We all feel better when we are involved# - working, volunteering, walking, exercising, visiting friends or family, playing games, laughing, singing and dancing. For many adults, engaging in enjoyable activities with others while developing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to staying active and happy. The key is to find the motivation to become and stay active.

Active Aging Week is an annual event usually held the last week of September. This nationally recognized week was created by the International Council of Active Aging to give as many older adults as possible the means to experience activities and exercise in a safe, friendly and fun atmosphere. This year there are over 64 organizations in 29 states and three Canadian provinces that are offering activities to older adults during this week.

Active Aging Week in Cayuga County started last year as a project of the Elderly & Disabled Task Group of the Cayuga County Human Services Coalition. Several local community organizations this year have planned a variety of free activities to promote active aging and a healthy lifestyle to adults roughly age 50 and up.

What sets apart Active Aging Week? Everything is free, and the emphasis is on fun and education. Active Aging Week events are a great way to learn something new, meet people, spend time with friends and find out what's available in the community. We would love to have you join us for any of our planned events.

Auburn Memorial Hospital will sponsor a Medically Speaking lecture by David Lee, director of the hospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at 7 p.m. tonight. His lecture is titled “Healthy Seniors: Exercising into the Next Millennium.” This event will be held at the hospital in the Rowley Auditorium (basement).

The Auburn YMCA will sponsor a free open house for age 50+ all day Wednesday, Sept. 24. Free classes include Stretch and Tone, Water Fitness, Rusty Hinges, Aquacise, Silver Sneakers classes, as well as Open Swim, free use of facilities for day, refreshments and door prizes.

Auburn YMCA's America On the Move Week STEPtember Walking Program started Monday. This is a self-guided program where participants keep track of the number of steps they take each day and work towards reaching a goal of 10,000 steps a day. Sign-up online at www.ymca.net or during the YMCA open house.

The Alzheimer's Association will be presenting their workshop: “Maintain Your Brain - How to Live a Brain-Healthy Lifestyle” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Boyle Center Community Room in Auburn. Register for this free workshop by calling the Alzheimer's Association at 294-1691.

The celebration will wrap up with an Emerson Park Dance with Ted Mosley and Moondance. This free event, sponsored by HUMANA, will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at the pavilion. Come enjoy the music, refreshments and do some dancing if you please.

Find an activity that's right for you. If you would like more information on Active Aging Week or a schedule of events, contact myself at Cayuga County Office for the Aging at 253-1103.

Janet Taylor is an aging services

specialist for the Cayuga County Office for the Aging