The American Library Association has joined the National Institutes of Health promoting Go4Life. Go4Life, an exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH, is designed to help individuals fit exercise and physical activity into their daily life.

Older & wiser workout [videodisc]: for active older adults by with Sue Grant; produced by FitFlix Productions

Lilias! yoga: your guide to enhancing body, mind, and spirit in midlife and beyond by Lilias Folas

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 60 million Americans will increase 3.6 percent in 2012, the Social Security Administration announced today. The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that nearly 55 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2012. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2011.
[Photo Courtesy of AP Images.]

Generations United recently published a fact sheet explaining The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and it's impact on older adults and children: Health Care Benefits for Children & Older Adults: The Affordable Care Act.

Since 1963, May has been declared Older Americans Month by the Agency on Aging. The theme of this year's celebration — Older Americans: Connecting the Community — pays homage to the many ways in which older adults bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of our communities. It also highlights the many ways technology is helping older Americans live longer, healthier and more engaged lives.

When people hear the words "long-term care," they often think only of nursing homes, but long-term care includes much more. Personal care, home health care, transportation services and adult day care are all long-term care services, and they can be critical to an older person's health care. Find information on the range of long-term care services available and suggestions about planning for future needs on NIHSeniorHealth, the health and wellness website for older adults from the National Institute on Aging.

The Canton Seniors Book Discussion group has recessed for the summer. Book discussions will resume on September 28, 2011.  We will be reading Sarah Gruen's Water for Elephants.  Copies of this book will be available beginning Tuesday, August 30, 2011. Ask at the Adult Reference Desk for a copy.

The group's 2011-2012 book discussion titles and dates will be available on the Canton Public Library  book clubs' website in August.

Each year the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging and the Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging join to honor outstanding contributions by Michigan's older citizens. The Senior Citizen of the Year Award highlights the contributions to civic and social life made by persons aged 60 years and older. Awards are given in two categories:

• Leadership in the community
• Service provided to others

Below are guidelines and nomination forms for the 2011 award. Nominations must be submitted by organizations and signed by the presiding officer, e.g., the executive director, CEO, or board president. Nominations must be postmarked by Monday, May 2, 2011 and sent to:

As Canton Township's 100 Days of Health initiative continues, consider the needs of older family members. Research has discovered that as we age, our diets and our need for dietary supplements become greater. Doctors are increasingly concerned about boosting the levels of vitamins and minerals that we need as we grow older. Loss of appetite may account for a vitamin/mineral deficiency in older adults.

Canton Supervisor Phil LaJoy is hosting a Senior Summit on Monday, September 13, at  Summit on the Park, from 9:00AM-2:00PM. Supervisor Phil LaJoy began this event when he was serving as a State Representative, and is now continuing it for Canton seniors.

The Senior Summit will feature a wide array of informational booths and presentations geared toward today’s senior. Also included are door prizes, a continental breakfast, lunch, bingo and a shredding truck. The event is free, however registration is required. To register, please call Canton Towhship offices at (734) 394-5185.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging (OSA) today warned citizens about recent reports of scam artists contacting seniors in an attempt to obtain personal information by asking them to reveal Medicare, Social Security or bank account numbers, or pay a fee to receive a $250 Medicare rebate check.

The DHHS and OSA are urging Medicare beneficiaries not to provide personal information to anyone representing themselves as a "Medicare" or "government" worker if contacted by phone, mail, or in person in exchange for a $250 Medicare rebate check. These one-time rebates are automatically mailed to Medicare recipients when they reach the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage gap, also known as the 'donut hole.'

For further information, call the national Medicare office at (800) 633-4227. In Michigan, call MMAP at (800) 803-7174.

We've moved! Beginning with the Canton Seniors Book Group's Wednesday, November 17 meeting, the group will meet at the Canton Public Library in Group Study Room A, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Copies of THE RED TENT by Anita Diamant are available at the library, see an Adult Reference Librarian to pick up your copy.

The Madonnas of Leningrad: a novel by Debra Dean — (September 22, 2010) — You can pick up a copy of this book at the Adult Reference Desk beginning  Wednesday, August 25.

Age Strong! Live Long! is the focus of the Administration on Aging's Older Americans Month 2010. National Aging Services Network of state, tribal, Area Agencies on Aging such as The Senior Alliance, and community services providers such as Canton Seniors Center offer a wide variety of activities in May and throughout the year. Via AOA:

This year’s Older Americans Month theme — Age Strong! Live Long! — recognizes the diversity and vitality of today’s older Americans who span three generations. They have lived through wars and hard times, as well as periods of unprecedented prosperity.

The Administration on Aging (AoA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently published A Profile of Older Americans: 2009. The annual Profile of Older Americans was originally developed and researched by Donald G. Fowles, AoA. Saadia Greenberg, AoA, developed the 2009 edition Just a few highlights from this report:

• The older population (65+) numbered 38.9 million in 2008, an increase of 4.5 million or 13.0% since 1998
• The number of Americans aged 45-64 – who will reach 65 over the next two decades – increased by 31% during this decade
• Over one in every eight, or 12.8%, of the population is an older American
• Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 18.6 years (19.8 years for females and 17.1 years for males)

If you or an older person you know has fallen, you're not alone. More than one in three people ages 65 years or older falls each year. The risk of falling — and fall-related injuries — rises with age. But falls can be prevented, and three videos describing how older adults can reduce their risk have just been added to the Falls and Older Adults topic on NIHSeniorHealth.

(Image Credit: Leonard Freed. WEST GERMANY. 1965. (NYC30404). Magnum Photos. 01 Jan 1965. eLibrary. Web. 25 Jan 2010.)