of volunteer services. She urges […]

By Constance Garcia-Barrio

Nature has painted butterflies with a cunning brush, notes Chris Johnson, 70, a volunteer in the butterfly exhibition at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 19th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. “This one has what looks like an owl eye on each wing,” Johnson says, referring to the winged insect in his hand. “Thanks to its deceptive wing pattern, the owl butterfly scares off potential predators, like small birds.”

Dorothy Hembry is so warm and outgoing, it seems like just about anyone would feel comfortable talking with her. It’s a quality that has served her well as a 17-year volunteer with the Senior Companion Program.

Managed by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA), the Senior Companion Program matches homebound elders with volunteers who visit with them, providing a much-needed social connection. Companions may also help with tasks such as light meal preparation, accompanying the person to medical appointments or doing small errands. In some cases, the seniors are isolated and have no family nearby; in others, the senior companion provides much-needed respite for a caregiver.

On Thursday, May 16, the Emergency Fund Coalition (EFC) for Older Philadelphians will celebrate its 30th anniversary at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue Hotel. As part of its celebration, the EFC asks your assistance in the nomination process for community service awards to be presented at the luncheon.

By Constance Garcia-Barrio

For many of us – whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa — the December holidays don’t come with a Hallmark halo, but rather a gauntlet of potential problems. The passing years may have left us divorced or widowed, like me, or with family members living at a distance. We may also wrestle with thorny relationships and grief. However, we can take steps to navigate the season’s rough spots, go beyond a mask of merriment and find true peace.

By Constance Garcia-Barrio

It’s said that every life is a work of art. If that’s true, then serving children of different creeds and colors has helped to make Elayne Blender’s days a brilliant creation.

Blender, 70, volunteers three half-days a week at Mount Airy’s Henry Houston Elementary School, tutoring mostly African-American students in literacy and math and coordinating the school’s 12 other volunteers in the school library.

For 55 years, Older Americans Month (OAM) has been observed to recognize older Americans and their contributions to our communities. Led by the Administration for Community Living’s (ACL’s) Administration on Aging (AoA), this celebration each May offers an opportunity to hear from, support, and celebrate our nation’s elders. This year’s OAM theme, “Engage at Every Age,” emphasizes the importance of being active and involved. You are never too old (or too young) to participate in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.