50+ Lifestyles

Blaze a Trail Now and All Year Long

By Peggy Dykes
Community Relations Director
Milestone’ Area Agency on Aging

Visit any grocery store or restaurant in Iowa and you will see that the state has a large senior population. In fact, 15.6 percent of Iowa’s population is 65 or older and is expected to increase to 20.5 percent by 2030, creating unique challenges for seniors and their quality of life. It will also present challenges to the State of Iowa as it tries to meet their needs.

May is a perfect time to raise awareness about important issues facing older adults as the nation celebrates Older Americans Month. “Blaze a Trail” is this year’s theme, encouraging older Americans to advocate for themselves, their peers, and their communities. Blazing that trail is nothing new to the Older Iowans Legislature (OIL) organization which was sanctioned 40 years ago by the Iowa General Assembly to advocate for seniors before the Iowa Legislature and the Governor.

OIL is a non-profit, non-partisan, all-volunteer group with no formal headquarters or paid staff. They do not make campaign contributions or sell insurance. They are simply a state-wide volunteer organization that advocates legislative action on such issues as Elder Abuse and funding for programs such as LifeLong Links, Ombudsman and Substitute Decision Maker. OIL has achieved legislative success on various issues but is always working to find ways to improve these programs to meet the needs of older Iowans.

OIL continues to advocate for expansion of Elder Abuse legislation and passage of the Care Act, which would offer information and educate designated family members on how to better care for their loved-one following release from the hospital.

OIL reminds us that there is strength in numbers. More members can reach more state representatives and state senators who will support OIL’s advocacy and pass legislation beneficial to all of Iowa’s seniors.

If you are interested in becoming a member or learning more, visit www.olderiowans.org or contact Helene Hurley Magee at (563) 580-9758. Milestones Area Agency on Aging supports their mission.

Peggy Dykes is Community Relations Director at Milestones Area Agncy on Aging. She can be reached at (563) 324-9085, ext. 212 or at pdykes@milestones aaa.org.