Local Alliance Established During Older Americans Month to Cater to the Needs of Older Americans in Fairfield County
Older adults often do not have much help in dealing with the different issues they face as they age. The recently formed Senior Resource Alliance of Fairfield County in Connecticut addresses this issue and provides ethical and professional services to the elder adults, their spouses, children and grandchildren.

Fairfield County, CT (PRWEB) June 16, 2006 -- The Senior Resource Alliance of Fairfield County was recently created to bring trusted and reliable services to older people in the area. And they couldn’t have announced it at a better time. May was “Older Americans Month” according to the Administration on Aging, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
America’s aging population reached a turning point in 2006. One of the nation’s largest generations, the baby boomers, started turning 60. As many as 78 million people constitute the baby boom generation, and they stand to make an enormous contribution to the rich character and wisdom older adults offer to all of us. “Baby boomers are among the millions of mid-life and older adults who are continuing to redefine how we age,” said Jim Hirshfield, the spokesman for the new alliance. “We need to be ready for an aging population that’s as multifaceted as any in our history.”
The Senior Resource Alliance of Fairfield County is pleased to honor the older persons in the area by providing them with a recognized network of professionals in Fairfield County available to support their needs.
This May, we once again celebrated Older Americans Month. This year’s theme, Choices for Independence, reflects the continued commitment of the U.S. Administration on Aging and The Senior Resource Alliance of Fairfield County to help our nation prepare for a larger aging population, and to bolster the efforts of baby boomers and older adults to achieve healthy aging. Independence for adults as they age relies on a balance of important elements: empowerment in consumer choice; healthy lifestyles that emphasize nutrition, physical activity, prevention, and active participation in one’s health care; and access to the tools necessary to make informed decisions. Combined, these elements help all adults maintain the dignity they deserve, providing more opportunities to live longer independently while contributing to communities they cherish.
“We were excited about launching the Senior Resource Alliance of Fairfield County during Older Americans Month. Our organization will provide the older adults in our area, as well as their spouses, children and grandchildren with a network of like-minded experts focused on the needs of older persons,” said Jurg Graf, a Certified Senior Advisor and coordinator for the alliance.
Graf went on to say that “many of the older people in the area want to work with service providers that they can trust and that are sensitive to their needs. The creation of this alliance does just that by giving the Fairfield County community a dedicated group of professionals – professionals who focus on, and respect the issues older Americans care about.”
The founding members of the Senior Resource Alliance of Fairfield County include Jurg Graf, CSA and Financial Representative of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in Westport; Jim Hirshfield, a Principal at Columbia Reliant Mortgage Co., LLC in Norwalk; Michael Magner, President of Magner Funeral Home Inc. in Norwalk; Elaine Arnow, GRI, SRES, with William Raveis Real Estate in Westport; Patty Gabal, RN, Senior Move Manager with Changing Places LLC in Mamaroneck; and Judi Borderud, a Personal Financial Organizer in Stamford. As demand develops, the group will grow to cover additional services, such as elder law, estate planning, home care, durable medical equipment, tax services, caregiver resources and more.
There is no referral fee to locate professional services through the Senior Resource Alliance of Fairfield County. Information and referrals can be obtained by calling Jurg Graf at (203) 221-5229, by emailing or visiting their website www.SRAFairfield.com.

About Older Americans Month
According to the Administration on Aging, when Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthdays. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing, however. In April of 1963, President John F. Kennedy's meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens served as a prelude to designating May as "Senior Citizens Month."
Thanks to President Jimmy Carter's 1980 designation, what was once called Senior Citizens Month, is now called "Older Americans Month," and has become a tradition.
Historically, Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular those who defended our country. Every President since JFK has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way to older persons in their communities. Older Americans Month is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs and other such activities.
Jim Hirshfield, spokesman for The SRA of Fairfield County is available for interviews to discuss the alliance and the developing trends in catering to the needs of older Americans. Contact information is above.


Phone: 203-221-5229
Website: www.nmfn.com/jurggraf