National Senior Citizen Day event planned for Aug. 21

My Glacier Village will celebrate National Senior Citizen Day on Monday, Aug. 21.

The organization is hosting "Coffee and Conversations About Aging in the Flathead" at Black Rifle Coffee at 10:30 a.m.

Congress designated Aug. 21 as National Senior Citizen Day in 1988 and then President Ronald Reagan proclaimed that we “reserve a special day in honor of the senior citizens.

In Reagan's words, “With improved health care and more years of productivity, older citizens are reinforcing their historical roles as leaders and as links with our patrimony and sense of purpose as individuals and as a Nation. Many older people are embarking on second careers, giving younger Americans a fine example of responsibility, resourcefulness, competence, and determination. And senior citizens are serving as volunteers in various programs and projects that benefit every sector of society. Wherever the need exists, older people are making their presence felt—for their own good and that of others….We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older—places in which older people can participate to the fullest and can find the encouragement, acceptance, assistance, and services they need to continue to lead lives of independence and dignity.”

“Reagan’s words ring even truer today,” said Jenn Prunty, co-Founder of My Glacier Village, an organization that has been serving area seniors who opt to age independently in their own homes since 2019.

Statistically, our society is rapidly aging in America, and people are living longer than ever. 10,000 Americans are turning 65 every day and by 2030, Baby Boomers and older are on track to outnumber youth for the first time in history.

My Glacier Village is a local chapter of the nationwide Village-to-Village Network that began on the East Coast in 2002. It was led by a group of seniors who had watched their own parents age and did not want to be limited or marginalized as their parents were. They created the concept of neighbors helping neighbors as they aged. Today, there are over 350 local Villages across the United States.

“Our local village was literally created by seniors, for seniors — older adults who want to stay active and engaged in their community and know they can rely on each other when they need a little help,” said Prunty.

One of the missions of My Glacier Village is to help seniors make their plan about where and how they want to age, and subsequently, implement it. They also provide education, support, and numerous activities to counteract the effects of social isolation, which can become a serious health risk for seniors.

"Coffee and Conversations offers an opportunity to explore a wide range of aging experiences with other like-minded adults and consider the importance of enjoying independence and fulfillment by paving our own paths as we age,” said Prunty, adding that, "It is also an occasion to discuss important aging trends and challenge the narrative on aging for today’s senior citizens."

Black Rifle Coffee Company is located at 305 2nd Ave. West in Kalispell. For more information, visit myglaciervillage.com, or call 406-250-8784.