Older Americans Month 2006 Has Theme of Healthy Aging

Jan. 27, 2006 – Older Americans Month, which will be celebrated again in May of this year, has never really found itself or established a real purpose, other than reminding us there is a growing number of senior citizens in America. The theme for this year – announced yesterday by the official sponsor, the Administration on Aging – is “Independence + Dignity + Choice = Healthy Aging.” The agency also introduced the new logo.

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So, really, why does the government sponsor this event? A search of the AoA site with the words "Older Americans Month purpose" returned this response, "Your search returned no matching documents."

In a history of the celebration, however, the AoA does say, "Historically, Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular those who defended our country."

Here is the rest of their history report:

"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. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing, however. In April of 1963, President John F. Kennedy's meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens served as a prelude to designating May as "Senior Citizens Month."

"Thanks to President Jimmy Carter's 1980 designation, what was once called Senior Citizens Month, is now called "Older Americans Month," and has become a tradition.

"Every President since JFK has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way to older persons in their communities. Older Americans Month is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs and other such activities."

So, seniors citizens, ready are not, should get ready for the events in May that honor the contributions they – and all the seniors who proceeded them – have made to the country.

Past Older Americans Month Themes

● 1978 - Older Americans and the Family
● 1984 - Health: Make it Last a Lifetime
● 1985 - Help Yourself to Independence
● 1986 - Plan on Living the Rest of Your Life
● 1992 - Community Action Begins with You: Help Older Americans Help Themselves
● 1993 - No theme selected (proclamation May 25, 1993)
● 1994 - Aging: An Experience of a Lifetime
● 1995 - Aging: Generations of Experience
● 1996 - Aging: A Lifetime Opportunity
● 1997 - Caregiving: Compassion in Action
● 1998 - Living Longer, Growing Stronger in America
● 1999 - Honor the Past, Imagine the Future: Towards a Society for All Ages
● 2000 - In the New Century. . . . The Future is Aging
● 2001 - The Many Faces of Aging
● 2002 - America: "A Community for all Ages"
● 2003 - “What We Do Makes A Difference.”
● 2004 – "Aging Well, Living Well”
● 2005 – "Celebrate Long-Term Living"

For more about Older Americans Month at AoA – click here.

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