Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow.
Older adults have made countless contributions and sacrifices to ensure a better life for future generations. Since 1963, communities across the country have shown their gratitude by celebrating Older Americans Month each May. This celebration recognizes older Americans for their contributions and demonstrates our nation’s commitment to helping them stay healthy and active.
This year’s theme for Older Americans Month is “Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow.” Tonya Cedars, Human Services Director, Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging, adds “the theme focuses on injury prevention and safety to encourage older adults to protect themselves and remain active and independent for as long as possible.”
Unintentional injuries to this population result in at least 6 million medically treated injuries and more than 30,000 deaths every year. With an emphasis on safety during Older Americans Month, we encourage older adults to learn about the variety of ways they can avoid the leading causes of injury, like falls.
While Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging (ECCAAA) provides services, support, and resources to older adults year-round, Older Americans Month offers an opportunity for us to provide specialized information and services around the important topic of injury prevention. This information will help older adults take control of their safety and live longer, healthier lives.
This month, aging service providers throughout the region will conduct activities and provide tips on how to avoid the leading causes of injury. To learn more about Older Americans Month and how you can participate, contact ECCAAA at 252-638-3185 ext. 3015 or follow us on Facebook.
ECCAAA is part of the national aging network established through the Older Americans Act. Our agency will advocate, plan, develop, and support a comprehensive system of quality services designed to attain and preserve the quality of life, health, and independence of older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers. ECCAAA serves nine counties: Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, and Wayne.
Submitted by: Jillian Hardin, Human Services Planner, Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging