Page 14 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
Older American
Month
CELEBRATION
ach May, the Administration
of Community Living leads
Eour nation’s observance of
Older America Month. The 2019
theme - Connect, Create, Contribute
- encourages older adults and their
communities to:
• Connect with friends, family and
services that support participation; Jackson and Judge Ernie Houdashell
• Create by engaging in activities
that promote learning, health and
personal enrichment;
• Contribute time, talent and life
experience to benefit others.
Communities that encourage the
contribution of older adults are
stronger.
For more than a decade, the Older
American Month Celebration in
Amarillo has been hosted by the Area
Agency on Aging. This year’s event
brought together numerous community
partners that help older adults in
maintaining a good quality of life.
This event is designed to educate and
entertain the senior adults
in attendance, even if some
of them don’t need help yet.
This year’s partners included
NWTHS Senior Advantage;
Amarillo Senior Citizens
Association; Brookdale Senior
Living Communities, Medi
Park West and Sleepy Hollow;
SunWest; BSA Hospice of
the Southwest; Park Central;
Olivia’s Angels; The Craig;
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Agency, Park Central, and AP
HealthCare and Palliative Care.
14 Amarillo Senior Link
by Jelaine Workman 2019
This year’s event began with
a City Proclamation read by
Mayor Ginger Nelson. The failures that we have gone through and
keynote speakers, Dr. Paul Matney learned from.” He continued, “Older
and Joslyn Harney, were followed by Americans are in a perfect position in
lunch provided by The Craig Senior life to be able to give back. We want to
Living Community and a talent show do things that we didn’t have time to
with Judge Nancy Tanner, Judge Gary do when we were working and raising
our families.”
determining the winners in three
categories. Joslyn Harney, Program Coordinator
with the City of Amarillo introduced
Dr. Matney, former President at a new program of the City of Amarillo
Amarillo College, spoke to the group Park and Rec Department called
of more than 200 older adults. He Center Without Walls . The virtual
exclaimed, “I am one of you.” He project was designed “to maximize
encouraged the audience to get resources and community relationships
involved in our community, doing while leveraging technology and
something that gives back. “Volunteer social media to connect active adults
– doing something you like. Join a 50+ with community programs and
board, help others, garden, but do services, develop new services/
something at some level to be an active programs for the age group, and create
part of our community.” Dr. Matney networks which share and develop
added, “Think of all the wisdom, all program services and resources.” By
the years of experience, the successes using technology and community
raising families, contributing to this engagement, the Center Without Walls
community, paying taxes and even our will keep the Active Adult population
of Amarillo informed
about ways to promote
their health (physical,
mental and spiritual) and
wellness, explore economic
security and connect to the
community.
Socialization is critical in
helping seniors stay engaged
and healthy. Older adults
need to know how and
where to connect with others
who have like interests.