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Happy National Older Americans Month!
Since the 1970s, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) has led the national celebration of Older Americans Month every May.
This year, ACL will be focusing on the theme of aging in place – how older Americans can plan to stay in their homes and live healthy and independently in their communities. The 2022 theme of “Age My Way” will be an opportunity for all of us to explore the many ways older adults can remain in and be involved with their local and broader communities.
Our empowering community of 55+ at Arden embraces the values of planning, participation, accessibility, and making connections, which all play a role in aging in place. This month especially, we hope to amplify the importance older adults bring to our lives by discussing the history, goals, and value of celebrating National Older Americans Month each year.
And if you would like to check out our recently published guide on successfully aging in place, read all about it here.
History of Older Americans Month
When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, many older Americans lived in poverty and lacked accessibility to programs that met their needs.
A meeting in April 1963 between President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens led to designating May as “Senior Citizens Month,” which was the prelude to “Older Americans Month.” The national observance, now led by ACL, was ultimately created to bring awareness to the contributions of older Americans and spark interest and support for their well-being.
In 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday, but today their numbers reach about 50 million. As the aging population has increased, Older Americans Month has grown with it.
The national observance has gradually transformed into an inclusive celebration that spans socioeconomic, racial, and cultural boundaries while recognizing the outstanding contributions older adults make in their families and communities across the country.
The Goals and Celebrations of Older Americans Month
While different themes are developed each year to highlight a range of topics, the overall goal of Older Americans Month is to celebrate the value older adults bring to our lives, encourage older adults to remain active in their communities, and to increase awareness of activities, programs, and services that help them live healthy, independent lives.
Moreover, continued and open dialogue is a powerful way to help us acknowledge the challenges of ageism and confront ageism when we encounter it. Just as one drop of water can create countless ripples, one conversation can have countless positive effects on those involved and their networks. With a continuing focus on inclusion and conversations that spark reflection, Arden hopes to empower communities to work together to create a better world not only for older adults, but for all ages.
Community connections encouraged each year through Older Americans Month are also vital and create opportunities for meaningful friendships and experiences. A connection might be a chance to discover ways to keep learning through social and recreational activities. Or, connection might simply mean finding support through close-knit communities that makes aging in place easier.
For Arden 55+ communities, community connections mean sharing the contagious energy of living close to like-minded friends and living in a community that inspires you to stay young at heart. Enjoy the uninhibited freedom of choosing your own adventure everyday, whether that be discovering friendships in our ample amenity spaces or trying new healthy meals in collaboration with our local partners.
By recognizing the contributions of all older Americans, we fuel our spirit of collaboration, our work to support the older adults in our lives, and intergenerational appreciation for the diversity of our communities. Finally, Older Americans Month gives everyone a chance to join the national conversation on aging.
A Growing Importance of Older Americans Month
Why is Older Americans Month still significant today?
By 2040, the 65 and older population is expected to grow to about 82.3 million, which will represent nearly 22% of the population.
Promoting activities and programs that are crucial to the health, enrichment, and independence of older Americans is just a small part of what Older Americans Month does.
It also steers the conversation towards the increasing demand and importance of Missing Middle Housing, which creates a stronger sense of community through the integration of shared spaces or simply from being located within a vibrant neighborhood with easily accessible places to eat, drink, and socialize.
Missing Middle Housing can further be characterized by more walkable communities for residents, small-footprint buildings, and plenty of opportunities for social connections. It’s also important to note that a strong social life is critical for older Americans and is linked to many health benefits, including reduced rates of depression and better physical health.
With an emphasis on accessible housing through fully ADA-compliant features and age-friendly Universal Design practices, Arden 55+ is proud to make space for aging in place through our contributions to Missing Middle Housing.
A Continuing Celebration
Honoring older adults is the driving force behind Older Americans Month because their contributions enrich communities across the nation.
While Older Americans Month encourages older adults to advocate for themselves, everyone should be invested in the support of older adults and Older Americans Month reminds us of that fact every May.
To add onto the conversation and observe how others are celebrating Older Americans Month this year, we encourage everyone to follow #OAM2022 and #OlderAmericansMonth on social media!
And if you’re interested in joining our maintenance-free, intentionally designed community for value-seeking 55+ adults, we would love to welcome you! Please fill out our contact form here for more information and our friendly team will reach out to you shortly.