Each May, the nation celebrates Older Americans Month to recognize older Americans for their contributions and also to provide them with information to help keep them active and healthy. This year’s theme is injury prevention – Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow.
Older Americans, age 65+, are at a much higher risks for injuries, violence and even death than the younger population. This year’s focus on keeping older Americans safe and healthy aims to change current statistics.
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Older Americans Month turns 50 this year. It began in 1963 as “Senior Citizens Month,” when then-President John F. Kennedy designated May as a time to celebrate the vitality and aspirations of older adults. The name was changed in 1980 and officially became “Older American’s Month.”
Congress passed the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965 in response to concern by policymakers about a lack of community social services for senior citizens. The original legislation established authority for grants to States for community planning and social services, research and development projects, and personnel training in the field of aging. The law also established the Administration on Aging (AoA) to administer the newly created grant programs and to serve as the Federal focal point on matters concerning older persons. Its mission is broad; to help older people maintain maximum independence in their homes and communities and to promote a continuum of care for the vulnerable elderly. The Act has seven titles and includes multiple programs: Continue Reading Older Americans Celebrate In May