Older adults are a growing and increasingly vital part of our country. The contributions they make to our communities are varied, deeply rooted, and include 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.

In 1963, we began to acknowledge the contributions of older people by using the month of May to celebrate Older Americans Month (OAM). Led by the Administration for Community Living, the annual observance offers the opportunity to learn about, support, and celebrate our nation’s older citizens. This year’s theme, “Blaze a Trail,” emphasizes the ways older adults are reinventing themselves through new work and new passions, engaging their communities, and blazing a trail of positive impact on the lives of people of all ages. 

While the Las Vegas Senior Lifeline, provides compassionate care to frail, lower-income seniors with resources to enable them to remain living independently in their own homes year around, we will use OAM 2016 to focus on how older adults in our community are leading and inspiring others, how we can support and learn from them, and how we might follow their examples to blaze trails of our own.

Throughout the month, the Las Vegas Senior Lifeline, a program of the Jewish Federation, will highlight the significant number of strong and independent seniors that are over 90 years of age and still on their own.   We encourage you follow us on Twitter, Instagram or check the web-site for profiles on our senior “Trail Blazers”!

Phyllis Benveniste is 95 years old and lives independently with very minimal support from the Las Vegas Senior Lifeline.  Last year Phyllis moved to California and “tried out” an Assisted Living Facility.  After three months she was back in Las Vegas because as she told her friends at the congregate meal “she didn’t need that much help.  Heck… I don’t even have a walker yet!”

At 92, Libby Kalick is feeling strong and independent despite a recent fall that resulted in a broken wrist.  Through the coordinated efforts and support of the Las Vegas Senior Lifeline and the Jewish Family Service Agency, Libby has the additional services in place that allow her to remain safe and in her own home, which is exactly where she wants to be. 

Las Vegas Senior Lifeline is located in the Alice and Harry L. Goldberg Senior Center, an inviting social, educational and informational center for senior adults. Services such as Kosher Meals on Wheels, Homemaking, and Prescription assistance are provided at no cost to qualifying seniors in the Las Vegas community.

 

Learn more at www.Jewishlasvegas.com

Or contact Lisa Popovsky, Director Las Vegas Senior Lifeline at 702-479-4450

Connect: Follow us on Twitter @JewishFedLV

Instagram @LVSeniorLifeline, @Jewishfedlv

Facebook.com/ jewishfedlv