In 1963, a total of 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthdays. Public interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing. In April of 1963, President John F. Kennedy's (JFK) meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens served as a prelude to designating May as "Senior Citizens Month."
Every President since JFK has issued a formal proclamation asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way to older people in their communities. Thanks to President Jimmy Carter's 1980 designation, what was once called Senior Citizens Month, is now called "Older Americans Month."
According to the Administration on Aging (AOA) , the 2010 theme for Older Americans Month "Age Strong! Live Long!" recognizes the diversity and vitality of today's older Americans who span three generations.
Many older Americans give back to their communities by volunteering through groups like Senior Corps .
Preventive care measures and prescription drug benefits are part of the effort to modernize Medicare and make medication more affordable to seniors. To access health information resources for seniors, please visit:
- Health for Seniors
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Senior Health
- Exercise for Seniors
- Health and Nutrition Online
- Healthfinder.gov
Additional Resources: