Aging isn’t just becoming older. With experience, everyone grows, adapts to the world, learns.
Bradfordians are celebrating that journey this May — Older Americans Month.
On Wednesday, as part of that celebration, residents and staff from the Bradford Ecumenical Home and Chapel Ridge took a trip to the Tops Supermarket parking lot. There, people were asked to fill the empty lines that covered the chalkboard wall by finishing this sentence: “As I age…”
Some answers were philosophical: “The little things means more to me.” “I pray more.” “Life isn’t for sissies.”
Others, funny: “The grays multiply!!” “I wear suspenders!” “I become more like my mom.”
Some people reflected on the things that haven’t changed: “I still enjoy being a kid at heart.” “I’m still short.”
And some people found their lives took different paths: one person wrote, “I have more patience,” while another wrote, “I have less patience.”
The project is a way to “celebrate and recognize” the honorees of Older Americans Month, said Lisa Johnson, Ecumenical Home CEO. She explained the wall helps people to think about what it means to age.
“I don’t think you’re ever too young or too old to think about what it means to get older,” she said.
Shirley Pedine, a resident of the Ecumenical Home, welcomed the chance to get out into the sunshine that welcomed the group Wednesday morning.
“Oh, I think it’s wonderful, absolutely wonderful,” she said of the event. “I think it’s great to be included.”
Pedine recalled even as a child feeling overzealous when it came to getting out of the house. “I was always like that. I wanted to go.”
Fellow Ecumenical Home resident Evelyn Cole agreed.
“I’m thankful that they get us out and about and do interesting things,” said Cole, grateful for the opportunity to socialize. “I think it’s very important to get us to mingle with each other.”
Johnson said such social outings are important, not just for older Americans, but for the community of which they are a part. The facility’s residents “advocate not only for other seniors but for their hometown and community.”
Their messages on the wall, while simple, aren’t trivial, but rather “life lessons that they’ve learned and have been willing to share with future generations,” according to Johnson.
Bill Orzechowski, director of the Area Agency on Aging, made the trip to Bradford for the event.
“It’s a wonderful event,” he said, noting that he enjoys reading the various answers on the “As I Age” wall — and he likes how each individual has a different response.
“It’s really nice the facility put the effort into doing this,” said Orzechowski.
Johnson noted, “We do a smaller version of the wall at both the Ecumenical Home and Chapel Ridge.” The paper version at the two facilities gives residents who can’t get out a chance to take part.
This is the third year the wall has been put up, she said.
Johnson is pleased with the partnership between the Ecumenical Home and businesses each of those years. The wall was set up by the Bradford YMCA the first year and by the West Washington Street branch of Northwest Bank the second year.
She is looking for other businesses to collaborate with in the future. She said she envisions setting up the wall every May and would like to be able to rotate to different locations. Locations should be in high traffic areas.
The wall will remain in the Tops parking lot through the end of May.
