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seniors smiling for the camera

May is Older Americans Month. For 60 years, the Administration for Community Living (ALC) has coordinated national efforts to highlight current trends facing older Americans. In Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey kicked off the monthlong observance by signing a proclamation, acknowledging the 1.8 million Alabamians now over the age of 50.

2023 Theme

The theme this year is Aging Unbound that focuses on independent living and the removal of common stereotypes associated with older adults. The ALC also wants people to focus on the contentment seniors share by paving their own path in life. So, what facts do we know about Alabama’s older population?

Alabama Older Population Facts

  • 1 in 3 Alabamians are age 50 and older.
  • Alabama ranks number 20 in the nation for its population age 65 and older.
  • Alabama’s fastest-growing age group in the past decade was adults age 65 and older.
  • 1 in 4 Alabamians are middle-aged and 15 percent between the ages of 55 and 64 are uninsured.
  • 3.9 to 5.3 percent of Alabama’s population (age 30 and over) lived with grandchildren in the early stages of the COVID pandemic.

Celebrate Older Adults

Here are some ways the ALC suggests that older adults participate in Aging Unbound:

  • Embrace the opportunity to change. Find a new passion, go on an adventure, and push boundaries by not letting age define your limits. Invite creativity and purpose into your life by trying new activities in your community to bring in more growth, joy, and energy.
  • Explore the rewards of growing older. With age comes knowledge, which provides insight and confidence to understand and experience the world more deeply. Continue to grow that knowledge through reading, listening, classes, and creative activities.
  • Stay engaged in your community. Everyone benefits when everyone is connected and involved. Stay active by volunteering, working, mentoring, participating in social clubs, and taking part in activities at your local senior center or elsewhere in the community.
  • Form relationships. As an essential ingredient of well-being, relationships can enhance your quality of life by introducing new ideas and unique perspectives. Invest time with people to discover deeper connections with family, friends, and community members.

For More Information

Visit Urban Extension’s Older Adults page for additional information on aging. You can also visit the Virginia Caples Lifelong Learning Institute webpage for educational opportunities. Consider becoming a lifelong learner!