Older American’s month was established to raise awareness of the value and impact elders in our community provide to their communities. In May of 1963, President Kennedy and the National Council of Senior Citizens created the very first “Senior Citizens Month.” Since then, every president has declared May as a month for recognizing and celebrating older adults. Now, this is known as Older Americans Month.
This year, the theme for Older Americans Month is “Flip the Script on Aging,” with a focus on combating stereotypes and misconceptions of aging, highlighting the accomplishments and contributions of older adults in our communities, and celebrating all the amazing ways we can grow and stay involved as we age.
At Milestone Senior Services, we support people in their decision to remain living at home where they may continue to engage in, contribute to, and benefit from their community, family, and cultural networks they are connected to. We believe that everyone benefits from a diverse community including all ages and abilities.
No matter your age, we invite you to join us throughout the month of May in honoring a years-long tradition of celebrating older adults. Here are some ideas:
- Identify and celebrate contributions older adults make in your community
- Explore new ways to make your community, businesses, and social networks more inclusive to older people
- Build connections with people of all generations to enrich your life and theirs
- Challenge stereotypes and misconceptions you see about aging, both in your community or in your own thinking
If you would like to explore more about age-inclusive advocacy and combating agism, check out the website Encore Roadmap. Here you will find articles, workshops and resources for recognizing and valuing older adults in our culture.
Together we can “Flip the Script on Aging” to create more age-inclusive communities!
