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.

Click on the image above to read the Older Americans Month in Seattle proclamation signed by Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and all members of the Seattle City Council.

2021 Older Americans Month

The Administration for Community Living has announced that the theme for Older Americans Month 2021 is “Communities of Strength.” This special recognition will celebrate the strength of older adults and the Aging Network, with special emphasis on the power of connection and engagement in building strong communities.

Materials: acl.gov/oam/2021/oam-2021-materials

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

Social media: Find colorful images for use on social media at acl.gov/oam/2021/oam-2021-social-media.

Hashtags: #OAM2021 #OlderAmericansMonth

Calendar: Older Americans Month events and activities are posted on our May 2021 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.

See also: Our Pinterest Older Americans Month page.

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

Theme: “Connect, Create, Contribute”

Proclamations: City of Seattle | King County

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

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

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)

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