Happy Senior Citizens Day!
Thirty years ago, then-President Ronald Reagan proclaimed August 21 to be “Senior Citizens Day.” He said older people have achieved so much and contributed so much to our society, that they deserve their own special day.
Today we’re living longer than ever, with better health and finances in our old age. Many seniors are active well into their 70s and 80s, and having them around enhances our communities and neighborhoods.
Here at Park Crescent, we applaud and celebrate our seniors every single day, because we see their challenges and triumphs up close. We see them persisting in their therapy and rehab in order to regain as much function as possible. We see how they keep smiling while suffering immense pain.
We’re in awe of their strength and determination—and sense of humor—that helps them through each medical challenge.
How to Celebrate Senior Citizens Day
If you have a senior in your life, you know that he or she posses the kind of wisdom you can only get from living 60 or more years. You know they’ve fought many battles in their lifetime—whether those battles were mental, emotional, or physical.
Visit your elderly loved one today, Senior Citizens Day. Take them out for dinner, or bring a nice dinner to them. Ask them for advice. Talk to them about their family heritage, history, and traditions. As a side note, you may want to record those conversations—you’ll have a real piece of history in your hands.
Remember that even the youngest seniors lived through life-changing historical events: the JFK assassination, the civil rights movement, the Cold War and fall of communism, the man on the moon, and so much more. And don’t forget that the Baby Boomers saw incredible technological advancements in their lifetime—and have come to embrace it. This Senior Citizen’s Day, connect by phone or online with a senior loved one who lives far away from you.
You can also visit with local seniors who don’t have any family nearby. Senior isolation is a huge risk for many health conditions, including dementia, so visiting home-bound seniors often will work wonders for their health.
However you decide to go about it, don’t forget to honor, thank, and celebrate the seniors in your life today.