Older Americans Month

Previous Events and Proclamations | Get Into The Act

Older Americans Month 2024

Older Americans Month May 2024 Powered by Connection
Older Americans Month is an annual event dating back to 1963, when President John F. Kennedy designated May as Senior Citizens Month. It was later renamed Older Americans Month, honoring older Americans and celebrating their contributions to our communities and our nation. Join us in promoting flexible thinking about aging—and how we all benefit when older adults remain engaged, independent, and included.

image of page 1 of the 2024 Older Americans Month proclamation signed by Mayor Bruce Harrell and all members of the Seattle City Council

Click on the image above to open the two-page proclamation in PDF.

2024-OAM-proclamationThe Administration for Community Living has announced that the theme for Older Americans Month 2024 is “Powered by Connection.” This special recognition provides an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how communities can combat stereotypes.

Theme: Powered by Connection

Proclamation: City of Seattle

Calendar: May 2024

Materials: Click here for Older Americans Month logos, social media graphics, and other materials presented by the federal Administration for Community Living.

Hashtags: #OAM2024 #OlderAmericansMonth

Click on the headings below for more information. 

Previous Events and Proclamations

2023 2022 | 2021 | 2020 20192018 | 20172016 |2015 

2023

The Administration for Community Living has announced that the theme for Older Americans Month 2023 is “Aging Unbound.” This special recognition provides an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how communities can combat stereotypes.

Aging Unbound is the 2023 theme for Older Americans Month (May). Logos for Administration for Community Living, Seattle Human Services, and Aging and Disability Services.

Click Image to Open

Theme: Aging Unbound

Proclamation: Governor Jay Inslee

Proclamation: King County Executive Dow Constantine

Proclamation:  Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle City Council

Calendar: May 2023 calendar

Materials: acl.gov/oam/2023/oam-2023-materials

Event Poster: 2023

Social Media: pending

Hashtags: #OAM2023 #OlderAmericansMonth

See also: Our Pinterest Older Americans Month page.


2022

Theme: Age My Way

Proclamation: City of Seattle

Proclamation: King County

Proclamation: Washington State

Calendar: May 2022 calendar

Materials: acl.gov/oam/2022/oam-2022-materials

Social Media: acl.gov/oam/2022/oam-2022-social-media

Hashtags: #OAM2022 #OlderAmericansMonth


2021

Theme: Communities of Strength

Proclamation: City of Seattle

Activity Ideas: acl.gov/oam/2021/oam-2021-activity-ideas

Calendar: May 2021 calendar


2020

Theme: Make Your Mark

Logos: To download the 2020 logo in various formats for use online and in print, click here (ACL).

Hashtag: #OAM2020 (please use in social media posts about Older Americans Month 2020)


2019

Theme: Connect, Create, Contribute

Proclamation: City of Seattle

Proclamation: King County

Article:  Connecting with Others—Why That’s So Important, by Ava Frisinger (AgeWise, May 2019)

Materials, Activity Ideas and Resources: Older Americans Month 2019 (ACL site)


2018

Many thanks to Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw who hosted “Engage at Every Age,” an Older Americans Month forum on social and civic engagement on May 4, 2018. The forum focused on older adults who are making a difference, Age Friendly Seattle, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ new Community Resource Hub, and Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Lifelong Recreation, Dementia-friendly Recreation, Sound Steps, and Rainbow Recreation programs. Councilmember Bagshaw presented four proclamations from the Mayor and Council—one recognizing the month, and three recognizing individuals in our community:

  • Older Americans Month 2018
  • June Michel—a member of the ADS Advisory Council—was recognized “as an effective advocate for older adults, individuals with disabilities, people with memory loss, and multicultural communities throughout our region.”
  • Mary Diggs-Hobson, co-founder of African-American Reach & Teach Health (AARTH) was recognized “for dedicating her life to inspiring and empowering others to improve the health of people of African descent, now and for generations to come.”
  • Ninety-one year old John Pehrson, long active in neighborhood affairs and currently the community lead on the Market to MOHAI urban trail project, was recognized “as a mover and a shaker in Seattle who serves as a social and civic engagement role model for others, young and old.”

AgeWise Article: Chair’s Corner: Aging and Engaging!, by Ava Frisinger (May 2018)


2017

Theme: Age Out Loud

Proclamation: City of Seattle Mayor

AgeWise Article: Throw Misconceptions about Aging Out the Door. by David Baker (May 2017)

May 2017 Older Americans Month: Calendar of Events


2016

Theme: Blaze a Trail

Proclamation: King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray

AgeWise Article: Blaze a Trail by Embracing Aging, by Molly Holmes (May 2016)


2015

Aging and Disability Services Video: Our Elders, Our Selves: Visiting the Past, Planning for Our Future

Proclamation: Governor Jay Inslee

Proclamation: King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray

Get Into the Act

Get Into the Act in Seattle-King County

Following are a series of graphics produced by Aging and Disability Services in 2015 for the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act of 1965, which was highlighted during Older Americans Month with the theme “Get Into The Act!

Get into the Act picture