Celebrate Older Americans Month this month of May

Posted by Carolyn Martin on May 13th, 2015 Posted in: Health Literacy

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In 1963, after a meeting between President Kennedy and the National Council of Senior Citizens, May was designated as Senior Citizens Month which eventually came to be called Older Americans Month.  Originally it was a time to acknowledge the contributions of older Americans especially those who had defended the United States.  Older Americans month is a time to pay tribute the invaluable services and contributions of past and present senior citizens to our communities.  It is also a time to be aware of the unique health issues older Americans face as well as realizing the strides that have been made.

When Older Americans month was first established, only 17 million Americans had reached their 65th birthday and almost a third lived in poverty.  Today, the average life expectancy is 78.1 years and many service and health programs have been created that focus on older Americans.  NIH Senior Health website offers health information resources on topics of importance to the aging population in an easy to understand and user friendly format.  It’s also National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. To celebrate both observances, go to the National Institute on Aging’s  Go4Life to learn how older adults can add physical activity to their daily lives by using tracking tools, tip sheets, and other motivational tools. So, Get Into the Act, this year’s Older Americans Month theme and promote the healthy lives of our older generation!