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On Thursday, May 22, the Aging & Disabilities Department (AD) hosted the 60th Annual Older Americans Recognition Day (OARD) Awards at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. This milestone event honored exceptional older adults from across Los Angeles County for their outstanding service, leadership, and impact in their communities.
This year’s celebration was especially meaningful. In the face of recent wildfires that displaced many across the region, numerous older adults stepped up to support their neighbors—demonstrating strength, compassion, and a readiness to act when it mattered most. Their stories of service highlight a powerful truth: aging is not a limitation—it’s a continued opportunity for contribution.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Laura Trejo, Director of the Department, reflected on the significance of the moment: “Today, we are not just celebrating individuals—we are celebrating a movement. You are proving that growing older doesn’t mean fading away; it means stepping forward with more clarity, purpose, and strength than ever before.”
Keynote speaker Dr. Paul Nash, Professor of Gerontology at USC's Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, captured the essence of the celebration, noting: “You’re not over the hill. You built the hill, you paved the road, and you drew the maps for the next generation.”
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All five members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors shared recorded messages honoring the awardees.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Board, echoed the event’s spirit, saying: “Your service, compassion, and dedication reflect the very best of our communities. You are proof that age is not a limitation but a strength.”
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The OARD Awards are a signature event during Older Americans Month (OAM), a national observance led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL.gov) each May. This year’s theme, “Flip the Script on Aging,” invited communities to challenge outdated stereotypes and recognize aging as a time of purpose, possibility, and continued growth.
Dr. Nash urged the audience to rethink societal views on aging: “Let’s stop thinking of older adults as past their prime and start seeing them as prime movers... from slowing down to stepping up, and from aging out to leaning in.”
In alignment with this theme, the department launched the “Flip the Script on Aging” campaign video series, highlighting older adults across L.A. County who are redefining what it means to age. Watch the video series to hear their powerful stories.
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On May 17, 2025, the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department (AD) joined partners and community members to celebrate the reopening of Loma Alta Park and the launch of a new Satellite Senior Center—a vital resource for older adults in Altadena following the loss of the Altadena Senior Center to the Eaton Fire.
The newly renovated park now serves as a community hub, offering intergenerational programming, including an early childhood center, a satellite library, after-school programs, and dedicated space for older adults and people with disabilities. The Satellite Senior Center will continue many of the services previously offered at the Altadena site—including wellness classes, support workshops, and grab-and-go meals—ensuring older residents remain connected and supported.
“This is only the first day toward rebuilding, but it’s a happy day,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who championed the park's recovery efforts. “More importantly, we’re going to have the community back in the community.”
Overseen by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation (Parks), the revitalization of Loma Alta Park was made possible through partnerships with organizations like Fire Aid, the Annenberg Foundation, and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.
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“The sounds of children playing and people gathering again—that’s the sound of healing,” said Norma Edith García-González, Director of Parks & Recreation. “This park is a love letter to the community.”
The celebration also included local voices sharing what the reopening means to them.
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“To be hopeful about life again—that’s what this place gives us,” said resident Joe Nagy. “This means everything to us,” added Phillip Pollerana, another longtime community member.
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As Dr. Laura Trejo, Director of the Aging & Disabilities Department added, the new center represents more than a facility—it’s a sign of commitment: “Our priority has always been to provide a dependable source of community and care. Loma Alta Park helps us do just that.” |
Watch the L.A. County Channel segment: “Out of the Ashes: Loma Alta Park Reopens” here.
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On May 10, 2025, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department (AD), the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), Bet Tzedek Legal Services, and other local partners, hosted a Reverse Mortgage Workshop at the MonteCedro Senior Living Community in Altadena.
The workshop was designed to support older adults whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the Eaton Fire, with a focus on those holding reverse mortgages. Attendees received information on their rights and responsibilities, and gained critical guidance on how property loss may affect their loans.
“We’re here today to provide some very important information to the fire survivors of the Altadena community,” said Emilio Salas, Executive Director of LACDA. “Seniors with reverse mortgages are in a unique and vulnerable situation. Their loans were secured by their homes—homes that may now be gone.”
With over 300 households in the Altadena and Palisades fire areas holding reverse mortgages, many are left facing difficult decisions. The workshop brought together experts from local, state, and federal agencies to explain key terms, financial implications, and next steps.
For longtime Altadena resident Elvia Battoe, the session offered a chance to begin understanding her options: “I have a reverse mortgage. I don’t know what choices I have. That’s why I came here—to help me focus and figure out my next step.”
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In addition to presentations, attendees had access to resource tables offering case management, housing assistance, and support services for older adults, coordinated by the Aging & Disabilities Department and partner agencies.
Click to watch the story coverage by the L.A. County Channel.
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On May 3, 2025, members of the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities (LACCOD)—President Carlos Benavides, Second Vice President Ray Pizarro, and Treasurer Peggie Reyna—participated in the Accessibility Resource Fair (ARF) at Pasadena City Hall. Hosted by the nonprofit MobilityDog, the event brought together disability advocates, service providers, and community members for a day focused on accessibility, inclusion, and emergency preparedness.
Previously known as “Poodle Palooza,” the event was renamed to better reflect its mission of connecting individuals with disabilities to tools, resources, and information that promote independence and safety. The event featured workshops on emergency preparedness and accessible spaces, as well as live entertainment, art exhibits by artists with disabilities, and service dog grooming stations. Guests also enjoyed food and refreshments—including for their four-legged companions.
Founded by Janie Lynn Heinrich, who created MobilityDog after a life-changing spinal cord injury, the organization trains standard poodles and other service dogs to support people with mobility challenges. The fair also highlighted the importance of preparing for natural disasters—an issue made even more urgent in the wake of local wildfires.
The Commission’s presence underscored Los Angeles County’s continued commitment to promoting equity, accessibility, and community connections for individuals with disabilities.
To learn more about the work of MobilityDog and future events, visit https://mobilitydog.org/poodlepalooza.
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On May 8, 2025, over 220 attendees gathered at the San Gabriel Hilton Hotel for Mental Wellness Through Art, Education, Music, Games, and Social Connectedness, an event hosted by the Happy50Plus Foundation (happy50plus.org). The event focused on promoting mental well-being among older adults, with special attention to the Chinese and broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.
Highlights included an informative presentation by AARP on brain health and the unveiling of a collaborative mural created by seniors and youth from OneHouse Arts, symbolizing unity and cultural pride during AAPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.
The event was supported by local leaders, including Lisa Wong, Director of the Department of Mental Health (DMH), and AD’s own Assistant Director, Anna Avdalyan.
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In honor of Autistic Pride Day, AD's L.A. Found Program will host a live webinar on Wednesday, June 18, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. The session will focus on wandering prevention and available support resources for individuals with Autism and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs).
The webinar will include a special message from Dr. Laura Trejo, Director of the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department, as well as insights from expert guest speakers, including representatives from the National Autism Association and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (Regional Center Liaison and Family & Community Partnerships).
To register, scan the QR code above, or click here.
We invite you to join this important conversation and learn more about how to support individuals with Autism and IDDs in our communities.
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