May is Older Americans Month! This year, the theme is Engage at Every Age, which emphasizes that you are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It also celebrates the many ways in which older adults make a difference in our communities.

How to Participate in Older Americans Month:

• Join the ACL and AoA in the Older Americans Month Selfie Challenge! They want to see how you’re engaging. Simply take a selfie (or have someone take your photo) and tweet it with the hashtag #OAM18
• Connect with Older Americans Month by visiting their website at acl.gov, follow the ACL on Twitter and Facebook, follow the AoA on Twitter and Facebook, follow NICOA on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+
• Learn more about the NICOA SCSEP program on our website or by calling NICOA at 505-292-2001
• Visit the Older Americans Month activity webpage for more ideas

Remaining socially engaged can improve the quality of life for older adults. The National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) will use Older Americans Month 2018 to focus on how older adults are engaging with friends and family and through various community activities, including the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). Throughout the month, NICOA will conduct activities and share information designed to highlight NICOA SCSEP participants.

Supervisor Rudy Ortega and Jose Mosqueda

Jose Mosqueda trained at the Puku Cultural Community Services Center as a Caseworker Assistant. During his time in SCSEP, Jose developed many skills that made him invaluable to the Puku Cultural Community Services Center. When he exited SCSEP, he was offered permanent employment by Puku Cultural Community Services. He continues to be a critical part of their everyday mission of helping others. He shared that SCSEP has provided him the opportunity to help others and has made a difference in his life.

As Mosqueda states, “My personal experience with SCSEP has been rewarding, due to not just learning to manage computers, but NICOA also gave me the opportunity to serve people like Native Americans and learn about their culture, needs, and history. NICOA also provided me the opportunity to return to the work force and at same time change my living environment. NICOA did not just do all that, but provided the opportunity to meet more people like the host Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians/Puku Cultural Community Services. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity NICOA has given me.“

To read more NICOA news and blog posts, including SCSEP Success Stories, visit www.nicoa.org/nicoa-news/