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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2007

Department of Aging Asks Communities to Plan Active, Intergenerational Celebrations This Grandparents Day
Exercise Emphasized as Part of Go Forward Healthy Month

COLUMBUS - Sunday, September 9, 2007, is National Grandparents Day and the Ohio Department of Aging encourages communities, organizations and individuals to plan intergenerational activities to celebrate the holiday, with an emphasis on exercise and physical activity.

"Grandparents Day is a great opportunity for our young people to benefit from the memories, talents and interests of the older generation," said Barbara E. Riley, Director of the Department of Aging. "But it is also a great time for grandparents to get active with their grandchildren and benefit from their energy and enthusiasm."

Suggested activities include walk-a-thons, litter patrols, lawn game tournaments (e.g., badminton, croquet, flying disk golf), walk/run relay races (the grandparents walk, the children run), charity car washes and more.

Riley also reminds everyone not to ignore those who are separated from their families by distance or illness, or who may not have grandchildren of their own. "There are many older Ohioans who are not fortunate enough to have family nearby. A wonderful grandparents day activity would be for children to 'adopt' grandparents to spend time and correspond with throughout the year."

Grandparents Day was created by a West Virginia homemaker to encourage grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage of their grandparents. It became a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1978 and is observed annually on the Sunday following Labor Day.

Grandparents Day this year kicks off a week of focused awareness on the benefits of exercise and activity in healthy aging that is part of the Department of Aging's Go Forward Healthy Month campaign. Details about the campaign and a listing of awareness topics throughout the month are available on a special Web page: www.goldenbuckeye.com/goforward.

About ODA

The Ohio Department of Aging provides leadership for the delivery of services and supports that improve and promote quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. Working with 12 area agencies on aging and other community partners, the department offers home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.goldenbuckeye.com.