He and Congress wanted to set aside a day to raise awareness among the young about seniors’ continuing value in the community, and to give seniors an opportunity to showcase their contributions and build bridges to succeeding generations.

“Throughout our history, older people have achieved much for our families, our communities and our country,” Reagan said then. “That remains true today, and gives us ample reason this year to reserve a special day in honor of the senior citizens who mean so much to our land.”

Today, following the vision Reagan set forth, the United States observes National Senior Citizens Day every year on Aug. 21.

How ERS will celebrate National Senior Citizens Day

By doing nothing at all out of the ordinary. Probably not the answer you expected, right? But it’s the truth.

This National Senior Citizens Day, we’re going to continue to recognize the valuable service the Tristate’s seniors provide to our region, through their volunteerism, through sharing their wisdom with younger members of the community and through their positive spirit.

We’re going to keep sharing with you stories of their successes and of their service.

We’re going to keep telling you about seniors like Thomas Ottenjohn (pictrured, right), a Deupree House resident who was a professional stockbroker and financial analyst for a number of years before retiring, moving here and giving back to area students through his involvement with ERS’ Council for Lifelong Engagement (CLLE).

We’re going to tell you about people like Dr. Elizabeth Goessel-Rule who, following a long, successful career as a physician in New York City, moved to Deupree House to be near her late husband’s family.

Even in retirement, Goessel-Rule has continued to serve the community and other residents. She is a generous annual donor to our Good Samaritan Mission Fund, which ensures that Deupree House and Marjorie P. Lee residents who face financial difficulties need never worry about continuing to receive the care they need.

And we’re going to share with you stories about people like Dr. Henry Heimlich — the Dr. Heimlich — who, even in retirement at Deupree House, continues to save lives and embody the idea that, no matter one’s age, one can make a positive difference for others.

Providing dignified, person-centered care

Whether a senior is living at our flagship continuing care retirement community (CCRC) Deupree House, at our Hyde Park short-term rehab facility and retirement home Marjorie P. Lee, in any of our numerous Affordable Living by ERS apartment communities throughout the region, or benefitting from one of our community-based, in-home care services like Deupree Meals on Wheels, we will treat him or her according to our core values.

What are they? Glad you asked. We have six — and we believe that they should all be equally demonstrated in every service we provide to our senior clients:

1. Dignity: Recognizing the infinite worth of ourselves and others.

This means that we inherently honor the lifelong accomplishments and unique perspectives of our senior care recipients.

2. Integrity: Acting with honesty, trustworthiness and sincerity.

Seniors entrust us with their care. Their family members entrust us with their care. We understand that we cannot fail to uphold that trust.

3. Ministry: Serving others with generosity and compassion as inspired by one’s deepest personal convictions or faith commitments.

Providing compassionate care to seniors isn’t a business — it’s a sacred duty.

4. Person-Centeredness: Offering freedom, choice and purpose to those for whom, and with whom, we work.

Seniors should be able to choose when, how, and how much care they receive, in an environment that is safe for exercising that choice.

5. Interdependence: Working in partnership with residents, clients, families, volunteers and staff; honoring our need for one another.

Seniors are as dependent upon the community as the community is, in turn, dependent upon them. We honor that interconnectedness.

6. Transparency: Being clear and forthcoming in our communication while maintaining confidentiality where appropriate.

Our residents — and their families — deserve to be included in the decision-making process about the care we provide. And they deserve the truth at all times.

And that’s a comprehensive provider of dignified, person-centered retirement care to the Tristate’s seniors. If you, or a senior loved one living in Cincinnati, could benefit from that care, we’d love to hear from you.

Click here to get in touch with us. Let’s see how ERS can serve your family’s needs.