Retired general anticipated at SCIA banquet
May 9, 2012
NSU’s Calecas Hall gets interior facelift
May 9, 2012
The population is aging and growing numbers of seniors want their presence known. Differing from previous generations that were seemingly resolved to living out the remainder of their days removed from society, today’s seniors – including 77 million baby boomers that began turning 65 in 2010 – are doing more to sustain themselves as an influential group.
Participants at the Shady Acres Senior Center in Houma and residents at the neighboring Shady Lane Apartments demonstrated their creative productivity during the past year by completing a park at the back of their property at 6512 Main St.
“The park has actually been in existence since 2010,” Terrebonne Council on Aging Executive Director Diana Edmonson said of the three acre area, equipped with concrete walking trails, flower gardens, vegetable garden spots for participants and a stocked pond still being developed for casual fishermen.
A $10,000 federal grant financed the park development. This was assisted by funding through the sale of 32 marked memorial benches, priced at up to $500 each, and $200 contributions for the planting and maintenance of flowerbeds around the benches.
“We tried to do as little spending of Council on Aging funds as we could,” Edmonson said, as she noted the personal investment senior participants are taking on projects like this.
Marking May as Older American Month, seniors who have participated in building this park not only maintain the area themselves, they open it to other individuals – a minimum age is 63 – that fit into the category of senior citizen.
Edmonson said the park will be showcased during a spring fun day on May 25. “We are going to have a band, games, prizes, all things that they can use,” Edmonson said. “This is for the seniors. They can bring family members, but families cannot come without a senior.”
Edmonson noted that as health care, economic security and other concerns face aging area residents, increasing numbers are becoming more active in making their concerns and expectations known.
Advance tickets for the fun day are available at area senior centers, or can be bought at the gate.
By the year 2020, the American population ages 55-64 will have grown 73 percent since 2000. As the population ages, the younger generation of seniors is expected to be more vocal in their expectations of government, health care, society and themselves.
Building a park is the initial example of aging area citizens who have to continue making their presence known. Edmonson said to expect to see more as senior centers and organizations grow in membership and become a unified voice.
Terrebonne Council on Aging Executive Director Diana Edmonson pauses at the memorial bench she has purchased and donated to the Shady Acres Senior Park. Buying permanent memorial markers helps finance development of the area.
