This month Fayette Senior Services (FSS) joins senior service organizations and older adults across America in commemorating Older American's Month.

Celebrated since 1963, Older American's Month has historically been a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular those who defended our country. Nowadays it is also a reminder of the rapidly growing number of older adults in the United States and around the world. In Fayette County alone, persons over the age of 65 represent 10 percent of the population according to 2006 data.

Fayette Senior Services chose a theme of "Celebrate Our Age" for Older American's Month this year and challenged the Fayette Center Seniors to write original essays with the title, "What I Like About Being Older." This theme is in keeping with FSS’s goal to promote positive feelings in older adults about the changes aging brings to their lives. Participants put their hearts and minds to the task and produced some wonderful essays.

Three were chosen for special recognition. Winners read their essays before an admiring group of their peers and received awards from Andy Carden, executive director of Fayette Senior Services. First place winner Lyn Maloney says in her essay, “Old age is a gift. I have opened the package, and I love it!” Second place finisher Ida B. Walker describes herself as “proud” to be an older woman. Viola Padmore, the third place winner, gratefully adds, “It is a great blessing to be independent and sound of mind.” These seniors really know what it means to celebrate their age.

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