CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Connect, Create and Contribute.
That is the theme of the Aging Well in West Virginia campaign by the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services (BSS) this year and it was celebrated on Friday in Charleston.
As Older Americans Month is being celebrated all over the United States in May, BSS held a day-long program at the Charleston Town Center with around 60 exhibitors.
“It’s important to have a visual so people know who we are and what we offer,” Jacqueline Proctor, the Deputy Commissioner for BSS said.
“Sometimes someone says they didn’t know we had this. We want to do our absolute best to ensure that every senior in this state, 55 or older, knows what is available to them to use at every stage of their life.”
The exhibitors included everything from providers of health care, medical equipment to important information for seniors such as fraud prevention and healthy living steps.
As part of the celebration on Friday, BSS held its first “Aging Well” awards where five individuals were recognized out of 45 nominations for best representing the theme of connect, create and contribute.
The day also featured musical performances from The Carpenter Ants and school groups including Andrew Jackson Middle School Choir, John Adams Middle School, Stonewall Middle School, George Washington High School, and the South Charleston Middle School Strings.
The BSS offices are located in the Charleston Town Center and are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Proctor encourages any seniors and their families/caregivers that missed Friday’s event to stop by the offices.
“Looking after our seniors is a community effort,” Proctor said. “Having all of those individuals come and see what resources the state of West Virginia has to offer would be really great.”