Press Release - Older Americans Month Celebrated
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2008
CONTACTS
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us
Jeanette Hensley, 303.919.9652, jeanette.hensley@state.co.us
GOV. RITTER CELEBRATES OLDER AMERICANS MONTH
Gov. Bill Ritter today announced he will mark Older Americans Month by sponsoring a week of activities around the theme of, "EngAge Your Future: Planning for the Second Half of Life."
"With 76 million Americans in the Baby Boom generation (born between 1946 through 1964), reaching what has traditionally been defined as the retirement years, Colorado must find new ways to keep this population engaged and take advantage of all this group has to offer," Gov. Ritter said. "After all this is the population that brought us civil rights, desk top computers and mobile phones."
The week kicks off on Monday with the Governor speaking to a group of employers at a breakfast aimed encouraging employers to consider older adults when making workforce decisions.
"I hope Coloradans of all generations will find this opportunity as exciting as I do, and get involved in this chance to access the reservoir of knowledge and problem-solving abilities within this population," Gov. Ritter said. "We are fortunate to live in a time when people are enjoying a much longer life span. Now is the time to push back the retirement years and make use of our good health and the varied opportunities that are now available to our state's older adults."
A list of the week's events, locations and contact information follow:
7:30 a.m. Monday, May 19
EngAge In an Encore Career Employer Breakfast
Warwick Hotel, 1776 Grant St., Denver
Contact: Jeanette Hensley, 303.866.2636
8 a.m. to Noon, May 20
Presentation: Depression and the Interfaith Community
Boulder County Aging Services will be hosting a presentation from 8 a.m. to noon,
First Congregational Church, 1128 Pine St., Boulder.
9 a.m., May 20
Gov. Ritter Signs Legislation into Law
Gov. Ritter will be signing several pieces of legislation into law that will address the needs of older Coloradans at Denver Educational Senior Citizens Inc., 1901 E. 13th Ave., Denver. The bills are:
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 20
EngAge in Lifelong Learning Webinar: Lifelong Learning and the Aging Brain.
Presented at Red Rocks Community College,
13300 W. 6th Ave, Lakewood, and accessible to th general public via the Web by going to: https://my.webex/join
Event Number: 920 043 105
Event Password: rrcc
Throughout the day, May 20
Free Seminars: Academy for Life Long Learning
Presented at Wellshire Presbyterian Church,
2999 S. Colorado Blvd. and Active Minds locations across the metro area.
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wed. May 21
Community Events: EngAge in Power of Knowledge
AAA staff ombudsmen and volunteers will offer a wide variety of resources and door prizes at three meal sites:
3 to 5 p.m. Wed. May 21
Community Reception at the Heritage Senior Center in Sterling
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thur., May 22
EngAge Healthy Living Strategies
A variety of presentations and information tables will be available regarding mental health, long-term care partnerships, nutrition and other topics.
Location: Lowry Campus, Aspire Behavioral Health, 8140 E. 5th Ave., Denver.
Friday, May 23
EngAge Your Favorite Older Adult
Take a friend, loved one, neighbor or co-worker to lunch and celebrate their life experiences.