1 August 17, 2018 Message from the Secretary This Week's Message
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August 17, 2018 Message from the Secretary This week’s message begins with a confession. Since 2015, when I began serving in this privileged post for the Wolf Administration, I’ve followed in the footsteps of my predecessor, former Secretary of Aging Brian Duke, who began each Friday Wrap Up with a ‘Message from the Secretary.’ A quick Google search tells me that since January 2015 until today, 186 Fridays have come and gone. For the most part, the Friday Wrap Up has been published on each of those Fridays, albeit on the Fourth of July, Christmas, and New Year’s, the Wrap Up is abbreviated, offering a themed message rather than my message and other detailed information we desire to share with the Aging network. My confession is that until today, I have never before referenced a prior week’s event in my message. Simply put, the event I want to share with you occurred in Lycoming County last Friday, and with travel time, event time, and a publication deadline, there was not enough time for me to write about the experience afterwards. While I could have written the message ahead of time in anticipation of what I would experience, I was hesitant to do so, as, like all events that I am honored to participate in, last Friday’s celebration was quite unique and very special. So, there’s my confession – for the first time in 3½ years and 186 Friday Messages, I am writing about an event that did not occur this week. My travels on Friday, August 10, led me to South Williamsport, Lycoming County, for the Pathways to Fitness Dedication. Participating with me was my friend and cabinet colleague, Cindy Dunn, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It was meaningful for Secretary Dunn and I to participate in the dedication together as the Pathways to Fitness initiative was funded by both DCNR and the Department of Aging. Moreover, the initiative showcased an array of wellness enhancements in the South Williamsport Community Park Complex and the STEP RiverWalk Center, and highlighted their connection to the overall Susquehanna RiverWalk. STEP stands for Success Through Engagement and Partnership. STEP serves as the Community Action Agency for Lycoming/Clinton counties, and it houses the Lycoming/Clinton Office for Aging. One of STEP’s Office for Aging Senior Community Centers is the RiverWalk Center. The RiverWalk Center was the site of the former DCNR offices, and a few years ago when it was purchased and renovated in order to house the senior community center, the workers on the project managed to incorporate wood and bricks from the old DCNR building into the new RiverWalk Center, which turned out really beautiful. Since the new center is perfectly situated at the starting point of the South Williamsport RiverWalk Trail, and the ramp to the RiverWalk is right across from the center, the name “RiverWalk Center” fit perfectly. In order to support the relocation and renovation of the RiverWalk Center, STEP applied for and was awarded a Senior Community Center grant in the amount of $112,500. After the completion of that phase of the project, through DCNR, the RiverWalk project secured funding as a Health Pilot Project, and through PDA, it was awarded a Senior Community Center Grant in the amount of $90,000, which DCNR matched as part of its pilot. These state awards helped them to purchase seven LifeTrail fitness stations and playground improvements in the South Williamsport Park Complex, as well as the purchase of bicycles, tricycles, walking poles, and surreys which can be signed out for use at STEP’s RiverWalk Center. While the overall project was designed to increase connection to the Susquehanna RiverWalk and provide 1 community assets for long-term healthy living, the project was so much more. It was an investment in the people who call South Williamsport home. It brought multiple public and private partners together, demonstrating that when we work together we can blaze a trail of wellness that connects neighborhoods and people. It serves as a reminder for all older Pennsylvanians of the opportunities available to them to remain active and engaged in their community, and wherever possible, to utilize Pennsylvania’s over 12,000 miles of trails. Moreover, its success serves as evidence that recreational enhancements are essential to creating places where Pennsylvanians want to live, work, and play. The STEP RiverWalk Center now serves as the very heart for healthy aging and having a healthy heart is essential to having a strong community, city, region, and state. It was a true honor to participate in the Pathways to Fitness Dedication, which was made even more special when a surprise announcement was made. The PA Chapter of the American Planning Association presented a “Great Place in Pennsylvania” designation for the Susquehanna RiverWalk to the Lycoming County Commissioners and Transportation Planner Mark Murawski. The community pride