Celebrate Older Americans Month

We are celebrating Older Americans Month this May with the theme “Communities of Strength,” recognizing the important role older adults have in strong, resilient communities.
This year’s theme recognizes that in tough times, communities find strength in people — and people find strength in their communities.
Over the past year, the agency has sought to build strength in the area’s older adults by staying connected to them, even while senior centers have been closed to the public. Staff members and volunteers have provided phone calls, video Zoom calls, home-delivered meals, and curbside pickups. Our vaccine navigators have provided help in finding the COVID-19 vaccine.
We’ve offered tips on gardening, exercise, birdwatching and simple recipes in our Cabin Fever Cures, a weekly handout to entertain folks.
During Older Americans Month, Care Connection is encouraging community members to share their experiences. Here are some ways to share and connect:
•Look for joy in the everyday: Celebrate small moments and ordinary pleasures by taking time to recognize them. Start a gratitude journal, and share it with others via social media, or call a friend or family member to share a happy moment or to say thank you.
•Reach out to neighbors: Even if you can’t get together in person right now, you can still connect with your neighbors. Leave a small gift on their doorstep, offer to help with outdoor chores, or deliver a homecooked meal.
•Build new skills: Learning something new allows us to practice overcoming challenges. Take an art course online or try a socially distanced outdoor movement class to enjoy learning with others in your community. Have a skill to share? Find an opportunity to teach someone, even casually.
•Share your story: There’s a reason storytelling is a time-honored activity. Hearing how others experience the world helps us grow. Interviewing family, friends, and neighbors can open up new conversations and strengthen our connections.
When people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and talents share experiences—through action, story, or service—they build strong communities. And that’s something to celebrate!