Older Americans Month 2026
The theme for Older Americans’ Month in 2026 is Championing Your Health! The theme includes disease prevention, wellness and self-advocacy and encourages older adults to take an active role in managing their health. Research demonstrates that when people take responsibility for their health, they have a higher level of health satisfaction, higher treatment adherence and lower rates of unnecessary hospitalization. It also leads to a stronger sense of control over one’s life.
There are many factors that impact health status. Some are related to accidents and diseases, both chronic and acute, many others are unrelated to health conditions but have significant impact on health outcomes. Factors such as sense of control of one’s life, living situations, access to services such as transportation, access to food, mood, exercise, social support, and isolation.
Achieving the best health status possible enables older adults to live life the way they want to live. Illness, generalized weakness, hospitalizations, emergency room trips interfere with a person’s plan for a happy, fulfilling life. You can reverse the negative impact of many factors that limit your capacity to enjoy a satisfying life. You can become the champion of your own health. You can prevent many diseases and minimize the impact of others that you may already be experiencing. You can develop wellness habits that result in improved health outcomes, and you can learn how to be your own advocate when you are in situations where you feel you aren’t being heard about what’s most important to you.
Celebrate Older American’s month by becoming your own champion!