Older Americans Month
May is Older Americans Month. First established in 1963 by the Administration on Aging (now known as the Administration for Community Living, or ACL), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it is “a time to recognize older Americans’ contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitments to serving older adults in our communities.”
Every year the ACL creates a theme for the month—this year’s is “Powered by Connection”—and makes available numerous marketing materials and activity ideas to promote it. Oh, and the White House issues an official proclamation—and local, regional, and state entities get in on the celebration, as well.
Pardon me if I sound cynical, but to me these pronouncements aren’t much more than window dressing designed to remind the public that “old people matter.” After which most of those in a position to make real, lasting change symbolically dust the dirt off their hands, check the appropriate box off of their To Do lists, and utter proudly to themselves, “Job Done.”
To which I feel compelled to respond: NOT. SO. FAST.
According to the Pew Research Center, there are currently 62 million Adults 65+ living in the United States—and I believe EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM DESERVES BETTER.
Nearly 10 years ago, the Obama Administration convened the last White House Conference on Aging. (Why the White House convenes a conference to address the needs of older adults only once a decade is beyond me, but that’s another question for another day.)
The themes of the 2015 Conference were as follows:
Acknowledging that the older adult population is rapidly growing—and that society needs to “more effectively engage the challenges” and “fully embrace the possibilities” inherent to this population
Recognizing that the demand for caregivers is expected to grow, as is the need for recruiting, retaining, and supporting these paid (or, more accurately, underpaid)—and unpaid—workers
The need to collaborate against all the sectors involved in supporting healthy aging
Taking advantage of technology to help older adults stay connected—and remain active and independent
(Note there is no mention of ageism here. Just sayin’.)
Looking back over the past nine years, I am now asking myself, HOW FAR HAVE WE COME in terms of making progress in any one of these areas? And my answer is . . . (drumroll, please) . . .
NOT VERY FAR. Certainly, NOT FAR ENOUGH.
So this year, for Older Americans Month, I propose we do more than pay lip-service to the needs of nearly 20% of the American population (and growing—literally—every 8 seconds).
I say we spend the next month calling on all the policy makers, funders, non-profits, and government agencies who are supposed to be focused on meeting the needs of older adults and implore them to DO SOMETHING.
Those of us who work in this world know what those needs are. We see them—and experience them—every day.
But the reality is for older adults in America, the clock truly is ticking. We simply can’t wait any longer.
Leaders need to lead. And, as my friend and colleague Janine Vanderburg likes to say, “WE are the leaders we’ve been waiting for!”