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Veterans
Prepare for National Games in L.A.
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Meet Athlete
Beverly Smith, 82 -
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Other
Athletes -
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More than 450 "golden age" veterans
are expected in Los Angeles, August 10-17, 2002, to participate in
national athletic competitions co-sponsored by the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
The 16th National
Veterans Golden Age Games are open to all U.S. military veterans 55 or
older, who are currently receiving care at a VA medical facility. The
local sponsors of the games are the
Desert Pacific Healthcare Network
and hosted by the
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare
System. The games will include sports activities such as
golf, swimming, bicycling, horseshoes, bowling, croquet, table tennis,
checkers, dominoes and a pentathlon (softball hit, discus, shot put,
basketball and air rifles). This year the exhibition events are lawn
bowling, tennis and chess.
There will be a
total of 34 events and categories. The six age categories are: 55-59;
60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75-79, and 80 and up. There are divisions for
those in wheelchairs and visually impaired. Detailed information is
available at the Web site for the games (Click
Here).
One of the VA's
greatest challenges is meeting the needs of a rapidly aging veteran
population. Today, 9.3 million veterans are 65 or older, representing
38.2 percent of the total veteran population. Care for these men and
women is provided through a variety of VA programs, including nursing
home care in medical facilities, adult day care, home health aide
services and community residential care, contracts with community
nursing homes, and support to state veterans homes.
A "fountain of
youth" for the rapidly aging veteran population, the Golden Age Games
is a multi-event sports and therapeutic recreation program. It is the
premier senior adaptive rehabilitation program in the United States,
and the only national seniors program designed to improve the quality
of life for all older veterans, including those with a wide range of
abilities and disabilities. This event truly reflects VA's mission -
to provide quality programs and health care for America's aging
veteran population. It is the most progressive and adaptive
rehabilitative senior sports program in the United States and the
world. |
