Blessing Board provides those in need with furniture, household items and love

Westinghouse SURE recently recognized the Blessing Board and its companion organization, the Vintage Store, for its volunteer organization Spotlight Award. the Blessing Board is a faith-based nonprofit that provides basic furniture and household items for community members in need at no cost. SURE (an acronym for Service Uniting Retired Employees) is a nonprofit comprised of … Read more

Artful Aging Exhibition gives seniors an outlet for sharing their artistic talents

Seniors in Allegheny County recently has an “artful” opportunity to express themselves. The “Artful Aging Exhibition” showcased artwork from adults ages 60 and older from across the city of Pittsburgh. “Our goal was to give all senior artists a chance to exhibit their artwork in a friendly setting,” says Katelyn Cooper, acting director of the West … Read more

Ballroom and other forms of dancing proven to have health

If dancing is something that you infrequently do at family weddings, or if you think it’s an activity that you can only do in your youth, think again. Dancing is an activity that is particularly beneficial for older adults. Those benefits range from creating strong social connections that increase your sense of well being to … Read more

United Way’s Free Tax Prep program offers low-income individuals assistance with filing

United Way of Southwestern PA is offering free, in-person tax preparation at 27 sites across the region to eligible individuals and families. “This campaign helps prevent low-income working people in our community from falling behind,” says Kiandra Foster, program manager United for Families of the United Way. “The earned tax credits and refunds these individuals … Read more

Take precautions when snow shoveling; it can be dangerous and even fatal

Whether you’re dealing with a light dusting or a blizzard, cleaning up snow can be a pain. It’s an everyday chore that’s deceptively dangerous. Every year, more than 100 people die shoveling snow. Even if it doesn’t kill you, 11,500 Americans end up in the hospital each year because of snow shoveling injuries. The most … Read more

Senior Companion program benefits participants, their caregivers and the volunteers who serve in this valuable role

It’s fairly well known that Allegheny County has one of the highest concentrations of older adults in the entire county. A 2014 report (“The State of Aging in Allegheny County”) showed that approximately 34 percent of older adults in the county live alone. It also found that approximately half of individuals age 75 and older … Read more

Sheriff’s Office offers variety of crime prevention programs for older adults

When it comes to safety and crime prevention, Deputy S. Jason Tarap of the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office is a tireless advocate on the subject. He has dedicated a career to making sure county residents are highly educated on the topic—particularly, older adults. “After 25 years in this job, I’m still passionate about our citizens … Read more