Older Americans Month

2022 Older Americans Month Age My Way masthead

Older Americans Month

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.

2022 Older Americans Month

The Administration for Community Living has announced that the theme for Older Americans Month 2022 is “Age My Way.” This special recognition provides an opportunity for all of us to explore the many ways older adults can remain in and be involved with their communities.

  • Older Americans Month in Seattle: Thank you, Mayor Bruce Harrell and members of the Seattle City Council, for proclaiming May as Older Americans Month in Seattle!
  • Older Americans Month in Washington State: Thank you, Governor Jay Inslee, for proclaiming May as Older Americans Month in Washington State!
  • Calendar: Older Americans Month events and activities are posted on our May 2022 calendar. The calendar is promoted in AgeWise King County in the months leading up to and through May of each year. To submit event information, e-mail irene.stewart@seattle.gov.
  • Materials: acl.gov/oam/2022/oam-2022-materials
  • Activity Ideas: Pending
  • Social Media: Find colorful images for use on social media at acl.gov/oam/2022/oam-2022-social-media.
  • Hashtags: #OAM2022 #OlderAmericansMonth

See also: Our Pinterest Older Americans Month page.

2021 Older Americans Month

2020 Older Americans Month

  • 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 Older Americans Month

2018 Older Americans Month

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.”

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

2017 Older Americans Month

2016 Older Americans Month

2015 Older Americans Month

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