by Cynthia Germain
Yes, someone thought it would be a good idea to give our older adults a day of recognition – August 21st. In our country, that was President Ronald Reagan in 1988. The goal was to recognize the contributions of older adults to family, community, and society, and to raise awareness about issues that affect them—such as health, independence, and quality of life. You can see the full heartfelt Proclamation at https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-5847-national-senior-citizens-day-1988?utm.
Over time, the observance spread internationally. In 1991, The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to recognize and promote the rights of older persons worldwide. The date stayed the same, but the name evolved into World Senior Citizen’s Day in many countries, keeping the focus on honoring seniors globally and encouraging actions that support their well-being.
Normally, I would give suggestions on how to celebrate this day and our community’s elders. However, a local program, Senior Life Solutions, has already done a fantastic job through their monthly newsletter that I receive via email (special nod to Kristina Blackley) and pleased to share with you below. We know that feeling down, anxious, or disconnected isn’t just “a part of getting older”. This life-changing program gives older adults the tools, support, and connection to feel like themselves again—worth checking out if you or someone you love is ready to rediscover joy.
Seniors have tons of helpful info in unlimited categories for younger folks. But a government starving for control asked some academics and entrepreneurs to develop a method to weed out the influence of parents and grandparents on their children to make the population less unique and more conforming. That method is the smart phone. It is especially desired by the young who are not connected to their elders. This is a loss of choices called freedom.