May is Older Americans Month! Each May the Administration for Community Living chooses a theme to explore a different aspect of aging. This year’s theme is Age My Way. This month serves as an opportunity to reflect on the unique ways we all age, how we choose to age in place, and what we want our own aging journey to look like.
Why do we need Older Americans Month?
- In 1963 when Older Americans Month started, only 17 million Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About 1/3 of older adults in America lived in poverty.
- In the 1960s there were few programs aimed at older adults and their unique needs.
- Initiatives like Older Americans Month that focus on older adults and connecting them with resources has improved quality of life for older adults.
- In 2019 the number of Americans who reached their 65th birthday increased to 83 million. About 1/10 of older adults in America lived in poverty.
How can we celebrate?
- Learn from the older adults in your life and listen to their stories. StoryCorps has a great list of questions to get you started!
- Volunteer at a senior center in your community.
- Check in on an older relative or neighbor to see how they’re doing
- Take the Ahead of the Curve Caregiver Training to learn how to support vulnerable older adults in your community.
- Explore the Online Senior Resource Directory to find programs to help you age in place (prefer a paper copy? You can order one here).
Older adults play vital, positive roles in our communities- as family members, friends, mentors, volunteers, civic leaders, members of the workforce, and more. Just as everyone is unique, so is how they age and how they choose to do it. There’s no right or wrong way to age in place, but access to the right resources can make all the difference. Visit the Online Senior Resource Directory to find resources to help you age in place.
