\u201cBy effectively disseminating information about our services, we have successfully reached more seniors in need. This increased demand highlights the critical need for nutritional assistance among our senior population in the CNMI. Our office remains committed to providing essential support and is always ready to assist in any way possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
In all, Manglona said there are currently 716 Office on Aging congregants in the CNMI (Saipan, Tinian, and Rota), including 90 active individuals who visit the Office on Aging center on Saipan, 49 active individuals on Tinian, and 42 active individuals on Rota.<\/p>\n
While for homebound congregants, 42 are on Tinian and 26 are on Rota.<\/p>\n
Since 2010, the total number of man\u2019amkos<\/em> served by the Office on Aging has increased nearly 131% from 310 four years ago, according to Manglona.<\/p>\n He said the man\u2019amkos were the most vulnerable during COVID-19 due to their lack of immune response to infectious challenges. He said that the pandemic has demonstrated the resilience of seniors in the CNMI and expressed his gratitude to the various agencies and community members.<\/p>\n \u201cRecognizing the heightened vulnerability of our elderly population, the Governor\u2019s COVID-19 Taskforce and first responders played an instrumental role in safeguarding their health and well-being. The proactive measures undertaken included, the Office on Aging actively promoting vaccinations, ensuring that seniors were prioritized and received timely access to COVID-19 vaccines.\u201d<\/p>\n Manglona said the initiative significantly reduced the risk of severe illness within this age group. Stringent safety protocols were adopted at the senior centers in the CNMI and other communal spaces.<\/p>\n \u201cThese included practicing social distancing, regular temperature checks, and routine testing, all aimed at minimizing potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Masks, hand sanitizers, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) were distributed widely to seniors, empowering them to protect themselves and others. This initiative was crucial in maintaining hygiene standards and preventing the spread of the virus. Continuous efforts were made to keep the senior community in the CNMI well-informed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Add to this, Manglona said information on COVID-19 symptoms, preventive measures such as regular handwashing and wearing face masks, and updates on the evolving situation were provided regularly.<\/p>\n \u201cThis ensured that seniors were knowledgeable about how to stay safe and healthy. The senior centers on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian implemented strict COVID-19 safety guidelines, including regular temperature checks and other protocols. These measures created a safe environment where seniors could receive essential services without compromising their health,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Manglona has been a director of Office on Aging since April 2013. During his 11 years as director, he experienced a significant growth and learning, developing patience, empathy, and understanding of the program\u2019s intricacies and legal aspects. He has developed skills in grant writing and securing millions of dollars in funding to sustain the program.<\/p>\n \u201cImmersing myself in the rich history of our islands and listening to the captivating stories of our elders has been both enlightening and inspiring. Collaborating with our federal project officers over the years has honed my skills in grant writing, allowing me to secure millions in federal grant funding to sustain and advance our program. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that, despite our hard work, challenges are inevitable. Embracing these challenges as opportunities for learning and growth has been crucial in our continual efforts to enhance services for our elderly population. This journey has been humbling, and I remain committed to progressing and improving the care we provide.\u201d<\/p>\n Manglona said the Office on Aging has also implemented a cost-saving strategy to minimize spending and maximize capacity.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Office on Aging utilizes federal grant funding from the Administration for Community Living, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Elder Justice, and the Nutrition Service Incentive Program. Their commitment to elders has allowed their office to meet program goals despite challenges, maintain resilience, and provide essential services to seniors in the CNMI.\u201d<\/p>\n He also credited the leadership of Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang for continuing to help the islands\u2019 man\u2019amko.<\/p>\n \u201cThe administration has been extremely supportive, assisting with personnel costs and providing additional support. Their commitment to our elders has been invaluable, allowing us to meet our program\u2019s goals despite existing challenges. Through a combination of federal grants and administrative support, we have maintained our resilience and continued to provide essential services to our seniors in the CNMI,\u201d said Manglona.<\/p>\n The Office on Aging building in China Town. The office has seen its congregants increase from 310 in 2020 to 716 today.<\/p>\n -RACQUEL FLOYD The number of Office on Aging homebound congregants on Saipan has significantly rose from 140…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-412017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/412017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=412017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/412017\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=412017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=412017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=412017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![](\"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/images\/imgupload\/ca39d86c3ee97b3a98d5b82584fe2c27.jpg\")
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