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May is Older Americans MonthA proud tradition that shows commitment to honoring the value that elders contribute to our communities. Show support for Older Americans Month by unleashing the power of age in your community. This year’s Older Americans Month theme—“Unleash the Power of Age!”—highlights the significant contributions made by thousands of older Americans across our nation. Every older American has a wealth of talents, experiences, and interests worth celebrating. Find a way to unleash the power of your age! Throughout the month of May, look for opportunities to show the vibrant life that you and your residents lead.

Motivation for Older Americans Month

When President Kennedy established Older Americans Month in 1963, 17 million Americans were age 65 or older, about a third of those seniors lived in poverty, and there were few programs to meet their needs.

Two years later, in 1965, Congress passed the Older Americans Act to address the lack of community social services for older people in the United States. The original legislation authorized the federal government to make grants to the states for community planning and social services, research and development projects, and personnel training in the field of aging.

The Older Americans Act also established the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) to administer the newly created grant programs and to serve as the primary federal agency on issues concerning older Americans.

Provide your residents with disposable cameras and plan an outing (hike, beach trip, bird watching, etc.) and allow the residents to take pictures! Then hold a photography contest and have each resident vote for their favorite photo! Give away prizes to the photos with the most votes!

National Photo Month

National BBQ Month

May is also National Hamburger Month—a perfect opportunity to combine the two! Host a BBQ for your residents to celebrate. Get your residents Involved your friends and exchange BBQ recipes. One of the best things about barbecuing is the experimentation. You can adjust those recipes to meet your preferences. A great opportunity for good food and bonding between residents within your community!

Kentucky Derby:May 4th & 5th - Road to the Roses

History: Alternatively referred to as “The Run for the Roses” or “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” the Kentucky Derby is a 1.25 mile race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. The Kentucky Derby draws an average of 150,000 visitors each year, including residents, out-of-towners, celebrities, presidents, and even members of royal families.

Kentucky Derby Games:

Horseshoes

Horseshoes is an outdoor game played between two people (or two teams of two people) using four horseshoes and two stakes. The game is played by the players alternating turns tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, which are traditionally placed 40 feet apart.

Wheel for the Roses

Take large group of residents to the parking lot (which should be blocked off). Ask each to cheer for the horse and jockey they want to win! Have 5-6 staff members seated in wheel chairs at starting gate. Staff will not be allowed to use their feet. All propelling must be with the hands. Serve pre-mixed non-alcoholic Mint Juleps in plastic derby cups after the race and award the winner with a bouquet of silk red roses. Make sure to ask residents to dress like they’re going to the Kentucky Derby that day!

Cinco de Mayo- May 5thCinco de Mayo—or the fifth of May—commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Have a Mexican Fiesta with a Mariachi band (or just play Mexican music), serve Carne Asada, Rice, Beans ,red , white and green Jell-O, and non-alcoholic Margaritas. Have a salsa making cooking class. Play Cinco De Mayo trivia (see below). Have a local dance studio come in and give Salsa Dance step lessons. Call everyone by Senior or Senorita, Have the staff and residents wear red, white and green clothing. Have fun!!!

Cinco De Mayo TriviaTrue/Faise Trivia:~ Mexico imports coffee, bananas, sugar cane, and tabacco to the U.S.True~The peso is the basic unit of money in MexicoTrue~Chili Con Carne means Its cold outside in SpanishFalse, it means Chili with Meat.~A Sarape is a Mexican drinkFalse, it is a blanket.~The main religion in Mexico is BudisimFalse, most Mexicans in Mexico are Catholic~ Mariachi music is played with a pianoFalse.~Mexico's capital city is Mexico CityTrue~The official language of Mexico is LatinFalse, it is Spanish

Mothers Day- May 12th

Celebrate mothers, grandmothers, and all other women this day by pampering them all day long! Begin the day with little surprises (real or silk flowers, candies, breakfast, etc.). Any surprise makes a woman feel special no matter how big or small. Just make sure they feel special and know that they are loved!

Bring in volunteers to give the ladies a nice shoulder massage

Have a special movie ‘girls’ night and serve popcorn, chocolate truffles, and mocktails!

Make facial masks to give the community a spa feeling for the day!

Bring in special entertainment for the women and have them dedicate special songs to the mothers in the room!

Memorial Day- May 27th Military Parade

For this National Military Appreciation Month, create a parade atmosphere to honor military veterans by having them, one by one, briefly talk about their time in the service. Encourage other residents to be spectators, cheering on their military heroes. Hand out doughnuts, coffee, and mini flags to the spectators.

Memorial Day Cookout

On this Memorial Day, have a fun cookout outdoors for lunch. Serve hamburgers for this National Hamburger Month, and be sure to add Vidalia onions during this National Sweet Vidalia Onion Month.

Patriotic Sing Along Social

Gather residents together to sing along to patriotic songs this afternoon. Play a patriotic CD as you serve small pieces of apple pie.

National Senior Health and Fitness Day- May 29th

The common goal for this day: to help keep older Americans healthy and fit. Always set for the last Wednesday in May, National Senior Health & Fitness Day is the nation's largest annual health promotion event for older adults.

Hold more exercise class opportunity for the residents on this day and encourage more attendance for larger class sizes!

Try a Zumba or Silver Sneakers dance aerobics class Hold and informational session on senior health and

fitness and the importance of maintain and active lifestyle!

The Largest Older Adult Health

Promotion Event

Tools and Materials

A box, such as one used for oatmeal, salt, or tissues. You can also use paper cups.Crepe paper in desired colorsScissorsGlue or staplerPipe cleanersSilk flowers (optional)Flowers, candy and trinkets

May Craft- May Day Baskets

1. Cut the box to your desired basket size. Save a rectangular strip from the box to use as a handle after you've decorated the basket.

2. Fan-fold a piece of crepe paper to make the fringe on your box. Make more folds for thicker fringe.

3. Cut between the edges of the folded crepe paper. For finer fringe, make smaller cuts.

4. To decorate the box, start at the top and work your way down using glue or staples. You can alternate the colors by row or fold two colors together. Decorate the handle and the outside of the basket with flowers made from extra crepe paper or with store-bought silk flowers.