“The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; even then their span is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.”
Psalm 90:10
In Greek mythology, Tithonus was a Trojan prince, son of King Laomedon of Troy and the water nymph Strymo. Eos, the Titan goddess of dawn, kidnapped Tithonus to make him her lover. She then asked Zeus to grant Tithonus immortality but did not think of asking him to grant Tithonus eternal youth too. As a result, Tithonus aged and did not die, resulting in his strength wilting away to the point that he could no longer move his arms. All he could do was babble continuously; in the end, he turned into a cicada, hoping that death would come for him as well.
While many people hope they are financially secure for a long, good life and having lived to a ripe old age, are we equally concerned about a healthy old age?
According to the World Health Organization, healthy aging is a continuous process of optimizing opportunities to maintain and improve physical and mental health, independence, and quality of life throughout the life course. There is a gap between the average number of years someone born in the U.S. can expect to live – 77.5 years according to a federal estimate for 2022 – and the number of years they can expect to live in full health – 66.1 years.
According to Robert Schmidt in his book, Preventive Healthcare for Older Adults, components of healthy aging include exercise, nutrition, stress management, support from family and friends, and spirituality. But, maintaining vigilance over nutrition, medications, and living environment is not always easy, especially with the great and growing income gap among Americans.
Healthcare is one of the largest expenses for older adults, and often the least planned for. The high cost of healthcare in our country can be financially detrimental for many older adults.
Each May, our nation observes Older Americans Month (OAM). The 2026 theme, Champion Your Health, focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. It encourages taking an active role in managing your own health, advocating for yourself, accessing preventive care, and making informed decisions that support independence.
The Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of OAM and United Methodist congregations are encouraged to take time in May to recognize the contributions of older adults, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitment to serving older adults. Healthy older adults contribute to the well-being of families and communities. It is a myth to portray older adults as passive recipients of social or health services.
Successful aging is significantly influenced by the individual. For example, studies indicate that life expectancy is influenced by behavioral patterns (40%), genetics (30%), and social circumstances (15%). Healthy behaviors reduce the risk and severity of chronic disease, help preserve physical and cognitive function, reduce and delay disability, and promote healthy aging.
The ENCORE Ministry Foundation (EMF) in collaboration with the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, College of Nursing developed an Age-Friendly Congregation Certificate Program. An Age-Friendly Congregation encourages healthy aging by optimizing facilities and resources to improve the health, safety, and inclusion of older adults. An age-friendly congregation is a better place for everyone!
While The United Methodist Church does not designate a specific day, congregations are asked to celebrate Older Adult Recognition Day. To help your congregation celebrate Older Americans Month and to recognize the faith, experience, and wisdom of older adults in your congregation, I have put together a list of ministry ideas, 53 Ideas for Older Adult Ministry. Click here to view and download the resource on EMF’s website.
This Older Americans Month, congregations and individuals alike can take steps to champion health and advance healthy aging. Join us in highlighting the importance of age-friendly congregations by empowering individuals to lead their healthiest lives. For more information about the Age-Friendly Congregation Certificate, click here.
