1982 20¢ Aging Together
US #2011 was issued for Older Americans Month in 1982.

On May 1, 1963, the US observed its first Senior Citizens Month, later renamed Older Americans Month.  Since its inception, it has been a time to raise awareness of issues facing older Americans as well as honor their contributions to our nation.

1985 22¢ Social Security Act
US #2153 was issued for the 50th anniversary of the Social Security Act.

The US had created some programs aimed at older Americans in the decades prior – including the Civil Service Retirement Act (1920), the Social Security Act (1935), and the Railroad Retirement Act (1937).  Then in 1950, President Harry Truman called for a report on the problems plaguing the country’s “increasingly older population.”  This led to the first National Conference on Aging that year.  The Special Staff on Aging was established in 1956, as well as the Federal Council on Aging.  The White House hosted its first Conference on Aging in 1961 and Congress established a permanent Commission on Aging in 1962.

1982 20¢ Aging Together Fleetwood Plate Block First Day Cover
US #2011 – Fleetwood Plate Block First Day Cover

In early 1963, President John F. Kennedy met with the National Council of Senior Citizens.  They discussed their concerns over the fact that many older Americans were living in poverty and there weren’t many programs available to help them.  Together they developed a plan to establish Senior Citizens Month.  Kennedy issued an official proclamation on April 18, designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month.

1982 20¢ Aging Together Classic First Day Cover
US #2011 – Classic First Day Cover

In his proclamation, Kennedy acknowledged the important role of older Americans, whose skills, wisdom, and experience helped build our nation and continue to provide leadership and counsel.  He went on to say that as Americans reach their later years, they should be able to enjoy the full benefits of advances in wealth, science, technology, and culture.  Kennedy urged Americans to use Senior Citizens Month as a time to raise awareness of the problems they faced and search for new opportunities and services to best address their needs.

1982 20¢ Aging Together Colorano Silk Cachet First Day Cover
US #2011 – Colorano Silk Cachet First Day Cover

Two years later, Kennedy’s successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, signed the Older Americans Act into law on July 14, 1965.  The act formally established May as Older Americans Month and took further steps to help America’s seniors.  It created the Department of Health, Education and Welfare’s Administration on Aging, which would oversee grant programs and other government activities for older Americans.  The act also encouraged states to form their own State Units on Aging and provided grants to the states to support social services, projects, and training in the field of aging.

The 1965 Older Americans Act helped create new nutrition programs, transportation help, federally-backed adult day care, legal services, and more for seniors.  It also led to the addition of Medicare, Title XVIII, specifically for the elderly, as well as Medicare, Title XIX, for low-income Americans, to the Social Security Act.

1969 6¢ Grandma Moses
US #1370 was issued in 1969 to coincide with Older Americans Month.

The Older Americans Act was extended for another two years in 1967 and established a study for the Administration on Aging to explore new needs for their field.  The Age Discrimination Act was also signed into law that year.  The 1970s saw the Second White House Conference on Aging in 1971 and the creation of a national nutrition program for the elderly in 1972.  In 1973, the Older Americans Comprehensive Services Amendments set up Area Agencies on Aging, providing funds for local agencies to create senior centers and an employment grant program for low-income seniors.  Additional grants were created in 1974 to provide protective, homemaker, transportation, and training services.  The National Institute on Aging was also created that year, to study the aging process.  The Older Americans Act was reauthorized several more times over the years, adding additional programs and aid as needed.

Additionally, every president since Johnson has issued a formal proclamation for Older Americans Month in May.  These proclamations encourage people across America to use this time to remember and honor older Americans.  Local groups stage events, fairs, and fundraisers celebrating older Americans.  And for many years, the Administration on Aging and the Administration of Community Living have assigned different themes for each celebration.  Some of these past themes have included “Living Longer, Growing Stronger in America,” “Honor the Past, Imagine the Future: Towards a Society for All Ages,” “Aging Well, Living Well,” “Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow,” and “Engage at Every Age.”  The 2022 theme is “Age My Way.”

Click here to read JFK’s Senior Citizens Month proclamation.

Discover more about past and present celebrations on the Older Americans Month website.

FREE printable This Day in History album pages
Download a PDF of today’s article.
Get a binder or other supplies to create your This Day in History album.

What baseball player, nicknamed “Cocky,” was the first to steal 80 bases in a season and six in a singe game two times?  Check back tomorrow to find out!

Discover what else happened on This Day in History.

Did you like this article? Click here to rate:
Share this Article

2 Comments

  1. As an old man now, I am very thankful for all of the laws that were made as I passed through the decades as a boy and a young man. My generation is so much better off in America than my father’s generation, and I really appreciate all of the changes that America has introduced to make growing old less painful and with much more care. Thank you Mystics for providing this moment in our daily history through postage stamps, which I was not previously aware of.

  2. AMEN TO THAT! I too am older (75) and appreciate these benefits. Thanks again for these good reads.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *