May is Older Americans Month

U.S. Administration on Aging

Never has it been more evident that one of the biggest challenges facing the United States is how we will care for our grandparents, parents, and loved ones as they age.

Views may vary on how to prepare for what will be a diverse wave of seniors, whose ranks are growing due to the aging of 78 million baby boomers who will begin to turn 65 in 2011. But all agree that this shift in our nation’s demographics will have profound implications for our economic and social landscapes at the national, state and community level. 

Federal, state and community leaders are witnessing sweeping fundamental transformations in the way we think about and deliver health and long term care in this country.  More and more we hear that the overwhelming preference of the American people is to remain at home for as long as possible and to have choice and control over how and where they live as they age. The national aging services network, led by the U.S. Administration on Aging and comprised of state, tribal and area agencies on aging, as well as more than 29,000 community service providers, caregivers and volunteers, know this and have worked hard to carry out their mission under the Older Americans Act to provide for and protect the independence and dignity of our older citizens.

For 44 years, our nation has paused to honor older Americans during May. During this special month, the ongoing contributions of our older citizens are highlighted with a national proclamation issued by the President of the United States, and activities and events are planned in communities across America. 

The theme for Older Americans Month 2007 is “Older Americans: Making Choices for a Healthier Future.” This theme encourages us to think differently about health and long term care, and work together to balance and modernize our current systems so that we may adequately plan for and address the needs of current and future generations. Older persons are entitled to live lives of dignity and independence through:

• Streamlined access to information as well as to home and community services, including information that will enable people to plan ahead for care
  
  
• Information about cost-effective prevention practices and activities that will improve health and quality of life and reduce risk of disease, disability and injury
  
  
• Innovative, affordable and flexible options of care and support that will provide an array of choices about how and where to live.