They once raised families, built careers, and helped to shape communities, and even the country. Some of our senior Americans are still doing those things. May is known as Older Americans Month, and it is when we give thanks to all Americans who have given so much of themselves over the years and decades. So let’s celebrate our elders!
A Short History Of Older Americans Month
Older Americans Month dates back to 1963 when there were only 17 million Americans who had reached the age of 65. Roughly 33% of senior Americans experienced poverty and there weren’t many schemes to support them, leading to a rise in interest in the issue. Discussions between President John F. Kennedy and the National Council of Senior Citizens (N.C.S.C.) led to May being designated Senior Citizens Month, now known as Older Americans Month.
Back in 1963, Older Americans Month became an opportunity to appreciate the contributions of older Americans, particularly armed forces veterans. Since then, each American president has used the event to encourage all citizens to appreciate their community’s elder Americans. Since 1978, each Older Americans Month has been celebrated with a different theme, and the theme for 2025 is “Flip the Script on Aging”. The hope is that this will encourage Americans to think and talk differently about aging.
Let’s Celebrate Older Americans Month
If you’re wondering how best to honor our senior citizens, nothing beats actually spending some quality time with them. It’s important to make sure our senior citizens have good company, and someone to check in on them and make sure they have all they need. This is important throughout the year, but May can be a good reminder for us all.
Quality Time
No matter your age, you can show your appreciation by visiting an older American, and asking to hear their stories. You can escort a senior citizen to an appointment, or an event. You can work with a non-profit organization that provides support to senior citizens. EJAI Loves Homecare’s care providers know all about spending quality time with their clients, and always provide great care at an affordable rate.
Perks!
If you have a senior citizen in your life, see if they can sign up for some perks. Citizens as young as 50 can save on products and services they use daily. Savings can often prompt a senior citizen to leave their comfort zone and try something new, getting them out of the house and making them a little more active in the process.
More Support
You can also check out the Library of Congress resources for suggestions on how we can make life easier for retired citizens, and those living on a fixed income. There are many charities that help to support aging citizens, and you may find a way to save the senior citizen in your life, or yourself, a significant amount.
Workshops
Our senior citizens have collected so many experiences in their life. If you’re community minded, you could set up a workshop for them to share their experiences and stories with younger generations. Interaction between younger and older people benefits both parties.
Music Connects Us
Music has the power to connect different generations. Whatever their age, people can find something to appreciate in music from different eras. A musical event in your community where people of any age can perform and expose others to music they haven’t heard is a wonderful thing.
Let Senior Americans Plan
Don’t plan your event or activity around the senior citizens in your life. Try to make them an integral part of the planning process. Remember that it should be all about them, so bring them in on it. Let them take the lead so you end up with an outcome that satisfies them, and shows they can still make an important contribution to society.
The Takeaway
It’s important to appreciate our elders, not just to honor them and their contributions to communities and the country. We should also appreciate them to keep a perspective on how much things have progressed, and how much progress is still necessary. There is always much we can learn from our elders and May’s Older Americans Month is an annual reminder of the lessons that can be learned from our senior Americans, and how much they can inspire us and our children.
If you have a loved one who needs a little help, contact EJAI Loves Homecare in Florida to discuss their in-home care service. The team is ready to take your call and go through the options to give your loved one the assistance they deserve to stay in their own home. Greater independence, lower cost.
EJAI Loves Homecare is waiting to tell you more
Seize the day and contact EJAI Loves Homecare today to see how they can help you and your loved ones