![Aging & Disability Services for Seattle & King County [logo]](https://www.agingkingcounty.org/wp-content/themes/sads/images/seattle-ads-logo.png){kind=logo}
Older Americans Month
Previous Events and Proclamations | Get Into The Act
Older Americans Month 2024
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.
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 Proclamations2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |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.
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 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!
