Senate Resolution 113 - Introduced PAG LIN S.R. ________ H.R. ________ 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY HECKROTH and JOHNSON 1 3 A Resolution honoring the work of the department of 1 4 elder affairs and Iowa's area agencies on aging 1 5 home=delivered nutrition programs and March for 1 6 Meals campaign. 1 7 WHEREAS, the department of elder affairs provides 1 8 advocacy, educational, and prevention services to 1 9 older Iowans so they can find Iowa a healthy, safe, 1 10 productive, and enjoyable place to live and work; and 1 11 WHEREAS, the Iowa home=delivered meal program helps 1 12 those men and women in communities across Iowa who are 1 13 age 60 and over, homebound, disabled, frail, and at 1 14 risk; and 1 15 WHEREAS, the Iowa home=delivered meal program 1 16 provides nutritious meals to individuals who are 1 17 experiencing long=term chronic conditions as well as 1 18 those who may just need short=term assistance; and 1 19 WHEREAS, good nutrition is essential to good 1 20 health, and the meals provided contribute to the 1 21 overall well=being of Iowa's seniors by helping them 1 22 to remain independent and in their own homes and 1 23 communities and by helping them to avoid premature or 1 24 unnecessary institutionalization; and 1 25 WHEREAS, the Iowa area agencies on aging nutrition 1 26 programs serve this state's older population; and 1 27 WHEREAS, currently there are 571,000 Iowans over 1 28 the age of 60 representing 19 percent of Iowa's 1 29 population. By the year 2020, this number is 1 30 projected to be 753,000, or one=quarter of Iowa's 2 1 population; and 2 2 WHEREAS, the demand for services to support older 2 3 adults in their homes and communities will continue to 2 4 increase at an astounding pace due to the increasing 2 5 numbers of aging Iowans; and 2 6 WHEREAS, it was during the month of March that the 2 7 law was enacted establishing senior meal programs in 2 8 the Older Americans Act of 1965; home=delivered meal 2 9 programs across the country now conduct local, 2 10 community=based March for Meals awareness campaigns; 2 11 NOW THEREFORE, 2 12 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate 2 13 during the month of March: 2 14 1. Recognizes the important work the department of 2 15 elder affairs, Iowa's area agencies on aging, and 2 16 local nutrition programs throughout the state do in 2 17 preventing senior hunger and improving the quality of 2 18 life for approximately 15,000 of our state's seniors 2 19 each year; 2 20 2. Recognizes the important role the department of 2 21 elder affairs and the area agencies on aging play in 2 22 increasing awareness of the need for senior nutrition 2 23 programs and wellness; 2 24 3. Honors the nutrition programs for their 2 25 continuing hard work and dedication on behalf of our 2 26 state's seniors; and 2 27 4. Encourages elected officials to support their 2 28 local senior nutrition programs by participating in 2 29 their March for Meals events and delivering meals to 2 30 homebound seniors in a community within their 3 1 district. 3 2 LSB 6494SS 82 3 3 jr/sc/24.1