Older Americans Month 2010 Promotion Theme: ‘Age Strong! Live Long!’

May 3, 2010 – Older American Month is underway for 2010 but the fan fare is not easy to find. This annual event is sponsored by the Administration on Aging and administration-after-administration has given it little attention or promotion. This year AOA will host a one-mile walk on the D.C. mall, run a contest to promote the theme of “Age Strong! Live Long!” and encourage local events.

“May is Older Americans Month - a tradition dating back to 1963 to honor the legacies and ongoing contributions of older Americans and support them as they enter the next stage in life,” according to a news release prepared by the Administration on Aging for local media as part of the effort to encourage communities nationwide to celebrate this month with special activities and events.

This year’s Older Americans Month theme - “Age Strong! Live Long!” - recognizes the diversity and vitality of today’s older Americans who span three generations, according to the AOA news release.

National Events for Older American Month

The Administration on Aging set up a small Website for this event - http://olderamericansmonth.org/

It promotes the following two events sponsored by the Administration on Aging.

Age Strong! Live Long! Walk

Thursday, May 27th 2010 - Registration Opens: 8:30 AM
The one-mile walk on the National Mall will celebrate the strength and vitality of older Americans. There will be exhibits, demonstrations, and other fun activities for walkers and non-walkers alike.

Mistress of Ceremony for the morning will be WUSA 9 News Now at Noon anchor J.C. Hayward.

Location:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20201

You can register individually or as a group of five people or more.

● Register as an Individual

● Register as a Group

● View the Route Map and Program Agenda

● Click here to download a flyer about this event.

● If you'd like to make a full day of your visit to the National Mall, click here for suggestions of things to do.

“My Recipe for Strength” Contest

The national contest to “share what you are doing to age strong” is no longer taking entries but later in May people can vote online for their favorites. The voting period will run from May 22 through May 28, 2010.

Winning entries will be selected in three categories: video, photography, and poetry/prose. Winners will receive a certificate of recognition and their entry will be publicly announced and prominently displayed on the Administration on Aging's website.

”Entries should creatively promote the Older Americans Month 2010 theme ‘Age Strong! Live Long!’ and may be submitted as a video, photograph, poem, or essay. Whether it's an exercise routine, a healthy diet, a tradition with friends, or remembering to look on the bright side of life, we want to find out what you've done to age strong and live long!,” according to the AOA statement on their Website.

To vote (May 22-27) go to http://olderamericansmonth.org/contest.aspx

“They have lived through wars and hard times, as well as periods of unprecedented prosperity. They pioneered new technologies in medicine, communications, and industry while spearheading a cultural revolution that won equal rights for minorities, women, and disabled Americans,” adds the news release.

“These remarkable achievements demonstrate the strength and character of older Americans, and underscore the debt of gratitude we owe to the generations that have given our society so much. But the contributions of older Americans are not only in the past.

“Older Americans are living longer and are more active than ever before. And with the aging of the baby boomer generation—the largest in our nation’s history - America’s senior population is expected to number 71.5 million by 2030.

“While keeping the growing population of older Americans healthy and active will increase the demand for senior services, what is remarkable is the extent to which older Americans themselves are supporting each other. As the new generations of seniors become better educated and more financially secure than their predecessors, they are spending more time making significant contributions in their communities through civic and volunteer opportunities.

“In fact, older Americans are a core component of service delivery to seniors—embodying and modeling the drive to Age Strong! Live Long! They volunteer at group meal sites and deliver food to homebound seniors; they act as escorts and provide transportation for older adults who cannot drive; they help seniors with home repair, shopping and errands; and they provide vital counseling, information and referral services.

“Their energy and commitment reminds all Americans—not just senior citizens and their caregivers—to do their part to enhance the quality of life for older generations.

“The annual commemoration of Older Americans Month is our opportunity to recognize the contributions of older citizens and join them in providing services and support that empower the elderly.

"Americans of all ages and backgrounds can volunteer with programs that improve health literacy, increase access to quality health services, offer food and nutrition services, provide financial and housing counseling, sponsor social activities and community engagement, and more.

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging by visiting http://www.eldercare.gov or calling 1-800-677-1116 to find out what you can do to strengthen services for older Americans, this month and all year round.”

History of Older Americans Month

When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthdays. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs.