One of May’s monthly observances is Older Americans Month, which acknowledges the lasting contributions of older adults to our nation, in particular those who defended our country. Older Americans Month was established in 1963, when only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. At the time about a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs, which sparked interest and concern over older Americans. In April 1963, President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens designated May as “Senior Citizens Month,” which was the prelude to “Older Americans Month” (OAM).
To spread the awareness of Older Americans Month, our Map of the Week shows the states that hold the highest concentrations of older Americans. Many issues face older populations such as health, wellness, housing, and financial support, thus, it is very important that states and municipalities provide programs and services to support the needs of their aging populations.
Written by Kathleen Emerson (5/10/2016).
References:
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml