Alpena Celebrates Older Americans Month in May

President John F. Kennedy designated May as Senior Citizens Month, which would eventually become Older Americans Month, in 1963.

Since then, the United States has celebrated the contributions older Americans have made for the country, including in northeast Michigan.

“They’ve worked hard all their lives;” said Program Director at the Alpena Senior Citizens Center, BJ Sander. they deserve so much from our community to help them during what we call their golden years. I’m a senior, so I know what it feels like.”

Each year, the Administration for Community Living creates a theme for the annual recognition, and this year’s theme is ‘Aging Unbound.’ So what does that mean? What does that look like?

“To build a worldwide community of compassion made up of self sufficient seniors, empower them where all live with dignity and have the ability and opportunity to achieve their potential,” said Sander.

Throughout May, the Senior Center will promote self sufficiency for seniors, so they can live out their lives in their desired manner.

“We’re pretty much doing everything that we possibly can at this point in time to help seniors to remain with dignity in their own homes, and that’s the goal for every senior is to be able to live out their life in their home and to feel safe,” said Sander.

The Senior Center has worked their way back from COVID when they could not truly celebrate Older Americans Month, but now that they’re back on track, they plan on having a luncheon in a few weeks.