City of Philadelphia - File #: 161089

• File #: 161089
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 12/1/2016
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 12/1/2016
• Title: Recognizing and Honoring Ralston Center for Improving the Health and Quality of Life of Older Philadelphians on the Occasion of its 200th Anniversary Celebration.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Taubenberger, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Gym, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Parker, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Bass

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
12/1/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
12/1/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED

Title
Recognizing and Honoring Ralston Center for Improving the Health and Quality of Life of Older Philadelphians on the Occasion of its 200th Anniversary Celebration.

Body
WHEREAS, Ralston Center has been an advocate for aging in Philadelphia since 1817. Ralston Center's sole focus is the quality of life of older adults. They serve people 55 years of age and older by helping them receive the services and support they need in order to live in their homes and communities as they age; and

WHEREAS, Ralston Center was founded as the Indigent Widows and Single Women's Society on January 9, 1817 under the leadership of Sarah Ralston. At the time, it was Philadelphia's first and only home established strictly for aging women. While the original building, Ralston House, originally operated as a residence for older adults, it now serves as the organization's administrative headquarters and the home of the University of Pennsylvania's Institute on Aging and Penn Medicine's Division of Geriatric Medicine, which treat elderly patients and conduct research on memory, Alzheimer's, sleep disorders, behavioral health, and nursing. In 2001, Ralston expanded to include residences for low-income seniors through the Joseph J. Hill Ralston-Mercy Douglass House a few blocks away from Ralston House; and

WHEREAS, A variety of programs and services are offered through Ralston Center. This includes Ralston My Way, which helps provide people age 55 years and older with affordable homecare, transportation, repairs, chores, and yard work. In addition, Ralston offers Wellness Programs specifically tailored to those 55 years and older in order to increase their fitness and ability to perform everyday activities and reduce pain or discomfort. These programs help seniors remain independent in their communities as they age; and

WHEREAS, Ralston's Age-Friendly Initiative is in collaboration with more than 40 local organizations determined to create a more livable community for unde...