SENATE DEDICATES MAY TO SENIORS

HARRISBURG, May 5, 2004 -- State Sen. Christine Tartaglione is again urging Pennsylvanians to take some time over the next month to make sure our senior citizens are “aging well and living well.”

Tartaglione, D-Philadelphia, sponsored a resolution, adopted unanimously by the Senate, declaring May “Older Americans Month” in Pennsylvania.

The resolution bolsters the theme for national Older Americans Month: “Aging Well and Living Well.”

“Pennsylvania’s senior community is the second largest in the nation,” Tartaglione said. “It’s important that we make sure they can continue to contribute and lend their experience to the issues facing our Commonwealth.”

When “Older Americans Month” was first recognized in 1963, there were 17 million Americans over the age of 65, Tartaglione noted.  Today, that number has doubled.

“By honoring our seniors, we support the stability and preserve the heritage of our communities,” Tartaglione said.

Still, Tartaglione said, many older Pennsylvanians are neglected not only by the busy generations behind them, but also by the government they assumed would protect the quality of their lives.

“I hope the next month can be a reminder to all of us that we can’t forget this important, but sometimes vulnerable, segment of our society,” Tartaglione said.

Older Americans Month is celebrated throughout the nation with seminars, festivals, fairs and other activities which highlight the interests and accomplishments of our nation’s senior citizens.  For specific information on events, contact your local Area Agency on Aging.  In Philadelphia County, contact the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging at 215-765-9000 or visit www.pcaphl.org. 

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