The Ocean County Library and the Ocean County Office of Senior Services have partnered to let county residents know that May is Older Americans Month.
Ocean County has ranked within the top 50 counties with total number of older adults (ages 60 and over) in the US, according to the US Census Bureau. 2008 census estimates showed it was home to 160,000 older adults, nearly 30 percent of the county’s population.
About 43 percent of Ocean County 217,000 households are owned by people over 60, according to the Ocean County Office of Senior Services. And Ocean County tops the state in being home to people 85 years of age or older.
The contribution of older Americans to the Ocean County economy is significant. Each year older adults bring more than $1.6 billion in just Social Security benefits into the county. Add to that the pensions they have earned and one sees they play a very important part in supporting county programs.
They also spend a lot of time volunteering in the community. They tutor students, assist with children’s programs, and volunteer in the library branches.
Their contribution of time and money as they deliver meals, provide transportation, and assist others with home repairs and run errands, enrich the lives of all county residents.
To recognize them and their efforts, the library has compiled a list of books to assist and encourage the county’s older citizens. The list is available as a bookmark at any of the library’s 21 locations.
For more information contact the library at its Web site www.theoceancountylibrary.org or the Ocean County Office of Senior Services at http://www.ocean.nj.us/SeniorServicesMainPage.aspx .
