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- Pittsburgh, 5/15/2003
Governor Rendell: Senior AIDES Is Vital Program
For Immediate Release May 15, 2003
Contact: Sue Carroll 301-578-8868
Pittsburgh—Gov. Edward G. Rendell opened the Senior AIDES Program Annual Conference May 14 by stressing the vital importance of Senior Aides in light of budget restraints that have forced Pennsylvania and other states to reduce many community services.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell was the keynote speaker at the Senior Service America annual conference held in Pittsburgh May 13—17.
Now, Gov. Rendell said, seniors are stepping in to fill the vacuum, and he praised the community service work performed by these older Americans.
Senior Service America Inc. awards grants under a Department of Labor program to place seniors in community service agencies, where they receive training and encouragement to enter—and re-enter—the job market. The first day of the national conference featured some of the Senior Aides’ success stories, as well as special recognition for participants in the program, including subgrantees and host agencies.
“This annual conference gives us a chance to recognize those seniors, agencies and employers who are making a difference in their communities through the Senior AIDES program,” said Anthony Sarmiento, executive director of Senior Service America. “We’re proud of their efforts.”
Two panel discussions during the first day of the conference covered important topics for seniors, such as “Keeping Your Brain and Memories Alive and Well” and “Bringing Seniors Online.”
“It’s important for all of us to understand the basics of the brain,“ said Dr. Paul D. Nussbaum, one of the experts featured in the first panel. “Most people can and do retain the health and vitality of their brains as they get older, and I offered some practical tips on how people accomplish this goal.”
The panel discussion about helping seniors navigate the Information Superhighway featured Ann Wrixon, president and CEO of SeniorNet, a non-profit organization that provides older adults education for and access to computer technologies, to enhance their lives and enable them to share their knowledge and wisdom.
“[Seniors] understand the value of learning computer skills to make them employable,” said Wrixon. “Our model is set up for older adults to teach older adults.”
The whirlwind day concluded with a recognition dinner, honoring:
- Kim Petersen, executive director of the Carol Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation of Modesto, Calif., which employs seniors in assisting the families of crime victims and missing persons.
- North Carolina Central University, for coming up with the idea for Senior Service America’s silver and gold ribbon campaign to honor seniors for their contributions to their communities.
- Louise Sinclair and Maria Villaran, two seniors who earned their GED diploma through the Senior AIDES program.
- The Pentair Foundation and the University of Pittsburgh, for their intergenerational studies program, Generations Together.
The dinner’s keynote speaker, Paul Petersen, who was a young star for years on “The Donna Reed Show,” talked about “forced retirement at 21,” focusing on aging, work and identity. “Actors, young and old alike, know the pain of age discrimination,” said Petersen.
The conference runs through Saturday. More than 200 people are in attendance, representing such national organizations as Catholic Charities and the United Way, local government and community service agencies and private employers.