In October, the focus will be on Charleston area residents, business leaders, volunteers and others who demonstrate the key elements of successful aging in place – healthy living, a livable residence, financial and legal preparation, supportive relationships, and transportation. 

The Greater Charleston Chapter of the National Aging in Place Council will host the second Gifts of Aging event as part of National Aging in Place Week. 

Gifts of Aging will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Founders Hall at Charles Towne Landing, 1500 Old Towne Landing Road. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required; call Roper St. Francis Healthline at 843-402-2273. 

Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. will be on hand for the celebration and to recognize the many contributions older adults bring to the local community. 

Members of the Greater Charleston Chapter submit nominations based on such qualities as being a community role model, continuing to learn, giving service to others, getting satisfaction from life and more. 

“We hope our celebration will help reverse our societal attitude of aging as an affliction and, instead of spending billions on walling off the aging, spend more to improve the quality of life among the aged,” said Kelley Hallman, event chairwoman. “As a chapter, we choose to celebrate elders in our community to show their successes and benefits to our community.” 

National Aging in Place Week – Oct. 13-19 – brings attention to the growing population of older adults, and events around the country help raise awareness of the aging in place movement and ability for seniors to remain in their chosen residence for as long as possible. 

According to the Administration on Aging, there are 44.7 million people aged 65 and older in the United States. That’s about one in every seven Americans or 14.1 percent of the U.S. population. But by 2060, that number will more than double to about 98 million older Americans.          

About the Greater Charleston Chapter of the National Aging in Place Council
Founded in 2003 as the SC Aging in Place Coalition, the Greater Charleston Chapter of the National Aging in Place Council is a nonprofit organization comprised of businesses and organizations that support people as they prepare to remain in their chosen residence – independently, comfortably and safely. To learn more visit www.ageinplace.org/Charleston.