Dear Friends,
Happy #
healthy
aging
! This week, our agency officially assumes its new name,
Office of Healthy Aging
(OHA). It is a welcome departure from a narrative on aging in Rhode Island – and elsewhere – that for too long, has been rooted in ageism; punctuated by negative descriptors, such as ‘frail’ and ‘vulnerable’; and anchored in the past.
As we all know, adults with disabilities and people age 50 years and older are central to our economic and social vitality as a state. In fact, this age cohort represents nearly 40 percent of our state workforce and nearly 60 percent of consumer spending in Rhode Island. Our population is growing older (which by the way, isn’t on its own a bad thing!). And today, people are living longer; they are more active, more independent, and more ethnically and culturally diverse. It’s time to embrace a narrative on aging that acknowledges the ongoing contributions and realities of older Rhode Islanders and adults with disabilities.
The Office of Healthy Aging is proud to be Rhode Island’s chief advocate for people over 55 years of age and adults with disabilities. As we make this brand shift, our focus will continue to be on empowering people to age healthfully and happily – and to feel safe in their surroundings. With your support, we will continue to deliver an array of programs and services that help people, their families, and caregivers thrive. And we will also continue to explore opportunities together to further strengthen our network of supports and better connect Rhode Islanders to information and resources. Thank you for your partnership.
Thank you also for joining us in advocating for this pivot in Rhode Island’s narrative on aging. Older Rhode Islanders and adults with disabilities deserve to be celebrated; they deserve to have their stories told, the right to author their own life, and plentiful opportunities to participate in society. They’ve earned it; they’re still earning it. That’s the Rhode Island story. And it’s one brimming with optimism and a healthier outlook on aging.
Please help us spread the word about this exciting new chapter in our work together by forwarding this email to your networks. You can also follow us on
Facebook
and
Twitter
@HealthyAgingRI and share messages from there; please use the hashtag #AgingRocks (let’s make it a thing
😉
).
Healthy aging takes a village. Thank you for being part of ours.
All my best,
Rosamaria Amoros Jones, Director
