Recently retired me has started to uncover a whole new world of resources to explore. I am not the only person getting older and dealing with issues. There are 46 million adults age 65 and up in the US alone, facing some of the same problems that I am. So there is help out there, and finding out about available resources is comforting (and empowering too).
There are specialized groups like AARP (American Association of Retired People at https://www.aarp.org.), National Council on Aging (https://www.ncoa.org), Administration on Aging (https://acl.gov/about-acl/administration-aging.), Senior Corps or AmeriCorps Seniors (https://www.americorps.gov.), National Institute on Aging (https://www.nia.gov.)…. and many more.
There are groups addressing specific senior issues such as poverty, hunger, or injustice. Justice in Aging (https://www.justiceinaging.org.) is fighting senior poverty through laws. Meals on Wheels is well known for its outreach meal delivery services (https://mealsonwheelsamerica.org.) addressing senior hunger and isolation. Pension Rights Center (https://www.pensionrights.org.) strives to protect and promote retirement security. Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (https://www.alzfdn.org.) helps seniors and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s/dementia. National Center On Elder Abuse (https://ncea.acl.gov.) works to ensure that all older adults age with dignity and honor.
There are organizations only focused on helping certain segments of seniors. For instance, the Alliance for Retired Americans (https://www.retiredamericans.org.) exists solely for retired trade union members.
Additionally I discovered that there is even an Honor Flight Network (https://www.honorflight.org.)- a network of non-profit organizations that works to honor US veterans with all-expense paid trips to the memorials of the respective war they fought in- how wonderful is that?
For example, in May 2022 Honor Flight Network hosted 85 veterans and their guardian companions on a three day trip to Washington DC to visit military memorials there. 101-year old Army pilot Dudley Gladding was the oldest Honor Flight veteran on that excursion. “I had 40 missions over the Philippines and the Pacific,” he reminisced. Gladding modestly failed to mention that the enemy shot him down on his 31st mission, yet he simply continued on with his brave service. Like so many other veterans of what has been called the Greatest Generation, these free trips to historic sites mean the world to them. They are such a small gift for these surviving veterans’ incredible patriotism. It is wonderful to find such dedicated organizations out there.
For improving skills, there is a non-profit education company called SeniorNet (https://www.seniornet.org.), that specializes in computer and internet education for adults 55+ or for those in need, with impairments, or veterans. Who does not need to improve their computers skills in this tech age?
By the way, there are other classes available (e.g. AARP website) for free too. I have taken a few (e.g. “Remote Workplace”, or “Creative Writing of Children’s Books”). They were fun to do (and I even got Certificates of Achievement for completing them). There are community classes, free or inexpensive out there as well- you just have to look around for all those opportunities.
A whole new world indeed! It is just a Google search of “senior organizations” away. Retired me is so glad there are many resources available in what can sometimes seem a lonely journey as a retiree facing new challenges.
Reach out, there’s a world of help out there.
