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Each year during the month of May, the Administration for Community Living announces the theme for Older Americans Month. The theme for 2025 is “Flip the Script on Aging” which focuses on transforming how society perceives, talks about, and approaches aging. It encourages individuals and communities to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions. Adult Protective Services joins the Administration for Community Living, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and several local senior network agencies across the state to highlight Older Americans Month (OAM).
An estimated 5.9 million people 60 or older live in Texas, according to the Texas Demographic Center. As this number increases, so does the need for older adults to form meaningful relationships and social connections. Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation reminding Texans of the responsibility to care for older adults.
Join us in honoring older adults’ contributions, exploring the many opportunities for staying active and engaged as we age, and highlighting the opportunities for purpose, exploration, and connection that come with aging. Join us this May for #OAM25
How can community groups, businesses, and organizations mark OAM?
- Promote OAM within professional and personal networks.
- Encourage followers to share thoughts and stories on social using #FlipTheScriptOnAging.
- Share tips on language and activities that dispel myths about aging.
- Host events or programs where older adults can mentor peers, younger adults, or youths to help dispel misconceptions about ageism.
- How do you flip the script on aging? Share photos that show aging is an opportunity, not a limitation—whether it’s pursuing a new passion, giving back to the community, or redefining expectations. Post using #FlipTheScriptOnAging.
- Ever heard someone blame forgetfulness on a “senior moment?” It reinforces the stereotype that aging means cognitive decline. Let’s recognize that minor memory lapses happen to people of all ages. Small language changes help us #FlipTheScriptOnAging.
- Share facts about the mental, physical, and emotional health benefits of social connection and how it contributes to overall well-being.
- Promote resources that help older adults engage, like community events, social clubs, and volunteer opportunities.
- Connect older adults with local services, such as transportation, that can help them overcome obstacles to achieving or maintaining meaningful relationships.
- Encourage partners to host a connection-centric event or program focused on older adult mentors to youth, peer-to-peer support, or similar efforts.
- Challenge professional and personal networks to prioritize meaningful social connections and share the benefits.
What can individuals do to combat ageism?
- Celebrate the contributions of people of all ages in the workplace and community.
- Avoid ageist statements when talking about growing older.
- Promote fact-based messages about older adults’ abilities and value to communities.
- Invite more connection into your life by finding a new passion, joining a social club, taking a class, or trying new activities in your community.
- Stay engaged in your community by giving back through volunteering, working, teaching, or mentoring.
- Invest time with people to build new relationships and discover deeper connections with your family, friends, colleagues, or neighbors.
- Use #OlderAmericansMonth on social media to share your thoughts and activities and see what others are doing!
HHSC provides these additional resources for older adults in Texas:
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Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) help provide people referrals and access to long-term services and supports.
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Area agencies on aging (AAA) provide older adults, their families and caregivers with nutrition services, including home and congregate meals and evidence-based fitness programs.
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assists people with buying the food they need for good health.
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Texercise provides free physical activity and nutrition resources to educate, motivate and engage adults 45 and older.
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Age Well Live Well is a statewide campaign that promotes easy pathways to resources and emphasizes how to make healthy changes using three core message areas: be healthy, be connected, and be informed.
- The Know Your Neighbor campaign helps Texans form and maintain connections with older neighbors.
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Aging Texas Well is a strategic planning effort that reviews policies impacting older Texans, assesses local and state readiness to meet the needs of older adults, and promotes community preparedness for a growing older adult population.
Find more information on HHSC programs and services at hhs.texas.gov.
Older American’s Month Webinar
The Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) will host a webinar on Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET highlighting how staying connected can empower Older Americans to flip the script on aging.
During the webinar, attendees will be provided with information about:
- Connectivity as a tool to prevent social isolation
- Telehealth resources
- Virtual volunteer opportunities
- Hearing aid compatibility (HAC) for telecommunications
- Captioning information and resources
To register, use this link: https://fccgov.webex.com/weblink/register/re2fefa77ba52760fc1d3e250bfa99245
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation slide deck will be shared with attendees after the webinar. Questions about the webinar or to schedule a meeting to discuss how to collaborate with the FCC on providing information to your community can be emailed to outreach@fcc.gov.
June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, a time to learn about elder abuse and what you can do to help. It's everyone's responsibility to help prevent abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of those who are elderly or have disabilities. Texans have a duty to protect people of all ages from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Elderly and disabled Texans are susceptible to becoming victims of these crimes.
The Lone Star State is home to more than 3.3 million residents over the age of 65 and more than 1.7 million disabled adults, and we must work diligently to protect these vulnerable populations.
Texas Adult Protective Services (APS) is involved in a grass-roots effort throughout the month of June that brings together community, civic, and professional groups to focus attention and resources on preventing and stopping elder abuse. The Faith-Based and Community Engagement Team, along with APS employees across Texas, will distribute brochures and information kits, as well as participate in conferences, information fairs, and ceremonies honoring those who work on behalf of vulnerable adults.
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Purple Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in June which falls on June 16, 2025. Purple Sunday was created in 2012 to unify Faith Based Communities through prayer during Elder Abuse Prevention month campaign. The goal is for Texas Faith-Based organizations to bring awareness of Elder Abuse by participating on Purple Sunday praying for vulnerable adult victims of elderly abuse, neglect, and exploitation. |
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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. The world is encouraged to wear purple on this day to raise awareness for Elder Abuse Prevention. https://elderjustice.usc.edu/weaad-home/
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During the month of June we encourage you to promote elder abuse awareness within your networks and communities online. To help you reach as many individuals as possible, we’ve put together a toolkit that includes informative messages and resources that everyone can use to help keep older adults safe and supported.
This toolkit includes:
These resources can be used as they are, or they can be customized as needed to better serve your target community.
How can you use social media to promote Elder Abuse Awareness month? Share and create posts on your preferred social media sites that help promote the month.
Posts could be about:
- Coverage of events for the month
- Helpful information & resources
- Sample posts from this toolkit
- General content promoting awareness about elder abuse
Include one to two recommended hashtags on your posts to strengthen the message online. Be sure to follow @TexasDFPS and tag us on Twitter and Facebook!
- Abuse can come in all forms—physical, emotional or sexual—and can be hard to identify. Help protect vulnerable adults by learning the signs at https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Protect_Texas_Adults/elder-abuse/. #ProtectTexasAdults #StopElderAbuse
- When a person is being abused, there could be warning signs. You may notice they are afraid, anxious, angry, withdrawn, or depressed. If you suspect a vulnerable adult is being abused, learn how to help at https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Protect_Texas_Adults/elder-abuse/.
- Abuse is not always easy to detect. So learn the signs, how to help, and when to report at https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Protect_Texas_Adults/elder-abuse/.
- #Neglect isn’t always as obvious as you think. To learn the signs and what you can do to help a vulnerable adult, visit: https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Protect_Texas_Adults/neglect/. #ProtectTexasAdults
- Lack of personal hygiene, extremely dirty living areas, and lack of food, water or basic supplies are just a few possible signs of #neglect in adults who are older or have a disability. Learn the warning signs and how to help at https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Protect_Texas_Adults/neglect/.
- Are you familiar with signs of #neglect? Help protect vulnerable adults by learning what to look out for and what to do if you suspect neglect at https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Protect_Texas_Adults/neglect/.
#ElderAbuseAwarenessMonth #WorldElderAbuseAwarenessDay #WEAAD #StopElderAbuse#ElderAbuse #FinancialAbuse #EveryonesBusiness #Volunteer
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