World Senior Citizens Day – 7 New Grants!

World Senior Citizen’s Day is celebrated every 21st of August. This celebration recognizes the achievements and contributions senior citizens make and increases the awareness and issues that affect the elderly. This year, the coronavirus crisis has affected millions of older adults.

In the last 100 years, there have been 7 major pandemics in the USA:

1. The Spanish Flu began in 1918 and didn’t slow down until 1920, due to the enhanced spread through World War 1.
   
2. 116,000 deaths occurred when the Asian Flu reached the coastal cities of the United States in the summer of 1957.
   
3. AIDS became a national topic is 1984 and has claimed an estimated 35 million lives since it was first identified.
   
4. 2009 was the year of the Swine Flu in which the CDC states infected as many as 1.4 billion people across the globe.
   
5. In 2014, it was the Ebola epidemic, for which there is currently still no cure.
   
6. Announced in 2015, the Zika virus, spread via mosquitoes.
   
7. And most recently, Covid-19 which has already claimed 138,000 lives and counting in the USA alone.

Recent implementations have been brought into focus in the hope of giving back to the aging communities. Funding and grants have been issued to help improve the lives of the elderly and develop further research for health.

New grants recently announced to benefit the aging community:

• Grants to create and implement community-based projects that utilize volunteer workers ages 55 and older.
  
  
• Maine nonprofits and government agencies: Grants up to $1,000 for partnership with an artist for activities that benefit senior citizens. 
  
  
• Grants to Yukon senior citizens. Personal financial assistance is available to help the costs of generating indoor heat during the coldest months of the year.
  
  
• Canada researchers: Grants up to $25,000 for research projects in the areas of aging and the elderly. 
  
  
• Grants to eligible community-based organizations and health centers: to improve the lives of aging citizens.
  
  
• Grants to Ohio nonprofit organizations to enhance the lives of seniors citizens in need in eligible locations.
  • Examples of previously awarded grants include programs-
    To provide transportation
    Homemaker services
    Recreational activities
    Hot meals
    Library services for nursing homes
    Court-ordered guardianships

World Senior Citizen’s Day is an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of the aging community and give back. Do you know an organization or a senior citizen who deserves recognition? Share their story on our Facebook page.