President Ronald Reagan declared August 21st as National Senior Citizen Day back in 1988. Also sometimes called World Senior Citizen Day, for the past 36 years this day has served as reminder of older adults’ contributions to society, making sure older adults have the resources they need to age with dignity, and reframing how we view aging.
Senior Citizens in the United States
- A report from 2012 stated that 19.5% of Michigan residents (1.9 million) were age 60 or older. That number is expected to rise to 24% by 2030.
- According to the US Census, the number of older adults (age 65+) increased in every metro city in 2023 except for one city in Texas.
- In the next few decades, the number of older adults is expected to rise to 1 in 3 Michigan residents.
- According to the Washtenaw Health Initiative, over the next three decades the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to double from 43,000 to 92,000.
Ways to Celebrate
- Visit your older loved ones.
- Take them out for the day– and enjoy their senior discount (we’ve covered places to find senior discounts before on the blog!)
- Record your older relatives talking about their childhood, sharing family stories, or just reminiscing.
- Volunteer at a senior center, memory cafe, or other program serving older adults (visit the “social” category of the Online Senior Resource Directory for ideas).
- Reach out to older loved ones or community members. Chances are they would love help with outdoor chores, running errands, or helping in their garden.
- Organize a card making party and deliver cards to a senior center or senior living facility.
