Every May, communities across the country celebrate Older Americans Month (OAM), led by the Administration for Community Living. Established in 1963, Older Americans Month recognizes the contributions of older adults, raises awareness of issues impacting aging communities, and celebrates the importance of supporting healthy aging.

This year’s theme, “Champion Your Health,” encourages older adults and communities to prioritize wellness, connection, and healthy aging. While health is often thought of in physical terms, strong social connections, access to community resources, and opportunities for civic engagement also play an important role in overall well-being.

On April 16, AgeGuide’s 52nd Annual Meeting brought together a community grounded in the belief that aging should be defined by purpose, connection, and ongoing contribution. The day offered opportunity for celebration with thoughtful reflection on the challenges ahead.

Ken Stern, Founder and Chair of The Longevity Project and former CEO of NPR, delivered an inspiring keynote on the power of strong communities and intergenerational relationships. Drawing on his work and his book Healthy to 100, he challenged attendees to see longevity as an opportunity to reshape how we live, work, and connect.

May is Military Appreciation Month, a time to recognize and honor the service, sacrifice, and resilience of the millions of Veterans across the country. As communities look for meaningful ways to support Veterans beyond words of gratitude, programs that promote independence play an essential role.

At AgeGuide, supporting Veterans means helping them remain safe, connected, and empowered in the communities they call home. One of the ways AgeGuide does this is through the Veteran Directed Care (VDC) program, a person-centered initiative designed to give eligible Veterans greater choice and control over their home and community-based care needs.

Submitted by Mike O’Donnell 

You play a vital role connecting older adults to the mental health services they need. Now, we invite you to join the Illinois Coalition on Mental Health and Aging to help turn your daily work into meaningful, statewide impact.

Every day, you see firsthand the growing needs of older adults. But meeting those needs requires both direct service and a strong, unified voice advocating for sustainable funding, a skilled workforce, and policies that support the people we serve. Your voice, combined with others across Illinois, can drive real change.

As Americans live longer than ever, too many are aging without financial security, health supports, or clear pathways to thrive. To continue exploring what it truly means to age well, in this episode, we’re joined by Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging, and a leading national voice on aging policy, economic security, and equity.

Ramsey unpacks why longevity is one of the most consequential megatrends of our time and how longer lives are reshaping work, caregiving, health, and community life across America. 

Send a letter through our Action Alert! Older adults and family caregivers in our communities rely on critical services funded through the Older Americans Act (OAA), including home-delivered meals, transportation, caregiver support, and in-home services.

As Congress begins work on the FY 2027 budget, we must urge lawmakers to protect and increase funding for these essential aging programs so older adults can continue to age safely and independently at home. Send a letter today!

At AgeGuide, we love getting social! Stay up to date with the latest news, updates and learn more about AgeGuide and our work advocating for older adults and the services they need on our social media pages!