Board proclaims May as Older Americans Act Month

May 1, 2015

Judith Sagalovsky addresses the board at Thursday's board meeting.

Judith Sagalovsky left behind a family of 12 siblings and 27 nieces and nephews when she moved to Portland from Venezuela last year.

She was lonely when she walked into the Hollywood Senior Center.

“They greeted me with a smile; they allowed me to hug them. They said you can volunteer,” Sagalovsky told the Board of County Commissioners Thursday. “In Venezuela, we don’t have this kind of thing. Tai Chi. Yoga. I started to work with Meals on Wheels…If you feel sad, they give you hugs. I’m so proud to be in Portland, and I love this city and the senior center.”

Sagalovsky, other seniors, and advocates of older Americans came out Thursday to support a board move to proclaim May as Older Americans Act Month in Multnomah County.

Fifty years ago, Congress passed the Older Americans Act to fund local government collaborations with nonprofits to better serving aging residents. In Multnomah County, that has meant more culturally-specific and LGBT programming, senior meals sites, respite care, referral services and advocacy.

“Seniors have physical, financial and family issues that make them more vulnerable in the last years of their lives,” said Commissioner Judy Shiprack, who co-sponsored the proclamation along with Commissioner Loretta Smith. “It’s a stage in life that’s pretty scary.”

Commissioner Judy Shiprack (pictured) co-sponsored the proclamation along with Commissioner Loretta Smith.

Shiprack watched her own parents struggle in their final years.

When her father was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 they moved to Portland and left behind the life they built in Reno. When her father died, his wife of 60 years was alone.

“My mother was in a senior center, plunked down into a cliquish society that was like high school with walkers,” she said.

The support that seniors like her mother have found through county programs makes Shiprack proud, she said. “I’m proud to support our most vulnerable.”

Deloris Peters, who also came to Oregon without family or friends, said she was overwhelmed by the support she found at the Jewish Family & Child Services, a county partner that provides free in-home counseling for older adults.

“The program overwhelmed me with the support that was available,” she said. “It came at a time when it was particularly valuable.”

Antione Favre spoke about his wife of 50 years. She has dementia now and he cares for her at home. She’s still upbeat he said, and loves to dance. But four times a month, he drops her off at Marie Smith Center, a center for seniors that provides respite to caretakers.

“That six hours gives me a chance to do what I need to do,” he said. “I really enjoy taking her there on Wednesdays. But I kinda miss her because we’ve been together so long.”