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4 <br /> that meaningful connections have on the well-being and health of older adults — a relationship <br /> underscored by the US Surgeon General's Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection <br /> and Community and recent report on "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation" in the US. It is <br /> not just about having someone to chat with. It is about the transformative potential of community <br /> engagement in enhancing mental, physical and emotional well-being. By recognizing and <br /> nurturing the role that connectedness plays, everyone can mitigate issues like loneliness, <br /> ultimately promoting healthy aging for everyone. <br /> As everyone looks at aging through the Powered by Connection theme, it provides opportunities <br /> to: <br /> • Spread the word about mental, physical and emotional benefits of social connection and <br /> provides an opportunity to encourage friends and family to explore the opportunities that <br /> are available at the Seymour and Passmore Centers. <br /> • Promote opportunities to engage in local cultural, recreational and educational <br /> opportunities. <br /> • Connect older adults with local services, such as the Department on Aging, that can help <br /> them overcome obstacles to meaningful relationships and access to support systems that <br /> support aging well in community. <br /> • Benefit from making more connections, engaging in community and by giving back <br /> through volunteerism. Volunteerism and community engagement is vital for the future in <br /> meeting the growing needs of the older adult community. Communities find strength in <br /> people —and people find strength in their communities. <br /> • Form relationships. If anything was learned during the pandemic, it was that social <br /> isolation is deadly. An essential ingredient of aging well is being socially engaged and <br /> having relationships enhances quality of life. Investing time with friends, family and <br /> community is good for yourself and those around you. <br /> In the community, older adults are a key source of strength. Through their experiences, <br /> successes, and difficulties, older individuals have built resilience that helps them to face new <br /> challenges. When communities tap into this, they become stronger too. Ensuring that older adults <br /> remain involved and included in their communities for as long as possible benefits everyone. <br /> Today, aging is about eliminating outdated perceptions and redefining the way you want to age. <br /> President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Older Americans Act into law in July 1965. Since that <br /> time, the Act has provided a nationwide aging services network and funding that helps older adults <br /> live with dignity in the communities of their choice for as long as possible. These services include <br /> senior centers, daily lunch programs, caregiver support, community-based assistance, preventive <br /> health services, elder abuse prevention, and much more. <br /> While the Department on Aging offers outstanding programs and services to older adults year- <br /> round, Older Americans Month offers an opportunity to emphasize how older adults can access <br /> the home- and community-based services they need to live independently in their communities. <br /> It is also an occasion to highlight how the community is involved in implementing the 2022-27 <br /> Master Aging Plan and the continuing efforts to develop Orange County as an Age Friendly <br /> Community. <br /> Today there are over 34,000 Orange County residents who are 60+, and of that group, over 2,000 <br /> are age 85+. As large numbers of baby boomers reach retirement age, it is the goal to keep them <br /> physically and socially active through their 80s and beyond. Lifelong participation in community, <br /> social, creative and physical activities have proven health benefits, including retaining mobility, <br />