Letter to the Editor: Celebrating Older Americans Month

Older Americans Month is a time to celebrate older Americans, their stories and their contributions.

Led by the Administration for Community Living, this annual observance offers a special opportunity to support our nation’s older citizens. The 2023 theme is “Aging Unbound,” which offers an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how we can combat stereotypes.

As stated by President Joe Biden in his proclamation of April 28:

“On this 60th anniversary of Older Americans Month, we honor our nation’s senior citizens, whose lifetimes of hard work, devotion to family and commitment to community have laid the foundation for the country we are today. We have a rock-solid responsibility to ensure our nation’s seniors can age with dignity and financial security.

“Older Americans are the pillars of our community, and we owe it to them to value their wisdom, celebrate their contributions, and champion their well-being. … This month and beyond, I call upon all Americans to celebrate older adults for their contributions, support their independence, and recognize their unparalleled value to our Nation.”

The Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services encourage everyone to join in advocacy efforts for this vulnerable population.

Throughout the month of May, we encourage organizations in Delaware to conduct meaningful activities designed to highlight valuable information of interest to older adults and their families.

If you have a loved one in a Delaware long-term care facility and are concerned about the quality of care or services, please let us know! We would love to help or connect you with others to provide assistance.

Additionally, the Division of Health Care Quality and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program are other resources for Delaware families or residents receiving long-term care facility services.

You can find more information about the commission at courts.delaware.gov/dnhrqac/

To contact the commission: margaret.e.bailey@delaware.gov or 302-836-2133.

The division’s 24-hour complaint and incident reporting line is 877-453-0012, and a complaint form can be found at dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dhcq/mailform.html.

Contact the ombudsman program at 855-773-1002 or email dhss_osec_ombudsman@delaware.gov.

Lisa Furber

Chair, Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission

Margaret Bailey

Executive director, Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Com