Older Americans Month: Communities of Strength
May 5, 2021
In tough times, communities find strength in people—and people find strength in their communities. In the past year, we’ve seen this time and again here at Webster at Rye and in our larger community as friends, neighbors, and businesses have found new ways to support each other.
In our community, older adults are a key source of this strength. Through their experiences, successes, and difficulties, they have built resilience that helps them to face new challenges. When communities tap into this, they become stronger too.
Each May, the Administration for Community Living leads the celebration of Older Americans Month (OAM). This year’s theme is Communities of Strength, recognizing the important role older adults play in fostering the connection and engagement that build strong, resilient communities.
Strength is built and shown not only by bold acts, but also small ones of day-to-day life—a conversation shared with a friend, enjoying the garden, trying a new activity, or taking time for a cup of tea. And when we share these activities with others—even virtually or by telling about the experience later—we help them build resilience too.
Here are some ways we can all share and connect during Older Americans Month and every day:
- Look for joy in the everyday: Celebrate small moments and ordinary pleasures by taking time to recognize them. Start a gratitude journal, or call a friend or family member to share a happy moment or to say thank you.
- Reach out to neighbors: Say hello to someone you don’t know, offer to help someone with a task, or eat a meal with someone new (while following any safety procedures, of course).
- Build new skills: Learning something new allows us to practice overcoming challenges. Try a new activity or movement class. 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—we help build strong communities. And that’s something to celebrate!