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1992.01.17 :  Operation Care

Contact: Anita Shalit 202-619-0073
January 17, 1992
 
     The U.S. Administration on Aging, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.
and the Metropolitan Life Foundation have announced Operation
Care -- a national program to help older persons who are at risk
of losing their independence.
     Through Operation Care, which is funded by the Metropolitan
Life Foundation, the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. will provide
grants to its local Girl Scout councils for service projects. 
The U.S. Administration on Aging, through it efforts to encourage
increased foundation interest in eldercare, served as a catalyst
to bring these two organizations together.  The key elements of
the program are education about older persons and their needs,
community action and coalition building on behalf of the elderly,
service provision and the development of program models for
replication elsewhere.
     HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., praised the
organizations for recognizing the need to take creative action to
respond to an aging America and cited the mutual benefits that
can accrue to young and old alike.  He said that "programs such
as this can do much to alleviate the alienation, isolation and
despair that fuel the social problems afflicting many of our
citizens, young and old alike." 
     Joyce T. Berry, Ph.D., U.S. commissioner on aging, extended
"congratulations to the Metropolitan Life Foundation and Girl
Scouts of the U.S.A. for their efforts to promote
intergenerational programs with a particular emphasis on the
vulnerable elderly."
     Operation Care is a direct response to Commissioner Berry's
call for participation in a National Eldercare Campaign.  The
campaign is a nationwide, multi-year effort to expand support for
aging issues among organizations that traditionally have not
focused their energies on the elderly.  It promotes action for
older persons who are now at risk of losing their self-
sufficiency and also prepares for the future growth of America's
older population.
     "This intergenerational project will involve our members
with the elderly in meaningful cross-age relationships and help
change the attitudes and values about aging," said Mary Rose
Main, national executive director of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. 
"This is just one of many new directions that we plan to pursue
in furthering Girl Scouting."
     With 3.2 million members, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. is the
largest voluntary organization for girls in the world.  Its sole
focus is to meet the special needs of girls from all walks of
life and from every racial, ethnic and religious group.

     "It is time that all of us recognize the demographic reality
of an aging America and take creative action to meet this
challenge," said Sibyl Jacobson, president and CEO of the
Metropolitan Life Foundation.  "In towns all across this country,
Girl Scouts will be creating innovative projects to help the
frail and isolated elderly.  We visualize this as the start of a
new awakening in communities to the needs of our growing numbers
of vulnerable older persons," said  Jacobson.

     Established in 1976 by the Metropolitan Insurance Company,
the Metropolitan Life Foundation has contributed nearly $75
million to support health and education activities, as well as
civic and cultural affairs throughout the United States.

     The Administration on Aging, an agency of the Department of
Health and Human Services, serves as a focal point within the
federal government for the needs and concerns of older people.

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