DCOA E*News At-A-Glance
Each
May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL)
celebrates Older Americans Month to recognize older Americans for their
contributions to the nation. This year, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the
Older Americans Act (OAA), ACL will focus on how older adults
are taking charge of their health, getting engaged in their communities, and
making a positive impact in the lives of others. The theme for Older Americans
Month 2015 is Get
into the Act.
Older Americans Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of community engagement as a tool for enhancing the wellbeing of older adults. Now is the time to Get into the Act to make the benefits of community living a reality for more older Americans. Together we can promote healthy aging, increase community involvement for older adults, and tackle important issues like the prevention of elder abuse. Read more about Older Americans Month here.
Every May, the Older
Americans Act (OAA) celebrate Older Americans Month in order to acknowledge and
recognize the contributions older Americans make to the nation. In order to
spotlight the difference older people make for their families and communities, American Society
on Aging will be sharing stories and pictures submitted to them
that show the impact of community engagement on the well-being of older adults,
and on all members of society. Submit a story or photo today!
|
National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH), has partnered with DCOA to put a fork in food waste and promote composting as an environmental solution that improves soil health and addresses senior hunger. On last Wednesday, NFESH and the seniors at Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center planted veggies in compost from foodwaste. Composted food waste returns to the senior nutrition programs as nutrient-rich soil where it can be used to create gardens. This gives seniors the opportunity to produce nutritious foods while they engage in healthy physical activity. The food they grow can be distributed to others in the community who suffer from hunger, so that What A Waste is a project that ends senior hunger while seniors end hunger.
|
|
The
DC Senior Games is a yearly competition, hosted by The DC Department of Parks and
Recreation (DPR) and sanctioned by the National Senior Games Association
(NSGA) that brings together seniors from across the District to participate in
athletic activities, while promoting healthy living for a longer, more robust
life. Over 80 athletes competed in the 2014 DC Senior Games. Each year, the DC
Senior Games features activities including: basketball, bowling, horseshoe
toss, pickleball, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field.
Athletes
who participate in the 2015 DC Senior Games may qualify to compete in the
National Senior Games, which are held every odd numbered year. In 2013, over 30
seniors represented the District of Columbia at the National Senior Games in
Cleveland, OH. The 2015 National Senior Games will be held July 3 – 16, 2015 in
Bloomington/Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.
For
additional information about the DC Senior Games, including how to volunteer,
please call (202) 664-7153.
District senior
citizens 65 years of age are invited to attend SOME SENIOR SUMMER
CAMP 2015. The camp is for seniors who need a vacation
and cannot afford it on their own. This five-day experience is filled
with excellent accommodations, meals, arts & crafts, activities, and time
to relax in nature.
WHEN? July 13-17, 2015 OR
July 20-24, 2015
WHERE? West Virginia –
Seniors are transported via charter bus to and from the air conditioned
retreat center, 90 minutes from Washington, DC
HOW? Vacationers submit a completed Application,
Proof of Monthly Income and a Medical Form signed by a doctor who gives
approval for participation in the program. Applications are due
by June 1, 2015.
REMEMBER that there is no “fee” to attend
camp. SOME raises funds for the support of the camp. We do invite
you to make a donation of whatever you can afford when you get to camp but no
one is ever denied admission because of inability to contribute.
To request an application or if you have any
questions, contact: SOME Senior Summer Camp, (202) 797-8806 ext.
1018 / tperanich@some.org.
Please join the White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders on May
12, 2015 at The George Washington University in
Washington, DC!
Held
during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, this Summit
will be an unprecedented and historic all-day convening of senior federal
officials and community leaders. The day will include conversations with
federal officials and AAPI leaders, performances by distinguished AAPI artists,
and interactive sessions on diverse issues including economic growth,
education, health care, civil rights, and immigration. The Summit will
celebrate President Obama’s leadership, showcase Administration policies and
programs that have supported the AAPI community over the past six years, and
outline priorities for the next two years and decades to come.
As
a participant, you will have the opportunity to Connect, Share, and Mobilize:
-
Connect. Interact
with federal and community leaders from across the country working on
various issues to advance the AAPI community.
-
Share. Discuss
your own experiences, stories, and priorities with leaders and other
participants.
-
Mobilize. Gain
tools to mobilize your communities to expand opportunity for AAPIs
everywhere.
Your
participation in the Summit will be vital as we continue our work together to
improve the quality of life for AAPIs. The Summit is free of charge and open to
the public.
For more information please e-mail WhiteHouseAAPI@ed.gov.
|
The DC Healthy Communities
Collaborative is a coalition of four hospitals and four community health
centers that came together in 2012 to address the health needs of the
Washington, DC community: Children’s National Health System, Howard University
Hospital, Providence Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Bread for the City,
Community of Hope, Mary’s Center, and Unity Health Care. The Collaborative is
developing a citywide community health needs assessment. To make sure that the
community’s voice is heard, we are conducting a series of focus groups,
interviews, surveys, and forums with DC residents, community-based groups, and
stakeholders as part of the needs assessment process. We will use the
assessment findings to develop a community health improvement plan that is
responsive to the needs identified in the assessment. We request your
participation in this process by attending a 60-minute focus group.
We want to learn about
your perspective on what facilitates health in our city and, likewise, what the
barriers are to health. As you represent a community organization that serves
the DC community, we value your opinion! Thank you in advance for participating
in our truly collaborative process that not only identifies the health needs of
our city, but also creates a plan for advancing health outcomes.
We plan to conduct
the focus groups in May. If you are interested, please contact Kimberle Searcy
at ksearcy@childrensnational.org
for focus group dates.
|