Honoring Seniors’ Legacy: Voice Of The Township
The National Senior Citizen’s Day is celebrated on August 21st, a Thursday this year, and that celebration gives us an opportunity to celebrate and appreciate senior citizens for their services, accomplishments, and the dedication to so many causes they have given over the course of their lives.
The history of Senior Citizen’s Day in the United States dates back to 1988 when President Ronald Reagan signed the federal recognition honoring seniors. The celebration took place for the first time in 1991 and has taken place every year since. The day is intended to increase awareness of the factors and issues that affect older adults, such as health deterioration and elder abuse. It is also a day to recognize and acknowledge the contributions of older people to society.
“For all they have achieved throughout their lives and for all that they continue to do, we owe our gratitude and sincere greetings to our senior citizens. We can show our gratitude and appreciation better by making sure our communities are good places. Age and maturity, places where older people can participate as much as possible and find the encouragement, acceptance, support, and services they need to continue living a life of independence and dignity.”
Here in Fort Wayne, there are many resources for seniors to help where help is needed and to provide enrichment for those seniors looking to stay active and engaged.
The Fort Wayne Community Center, 233 S. Main St., hosts amazing events year-round like the Active Aging Week events the first week of October. The Community Center offers year-round programs, events, and activities for people of all ages with special emphasis on programming for adults, age 50 and over.
The 46th annual Fort Wayne Senior Games, hosted by Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, happened from June 2nd to July 2nd this year. These games are designed for adults aged 50 and older, offering over 40 events focused on physical and mental activity and social interaction.
The games include a variety of events, such as pickleball, shuffleboard, darts, and computer mind games, and they are held at various locations throughout Fort Wayne. The purpose of the games is to promote physical and mental well-being, socialization, and overall enjoyment for senior citizens.
As the average age in the United States rises with the retirement of the Baby Boom generation, it becomes more and more important that senior citizen issues are recognized and addressed. This year even the new pope, Leo XIV, came out with a statement regarding the need for a “revolution” of care and gratitude including the need for regularly visiting older people and “the forging of relationships that can restore hope and dignity to those who feel forgotten,” he wrote in a message released on July 10. “If it is true that the weakness of the elderly needs the strength of the young, it is equally true that the inexperience of the young needs the witness of the elderly in order to build the future with wisdom.”
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