May 2007 Vol. 26. No. 5

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Art Therapy Color and patience tease creativity from participants
End of life compassion: Shall we have a choice about ending our lives?
May is Older Americans Month
Try out: STAR auditions set May 6,7
Pay attention to your medications
Tribute to Sister Ann McGuinn, CSJ
Redwood Community Action Agency provides low-cost rehab loans

Pick up a copy today! Better yet, subscribe and never miss an issue!

Brought to you by

May is Older Americans Month

The theme for Older Americans Month 2007 is "Older Americans: Making Choices for a Healthier Future."

When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthdays. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty, and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing, however. In April 1963, President John F. Kennedy's meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens served as a prelude to designating May as Senior Citizens Month.

Thanks to President Jimmy Carter's 1980 designation, what was once called Senior Citizens Month, is now called "Older Americans Month," and has become a tradition.

Historically, Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions to our country of past and current older people, in particular those who defended our country. Every president since JFK has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way to older people in their communities.

Past Older American Themes
1978 - Older Americans and the Family
1984 - Health: Make it Last a Lifetime
1985 - Help Yourself to Independence
1986 - Plan on Living the Rest of Your Life
1992 - Community Action Begins with You: Help Older Americans Help Themselves
1993 - No theme selected (proclamation signed on May 25, 1993)
1994 - Aging: An Experience of a Lifetime
1995 - Aging: Generations of Experience
1996 - Aging: A Lifetime Opportunity
1997 - Caregiving: Compassion in Action
1998 - Living Longer, Growing Stronger
1999 - Honor the Past, Imagine the Future: Towards a Society for All Ages
2000 - In the New Century. . . . The Future is Aging
2001 - The Many Faces of Aging
2002 - A Community for all Ages
2003 - What We Do Makes A Difference
2004 - Aging Well, Living Well
2005 - Celebrate Long-term Living
2006 - Choices for Independence

Senior News is lucky to celebrate older Americans every month with our focus on what local seniors are doing and thinking in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Join with us to celebrate our elders.

- Barbara Clark, Senior News editor