Friday, April 25, 2003

Seniors honored this month in Fulton County

Fulton County's Older Americans Month celebration will kick off today, with a "Senior Citizens' Expo" of the public-private network serving the county's 150,000 elderly residents.

The event, which includes a tribute to persons age 100 and older, will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Helene S. Mills Senior Multipurpose Facility, 515 John Wesley Dobbs Avenue, Atlanta, in conjunction with the nearby Auburn Street Festival that weekend.

Sponsored by the Fulton County Human Services Department's Office of Aging and The Atlanta Medical Center, the Expo will feature exhibits, music, entertainment and examples of services provided through the Office of Aging. Special events will be held in north, central and south portions of the County during May to illustrate the national Older Americans Month theme, "What We Do Makes a Difference."

"Many people don't realize the many government entities, businesses, non-profit agencies and volunteers who work to provide quality services for seniors," says Melinda Davis, director of the Fulton County Office of Aging, which coordinates their activities. "Our partnerships have helped make Fulton County a leader in innovation and attracted local, national and international visitors to see how we do it."

Designed to be therapeutic, Fulton County senior services include nutritional, educational, health, transportation and social activities to enrich the minds, bodies and spirits of senior citizens age 55 and older. The Fulton County Office of Aging oversees the operations of 19 senior service sites.

For more information, call the Office of Aging's Information Hotline, 404-730-6000.