Older Americans Month

By: The Administration for Community Living

Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. This year’s theme, Aging Unbound, offers an opportunity to explore a wide range of aging experiences and to promote the importance of enjoying independence and fulfillment by paving our own paths as we age.

This May, join us as we recognize the 60^th anniversary of OAM and challenge the narrative on aging. Here are some ways we can all participate in Aging Unbound:

·        Embrace the opportunity to change. Find a new passion, go on an adventure, and push boundaries by not letting age define your limits. Invite creativity and purpose into your life by trying new activities in your community to bring in more growth, joy, and energy. 

·        Explore the rewards of growing older. With age comes knowledge, which provides insight and confidence to understand and experience the world more deeply. Continue to grow that knowledge through reading, listening, classes, and creative activities.

·        Stay engaged in your community. Everyone benefits when everyone is connected and involved. Stay active by volunteering, working, mentoring, participating in social clubs, and taking part in activities at your local senior center or elsewhere in the community.

·        Form relationships. As an essential ingredient of well-being, relationships can enhance your quality of life by introducing new ideas and unique perspectives. Invest time with people to discover deeper connections with family, friends, and community members.

To celebrate older Americans month, members of the Livable Community Policy Board and Work Group are volunteering by accepting proclamations in cities throughout Johnson County. To view the proclamations schedule, please click here.

Disaster PrepWise

by: Nick Ostrem, Project Coordinator for Disaster PrepWise at the University of Iowa College of Public Health

With spring already off to a stormy start and summer ahead bringing more potential bad weather, you want to make sure you’re as ready as you can be so you can feel safe and prepared when disaster strikes.

The Disaster PrepWise team is coming to the Iowa City Senior Center to help seniors build their own personal disaster plan. On May 24^th and June 7^th, from 9am to 4pm, our trained team members will be available to help anyone who wants to build their own disaster plan, free of charge. Participants will come away with a personalized disaster plan and a complimentary USB drive with a digital copy of their plan and other important disaster preparedness information. If you want to prepare your body as well as your mind, we’ll also have partners from the UI College of Nursing on hand to do free health screenings.

To reserve your spot ahead of time, email the project coordinator ahead of time at nostrem@uiowa.edu or call 319-467-1193 to schedule a time to meet with us. Walk-ins also encouraged, our team will be waiting & ready to help you get prepared.