Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of older adults. At St. John’s we are blessed by having older members who continue to contribute their time, wisdom, and resource to our community. Together, we can ask the questions and explore a wide range of aging experiences and promote the importance of enjoying independence and fulfillment by paving our own paths as we age.

Churches can support older adults by:

• Providing opportunities for older adults to explore new passions, be creative, try new activities and go on adventures. Age doesn’t define our limits! This is accomplished through activities with Joy (Just Older Youth).
• Highlighting the rewards of growing older. With age comes knowledge, insight, and confidence for experiencing the world more deeply. Churches can allow diversity of all ages on all of their committees.
• Offering community engagement options. Everyone benefits by being connected and involved in their community. Churches can offer seminars from non-profits in their community that serve the senior population.
• Forming relationships and getting to know your neighbor. Invest time with people to discover deeper connections with family, friends, and community members. As long as you are mentally and physically able, continue to serve God actively in your church.
• Encouraging activities for the body and mind. Using the unique God-given gifts to age well and have a higher quality of life. Talking to staff on how you can continue to serve even if home-bound. For more information on aging services in Texas, visit Age Well Live Well on the HHS website or by email at   to learn more.

More Resources
Know Your Neighbor
Food Security
Nutrition at Any Age
Understanding Nutrition
Social Determinants of Health in Aging
Aging: By the Numbers
Why Age Well Live Well

Tags: aging, mental health, senior adults