Older Americans Month

Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM is a time for us to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of older Americans, highlight important trends, and strengthen our commitment to honoring our older citizens. Every president since Kennedy 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. 

When OAM was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty with few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns began to grow. A meeting in April 1963 between President Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens led to designating May as “Senior Citizens Month,” the prelude to “Older Americans Month.”

Today, OAM is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs, and other activities. This year’s theme, "Powered by Connection," recognizes the profound impact that meaningful relationships and social connections have on our health and well-being. Join in on promoting the benefits of connecting with others. Here are a few ways you can participate:

• Share facts about the mental, physical, and emotional health benefits of social connection and how it contributes to overall well-being.
• Promote resources that help older adults engage, like community events, social clubs, and volunteer opportunities.
• Connect older adults with local services, such as transportation, that can help them overcome obstacles to achieving or maintaining meaningful relationships.
• Encourage partners to host a connection-centric event or program focused on older adult mentors to youth, peer-to-peer support, or similar efforts.
• Challenge professional and personal networks to prioritize meaningful social connections and share the benefits.
• Inspire older adults to share what connection means to them on social media using the hashtag #PoweredByConnection.

For more information, visit the official OAM website, follow ACL on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, and join the conversation using #OlderAmericansMonth