Posted: | January 20, 2016 09:51 AM |
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From: | Representative Ed Neilson |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Resolution Designating February 2016 as "National Senior Independence Month" in Pennsylvania |
In the near future, I will be introducing a resolution designating February 2016 as “National Senior Independence Month” in Pennsylvania. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), 86% of adults over the age of 45 would prefer to stay in their current residence as long as possible, and 85% of adults over the age of 45 would prefer to remain in their local community for as long as possible. Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three adults age 65 or older experience a fall and over 2 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries each year. In order for seniors to ensure that their homes are a place they can live safely and independently, they should check that all rooms are well lit, install grab bars and handrails in restrooms, and keep floors and walkways clear of unnecessary items in order to be able to navigate areas of their home without fear of falling. For over 35 years, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging (AOA) has been providing services and programs funded under the Older Americans Act of 1965 designed to help seniors live independently in their homes and communities. Please join me in recognizing February 2016 as “National Senior Independence Month” in Pennsylvania in order to raise awareness of steps seniors and their families can take and services that are offered which allow older Pennsylvanians to remain in their homes and communities |
Introduced as HR688