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.

2020 Older Americans Month

In November 2019, the Administration for Community Living announced the 2020 Older Americans Month theme—Make Your Mark—selected to encourage and celebrate countless contributions that older adults make to our communities. Their time, experience, and talents benefit family, peers, and neighbors every day. Communities, organizations, and individuals of all ages are also making their marks.

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)

Calendar: Older Americans Month events and activities are posted on our May 2020 calendar and 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.

Social media: Visit our Pinterest Older Americans Month page.

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