Every May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM), a time to recognize older Americans’ contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm America’s commitment to serving older adults. The 2025 theme, “Flip the Script on Aging,” focuses on transforming how we and society perceive, talk about, and approach aging. It encourages us and our communities to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions about getting older.
One important way is examining the subtle ways we use language to reinforce aging stereotypes, because words matter — as I am often reminded during my “differences of opinion” conversations with my wife!
Another example is when you hear someone talking about an older person in his 80s, did they say, “He is still driving,” or, “He drives?” Do you notice the subtle difference? Phrases like “still” can reinforce the idea that older adults over a certain age shouldn’t be driving.
And here’s another example. When you forget a name, an appointment, or the grocery list you just wrote, do you call it a “senior moment,” telling yourself it’s normal for older adults to forget things?
Yes, as we age, our ability to recall information generally does get worse. But if you ask anyone at any age whether they have forgotten something during the day, everyone will say, “Yes,” unless they are lying, because who doesn’t forget? When I was younger, if I couldn’t recall the name of some object, it became a whatchamacallit or a thingamajig. No matter our age, we will have our memory “moments”.
So, during Older Americans Month, let’s flip the switch and challenge the misconceptions and stereotypes about aging by changing the way we communicate about aging by finding time to honor the contributions of older adults, and by sharing the opportunities in our communities where we can find purpose, explore, and connect with others.
As part of this year’s Older Americans Month celebration, PBS is streaming the documentary “Aging in America: Survive or Thrive.” You can find it at watch.opb.org/video/aging-in-america-survive-or-thrive-ykg0z3.
As PBS explains, “This one-hour documentary, narrated by Martin Sheen, uses the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, ‘Why Survive: Being Old in America’ by Dr. Robert N. Butler, the first director of the National Institute on Aging, as a guide. It celebrates the promise of increased longevity while addressing crucial and unprecedented public policy challenges such as ageism, healthcare, economic insecurity, and Alzheimer’s disease.”
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Brain Tease: Here are three brain teases, and I hope there’s at least one you haven’t heard before that will challenge your gray matter.
1. What kind of running also means walking?
2. What has a bottom at the top?
3. I have two newly minted coins in my pocket. One isn’t a nickel, but they total 30 cents. What are the coins?
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This beloved puppeteer and ventriloquist who had her first major show on NBC from 1960-1963, and then in the 1990s returned with her PBS series was Shari Lewis. And for the bonus point, her most-recognized hand puppet was Lambchop. I received correct answers from Judy Kiser, Shelly Hinatsu, Marny Weting, Tina Castanares, Kathy Smith, Dave Lutgens, Eva Summers, Kim Birge and Lana Tepfer, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
And from the week before, the title of the 1965 hit song sung by the English singer Petula Clark was “Downtown.” I received correct answers from Mrs. Black, Rhonda Spies, Doug Nelson, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Marny Weting, Rhonda Spies, Shelly Hinatsu, Keith and Marlene Clymer, Dave Lutgens, Lana Tepfer, Kathy Smith, Eva Summers, Bruce Johnson, David Liberty, Jess Birge, Pat Evenson-Brady, Rebecca Abrams, Craig Terry, Barb Weiford and Mrs. Black, this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
When I was growing up, the whole family gathered around the TV set to watch this Sunday night variety show featuring an assortment of entertainers from classical musicians and opera singers to popular recording artists such as Elvis Presley and the Beatles. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was the host of this television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a video of “Little Italian Mouse” puppet Topo Gigio.
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Well, it’s been another week, searching for the cherry to put on top. Until we meet again, don’t step on the gas when you are looking for the brake.
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“It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment; and in these qualities old age is usually not only not poorer, but is even richer.” — Cicero
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Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.
Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) — Wednesdays with music on second and fourth Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Town Hall (541-308-5997) — Tuesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).
For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services: Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).
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