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Healthy Aging Week Returns
Written By Robin Shepherd
y the year 2030, more
than one-quarter of
Americans will be
65 or older. For the first time in U.S. history, seniors will
outnumber children under the age of five. People are living
longer, and working longer either by choice or necessity.
Data has shown that aging on one’s own, without a
support network or community connection, is detrimental
to a healthy lifestyle. Santa Clara County aims to buck that
trend by bringing people together to create age-friendly
communities. The results stand to benefit generations
to come.
Age-Friendly Designation
Santa Clara County has the distinction of being the nation’s
first Age-friendly County with 100 percent participation from
its cities. In all, there are 15 Age-friendly cities, including
Morgan Hill and Gilroy, and county areas such as San Martin.
The World Health Organization (WHO) established the
Age-friendly designation to encourage counties and cities
to pursue a multi-year cycle of continuous improvement
evaluated against eight domains of livability:
• transportation
• outdoor spaces and buildings
• communication and information access
• social participation
• housing
• civic participation and employment
• respect and social justice
• community support and health
Notably, Santa Clara County added a ninth domain
focused on dementia-related support. An overview is
available online at: agefriendlysiliconvalley.org.
In South County, local civic, business and community
service organizations are exploring new ways to better serve
our senior population.
In Morgan Hill, the City’s Older Adult Services Supervisor,
Debbie Vasquez, and Program Coordinator, Denise Melroy,
are movers and shakers in this effort; along with represen-
tatives from Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, Friends
of the Morgan Hill Senior Center and the Senior Advisory
Committee, HomeInstead, Anthem/CareMore, Visiting
Angels, the YMCA, the Morgan Hill Aging Council, Morgan
Hill Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, and Santa Clara County.
“It’s a collaborative group and we’re thrilled to have their
ideas, expertise and support,” Vasquez said.
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
A Fun and Healthy Aging Week
From October 7th through 12th, the City of Morgan Hill
will host its second annual Healthy Aging Week. Each day
features activities for learning, fitness, socializing and fun for
seniors and their families. Last year’s event hosted nearly 500
unduplicated participants. Healthy Aging Week is open to
residents of Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy.
Senior Resource Fair Returns
Healthy Aging Week culminates with the Senior Resource
Fair, which connects seniors and their family members
with services and resources promoting seven dimensions
of wellness: physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual,
occupational, social and environmental.
For example, the City’s 50-plus fitness program offers a
variety of classes for seniors at all levels of ability. Healthy
Aging Week attendees get to try out classes for free.
Wellness has a lot to do with access to healthcare services.
This year’s Healthy Aging Week will include a workshop led
by Kaiser Permanente on Life Care Planning.
Having a sense of purpose is also part of wellness.
Seniors at or nearing retirement can reinvest their time and
talent as volunteers. The Senior Resource Fair will provide
information on opportunities to volunteer in the community.
Housing security is crucial to wellness. Senior living
communities such as Westmont, The Huntington, The
Lodge, and Loma Clara all have very high demand. Pacific
Hills Manor offers a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility.
As we work to find new solutions to the housing crisis,
senior housing must continue to be part of the focus.
Learn More Online
City of Morgan Hill
Centennial Recreation Senior Center
mhcrc.com
City of Gilroy
Senior Center
cityofgilroy.org
Santa Clara County
Department of Aging & Adult Services
sccgov.org
World Health Organization
who.int
august/september 2019
gmhtoday.com