By Jeanni Ritchie
On August 21, National Senior Citizens Day recognizes the achievements of what’s now known as our nation’s Boomers. These are the pioneers of science, medicine, psychology, civil rights, and so much more. They were defenders of the freedom many often take for granted. When some of the younger generations dismiss seniors as out-of-touch and obsolete, their short-sightedness fails to recognize the significance of the lives of their elders. This day provides an opportunity to show our appreciation for the dedication, accomplishments, and services senior citizens have given throughout their lives.
#SeniorCitizensDay
In 2024, there are an estimated 58 million seniors living in the United States. While there is no universally recognized age for senior citizenship, most government programs and organizations use age 65 as a benchmark. Restaurants are a little more lenient. Soon I will be offered the discounted menu at Denny’s and receive a free drink from Dairy Queen. I definitely have mixed feelings about that!
Ways to Celebrate
When it comes to honoring the generations before me, however, I’m all in. I used to take my young children to nursing homes to visit with residents, their hand-drawn cards lighting up faces. I take my grandchildren now, or just pop in on my own for Bingo Day or some dinner conversation. It all started with Mrs. Collins.
Mrs. Collins was a widow in my neighborhood though I was too young to realize that at the time. All I knew was that she was a nice lady with a mean cat who sponsored our Read-a-thons and bought our Girl Scout cookies. Every afternoon she would serve us milk and the cookies we’d sold her. We’d tell her about our day while she listened with great interest. After visiting, we’d go outside and skate down her perfectly sloped walkway pretending we were Miss America contestants crossing the stage. She never once told us we needed to leave. We enjoyed her company, and she enjoyed ours. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized the importance of those visits, not just for her but for us as well.
If you have a Mrs. Collins in your neighborhood or know another senior needing vital connections, there are ways you can celebrate:
- Spend Quality Time- visit in their home/nursing home, lookthrough photo albums, share favorite memories
- Acts of Kindness- offer to do chores, run errands, send a bouquet of flowers
- Sharing Love & Gratitude- send a card, create a video message, celebrate special occasions
- Advocate for Their Well-Being- do they need help with inclusion or scheduling conflicts? Are they being protected?
- Show respect- always maintain their dignity, recognize their honorable past
- Intergenerational Connections- encourage the younger generations to spend time with the older ones, create activities for all, spend time together
- Unconditional Love- provide stability, encouragement, and faith; remember to share love for caregivers as well
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.