Celebrating Older Americans Month

This article was written by iACT’s Outreach Specialist Alyssa Haney.

Willie Mae Brown has seen and done much and had many people in her life that spans nearly 94 years. But for this widow, and many other seniors, loneliness now fills her day.

Ms. Brown and her late husband, whose friends called him Money, celebrated 70 years of marriage before his death in 2009. They grew up together in rural Texas, and after falling in love and getting married, moved to Austin to raise their children. They ran a popular convenience store in East Austin and lived a busy life full of love and joy.

May 1 marks the beginning of Older Americans Month. According to the Administration for Community Living’s website,

When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs.

At iACT, we are honored to be one of the organizations working tirelessly to ensure that Older Americans struggling to live on fixed or low incomes, no longer feel forgotten. During a recent visit, Ms. Brown expressed, “My greatest need is loneliness.” Although I thought at first we weren’t meeting that need, upon further reflection I realized our presence might be one of the most important aspects of our work.

Tomorrow, hundreds of volunteers will be repairing the homes of 10 homeowners in East Austin, a neighborhood in which older residents feel particularly marginalized. Replacing siding, repairing a roof and adding a fresh coat of paint increases the appearance and safety of a home. More importantly, those repairs and renovations by volunteers can help bring dignity to a homeowner and show them that they are not alone. Hands on Housing volunteers show seniors that others care about their well-being.

In this Older Americans Month, I encourage you to consider how you might reach out to someone who is feeling lonely or scared. I assure you, it is a truly transformational experience.

If you are interested in volunteering for Hands on Housing or know of someone who might need our services, please visit www. interfaithtexas.org/hands-on-housing/