Heritage Manor News: Older Americans Month

(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted by Patricia Duplechin, resident activity director at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Ville Platte. This column runs every Sunday in The Gazette.)
Each year in May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. It is a month-long observance in the United States devoted to celebrating older Americans and their contributions and raising awareness about issues related to age and aging.
The term older Americans is geared toward those aged 65 and over. This all began in 1963. At that time, about one-third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing. Older adults have built resilience and strength over their lives through success, failures, joys, and difficulties. Every president since Kennedy has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May asking the entire nation to pay tribute in some way to older persons in their communities.
May is also the month to celebrate Mother’s Day and Nursing Home Week. We have a lot of activities, dress up days, events, and socials planned for this occasion.
The staff of Heritage Manor sends get well wishes to all of our loved ones in the hospital.
Activities this week include manicures, in-room bedside rosary, group exercise, beauty shop, pokeno, bingo sponsored by the VVA, coin toss, snack wagon, mass, auction sponsored by Grace Home Health, and the monthly birthday party.