Area Agency on Aging Champions Choices for Independence
Hammond, Indiana—America’s aging population reached a turning point in 2006. One of the nation’s largest generations, the baby boomers, started turning 60. According to Northwest Indiana Community Action Corporation (NWICA), as many as 78 million people constitute the baby boom generation; in fact, one in six Hoosiers today is age 60 or over. This generation stands to make an enormous contribution to the rich character and wisdom older adults offer to all of us.
“Baby boomers are among the millions of mid-life and older adults who are continuing to redefine how we age,” said Gary Olund, Executive Director. “Our society must prepare for an aging population that’s as multifaceted as any in our history. We applaud the recent actions of the Governor Daniels and his administration for creating a separate Division on Aging to better address these issues.”
Proclaiming this May as Older Americans Month, the governor declared, “Older Americans Month is an opportunity to celebrate older Americans, to renew our dedication to their well-being and to raise awareness of federal, state and local programs designed to keep individuals independent and strengthen their quality of life.”
This year’s theme, Choices for Independence, reflects the continued commitment of the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA), the Indiana Division on Aging, and NWICA to help our nation prepare for a larger aging population, and to bolster the efforts of baby boomers and older adults to achieve healthy aging. Independence for adults as they age relies on a balance of important elements: empowerment in consumer choice; healthy lifestyles that emphasize nutrition, physical activity, prevention, and active participation in one’s health care; and access to the tools necessary to make informed decisions. Combined, these elements help all adults maintain the dignity they deserve, providing more opportunities to live longer independently while contributing to communities they cherish.
Our federal and state administrations support the desire of older adults to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. NWICA, the designated Area I Agency on Aging for Jasper, Lake, Newton, Porter, Pulaski and Starke Counties proudly continues to take part in this effort. We work knowing that the combination of independence and choice are essential to the pursuit of healthy aging. Our projects cover a range of issues important to older adults, including health care, diet and physical activity, transportation options, and housing. Among current projects is a large-scale effort to modernize the services provided under the Older Americans Act to ensure dynamic, efficient service that stays in step with the changing needs of our older citizens.
We are at a crucial point in our national history. Together with seniors across this land, we advocated for help with prescription medicine purchases. Now seniors can make independent choices from among many Medicare prescription drug plans to choose what best fits their individual needs. In addition, several years ago, NWICA and our community service partners presented hundreds of petitions to the state administration, requesting that Indiana use tobacco settlement money to fund medications for seniors. That program, HoosierRx, has also become a reality.
Yet so many seniors still do not have adequate help, nor have they signed up to get it. May 15 is the deadline for Medicare Part D enrollment without penalty. We urge seniors to exercise the freedom to choose one of the many available programs.
An informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 10th, 1:30 p.m. at the Gary (Main) Public Library, 220 W. 5th Avenue. Learn about your options, talk to a pharmacist about your medicines, hear what other assistance is available, and enjoy the refreshments and fellowship. If you choose to do so, you may enroll in a prescription drug plan while at this meeting. Please call our office at (219) 937-3500 or (800) 826-7871 for further information and/or meeting reservations.
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posted: 5/1/2006
