Elder Affairs

May is Older Americans Month

In marking May as Older Americans Month, we at the Executive Office of Elder Affairs salute the more than one million Massachusetts residents, sixty and older, who enrich our lives and bring stability and continuity to our communities. Today’s seniors live healthier, longer lives, many continuing to work or volunteer well beyond 65. While many seniors are caring for parents, husbands, wives, friends, siblings or neighbors, growing numbers of them are raising their grandchildren as well.

In his Older American’s month proclamation, President Obama noted:

“We owe older Americans a debt of gratitude and must work to help them age with dignity.”

Governor Deval Patrick and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs are committed to helping seniors live safely in the setting of their choice. We are dedicated to offering services and programs that promote and extend seniors’ independence, dignity, health and fulfillment. Through our twenty-seven Aging Service Access points (ASAPs) and twenty-three Area Agency on Aging, Massachusetts 349 Councils on Aging and senior centers offer activities, counseling, meals, companionship, volunteer opportunities, courses, diet and exercise classes. Frail elderly may remain at home with our home care services, or in well-run, nurturing assisted living and nursing facilities.

Seniors are a link to our individual and collective history: the foundation on which we build our future.

Eleanor Shea-Delaney