Historical & Current Events dictionary
Older Americans Month
[ ohl-der uh-mer-i-kuhnz muhnth ]
What is Older Americans Month?
Older Americans Month is a month-long observance in the US devoted to celebrating older Americans and their contributions and raising awareness about issues related to age and aging.
The term older Americans generally refers to Americans aged 65 and over.
Older Americans Month is typically observed with community events held by various organizations, often with an emphasis on providing older Americans with support and access to resources related to aging.
🗓 When is Older Americans Month?
Older Americans Month is observed each year during the month of May.
Where does Older Americans Month come from?
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy established what was then called Senior Citizens Month. The month became known as Older Americans Month in 1965.
Like many observance months, Older Americans Month has a yearly theme, which is set by the Administration on Aging and the Administration on Community Living (which are both part of the US Department of Health and Human Services). For example, the theme for Older Americans Month in 2023, “Aging Unbound,” was chosen to provide an opportunity to explore and celebrate the various aging experiences and to fight against stereotypes.
Examples of Older Americans Month
More information and context on Older Americans Month
Did you know … ?
- When the observance that became Older Americans Month was first established, about 17 million Americans were 65 or over. In 2020, this number was 56 million.
What are other words used in discussion of Older Americans Month?
Note
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