was palpable and with the sun shining down, it was a great day for Secretary Dunn and I to ride one of the surreys. Considering Secretary Dunn’s very long legs, compared to my very short ones, riding a surrey together was an adventure to say the least, and while riding down the hill to the first exercise station was very enjoyable, peddling back up was not as fun. We then toured the RiverWalk Center with the seniors in attendance. From a Get the Dirt on Gardening demonstration, to a Healthy Aging through Local Harvest demonstration, to the Lycoming County Audubon Society display, there was something for everyone. Fred Shrimp, Director of the STEP Office for Aging, and his AAA staff and center coordinators deserve a tip of the hat, for ensuring that every day STEP’s Centers for Healthy Aging--senior community centers--are fulfilling STEP’s mission to engage individuals, families, and communities in their own strategies for success, and to achieve that success through partnerships. Side note: As the eyes of the world have now turned to South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the Little League World Series, if you are going to catch any of the games, I encourage you to take a little time to also visit the RiverWalk Center trail, which is right in the footprint of the Little League complex. It’s worth the experience. While I cannot believe that we are wrapping up the third week of August, the week provided me with lots of windshield time. I journeyed on Monday to Bethlehem, Northampton County, for a Senior Scam Event at the Andrew W. Litzenberger House that was hosted by Representative Steve Samuelson. Joined by Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell, we were able to meet with nearly 50 residents from the senior high rise to talk about how they could protect themselves from becoming victim to a scam or financial exploitation. Tuesday brought me to York College, York County, for a Cabinet in Your Community event. It was a pleasure to be with fellow cabinet members, including Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Jen Smith, Labor and Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, and Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell. There were great questions posed and lots of passion from several of the participating seniors who shared their concerns about rising property taxes. Wednesday allowed me the good fortune to travel to the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana County, for a Health Care in Your Community event. I was joined by my Health Hub colleagues, Health’s Dr. Levine, Human Services Secretary Miller, Drug and Alcohol Programs’ Secretary Smith, and the Insurance Department’s Chief of Staff Allison Beam. Similar to the Cabinet in Your Community events, the Health Care in Your Community initiative provides a platform for engagement between health and human services secretaries and the community to discuss issues surrounding health care. The most popular topic we heard was regarding Pennsylvania’s opioid crisis, along with concerns for persons who 2 need to access long term services and supports, and questions about the availability and affordability of health insurance. Without a doubt, my past six work days were filled with many opportunities to not only witness Mother Nature at work, with all of the rain the commonwealth has experienced, but also provided me with the privilege of listening to and learning from our fellow Pennsylvanians who deserve to live and age healthy and well. Teresa Osborne Secretary LGBTQ Aging Summit Registration Open The Department of Aging’s Inaugural LGBTQ Aging Summit will be held October 9-10, 2018, in Harrisburg and registration to attend is now open. To learn more, apply for scholarships, or to register your attendance, click here. Legislative Update Pennsylvania House of Representatives The House will return to session on Monday, September 12, 2018, unless sooner recalled by the Speaker. Pennsylvania Senate The Senate was not in session this week and will return on Monday, September 24, 2018, unless sooner recalled. Education and Outreach Office Health and Wellness Program The Health and Wellness Program focuses on health promotion and disease prevention activities for older Pennsylvanians with a special focus on health risk screening, nutrition, chronic conditions, fall risk, exercise, and strengthening to prevent fall-related injury, monitoring behavioral health, and managing medications. Please see upcoming wellness workshops below: Berks – Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (education on living a healthier life) Friedens UCC Church/Oley Library 3 337 Main Street Oley, PA 19547 Dates: Wednesdays, August 1, 2018 – September 5, 2018 Time: 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Please contact: Kathy Roberts, Health & Wellness Coordinator, at 610-374-3195, ext. 230 No charge for this class Good Shepherd UCC 170 Tuckerton Road Reading, PA 19605 Dates: Tuesdays, August 7, 2018 – September 11, 2018 Time: 1 p.m.