Director's Message
V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008April was Volunteer Appreciation Month and May is Older Americans Month. PSRC combines these in May to celebrate the 300 volunteers--most of whom are older adults-- who have helped PSRC this year. They are the embodiment of our new Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning program. This program is designed to help people contemplating retirement explore the many facets of retirement planning (health, finances, activities, relationships, etc) so that they can create a successful individualized plan with the right balance of work, recreation and giving to the community. It is being offered free to area employee and civic groups thanks to grants from Princeton Area Community Foundation and the New Jersey Foundation on Aging. To schedule a presentation, call Carol King at 924-7108. In addition, the program is teaching organizations how to attract and retain older adult volunteers. The U.S. Administration on Aging notes that beginning in 2011, the first of 78 million baby boomers will start transitioning into retirement, kicking off an expansion in the number of elderly people that will continue for decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one out of every nine baby boomers will live to be at least age 90. Our Nation will benefit in many ways from a larger population of older adults, a group that constitutes one of our greatest resources. Older adults support our society by providing millions of hours of volunteer, community, and civic service through formal organizations and a variety of informal arrangements. You enhance our communities and personal lives by sharing and transferring knowledge of cultures, values, and life experiences among generations. Thankfully, the contributions of older adults will continue to flourish in the coming years, since older citizens of today and tomorrow promise to be among the most active and engaged older adult populations in our Nation’s history. PSRC’s volunteers visit and assist home-based seniors, teach classes, read with children, help with events and in the office, and prepare Mature Princeton for mailing. Some use familiar skills and others have learned new skills to meet our needs. New friendships are formed on the job. Each individual is making a meaningful contribution every time they come in. We are deeply appreciative of the gift of these volunteers. Let us know if you would like to join us! This year’s theme for Older Americans Month, “Working Together for Strong, Healthy, and Supportive Communities,” speaks to the opportunities we have to create better care and reinforce healthier societies for all ages. AoA urges communities to improve older adults’ overall quality of life by helping them:
With support from you, our collaborators and volunteers, PSRC is engaged in these efforts 365 days a year. Thank you! Susan W. Hoskins LCSW |
Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |