Calendar of Social Engagement Opportunities for Older Adults

his outreach calendar lists some of the many opportunities to build Tawareness of the value staying active and engaged in the community can bring to the lives of older adults and their communities. Take note: Many of the dates listed on this calendar change annually, so plan ahead! Here are a few tips on how to use the calendar in your community. • Reach out to community partners and organizations that have connections to the various observances and coordinate your messages to include a focus on older adults. • Promote the observances through social media to encourage participation in community activities and events. • Offer or share information about volunteer service opportunities. • Encourage older adults in the community to join in and to have fun! • Use engAGED Toolkit elements to support your outreach efforts and build awareness of the benefits of social engagement.

• National Caregivers Day (Occurs on the JANUARY third Friday in February)  Take some time for • 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day/National Day yourself or help a caregiver of Service  Take up a service project • Random Acts of Kindness Week • 29: National Puzzle Day  Challenge yourself (Week of February 17) by trying a jigsaw puzzle • Black History Month • Universal Letter Writing Week (Begins on the second Sunday of January)  Write a letter to a friend MARCH • National Hobby Month  Learn to paint or • 8: International Women’s Day  Celebrate the play a musical instrument accomplishments of women • 12: National Plant a Flower Day  Start a garden project FEBRUARY • 14: National Write Down Your Story Day • 11: Make a Friend Day  Get in touch with a  Have an interesting life story? Share it! friend you haven’t seen for awhile • 19: National Let’s Laugh Day  Share a joke with a friend or visit a comedy club • Brain Awareness Week (March 11-17, 2019) • National Craft Month  Try a new craft or visit JUNE a craft show with friends • 1: National Trails Day (Occurs on the first • Women’s History Month Saturday in June)  Explore nature and leave it better than you found it. • 8: National Best Friends Day  Reach out and APRIL reconnect to a friend • National Walking Day (Occurs on the first • National Gardening Week (Occurs during Wednesday of April)  Take a walk and explore the first full week in June) Volunteer at a your community! community garden • 22: Earth Day  Participate in planned • 16: Father’s Day (Occurs on the third Sunday activities in your community in June)  Share one of your dad’s jokes • National Library Week (April 7-13, 2019)  Pick • LGBTQIA Pride Month  Reach out, attend a up a book and volunteer at your local library! parade, learn about the history • National Volunteer Month  Share local • Great Outdoors Month  Join a group volunteer opportunities! celebrating the outdoors or help clean up a park MAY • Older Americans Month (2019 Theme: Engage JULY at Every Age)  Learn more at acl.gov/oam • 4: Independence Day • 4: National Fitness Day (Occurs annually on • 11: National Cheer Up the Lonely Day the first Saturday in May) Try a yoga class,  Send a card, make a call or plan a visit to take up Tai Chi or go for a swim someone who you think may be lonely • 12: Mother’s Day  Make your mom her • 15: National Give Something Away Day favorite recipe or take her favorite walk  Pay it forward, plan a food drive • 16: National Do Something Good for Your • 26: Anniversary of the Americans with Neighbor Day  Commit to a random act of Disabilities Act being signed into law in 1990 kindness by President George H. Bush • 18: National Visit Your Relatives Day  Take • National Dance Day (Occurs on the last some time to check in with your loved ones Saturday in July)  Turn on a favorite song and • 20: Older Adult Mental Health Awareness dance or take a dance class Day  Help overcome isolation and loneliness through staying connected • Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage AUGUST Month • 3: American Family Day/National Friendship • National Pet Month  Want a furry friend? Day/National Sisters Day (Occurs on the first Foster or adopt a pet! Sunday in August)  Celebrate families of all types by planning an activity or sharing a meal • 4: National Night Out Day (Occurs on the first • 26: National Make A Difference Day (Occurs Sunday in August)  Celebrate your community annually on the Fourth Saturday in October) • 9: National Book Lovers Day  Join a book  Volunteer in your community club and share your favorites • National Depression Education and • 14: Anniversary of Social Security Act being Awareness Month  Take some time to signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt understand the signs of depression and share in 1935 resources with others • 21: National Senior Citizens Day  Plan a fun • Eat Better, Eat Together Month  Plan shared day to share with other older adults or visit meals, promote congregate meal sites those who are unable to get out • National Arts and Humanities Month  Attend a concert, visit a gallery, support local arts organizations SEPTEMBER • National Cyber Security Awareness Month  • 8: National Grandparent’s Day (Occurs on Change your password and learn how to avoid the first Sunday after Labor Day) Plan an scams intergenerational activity or share stories with others • 18: National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness NOVEMBER Day  Learn about prevention, testing and • 13: National Rural Health Day (Occurs on care for those living with HIV/AIDS the third Thursday in November) • 21: World Alzheimer’s Awareness Day  Attend or volunteer at a health fair, provide  Learn the differences between normal transportation for those who can’t drive aging and Alzheimer’s, become a Dementia • National Family Caregivers Month  Plan a Friend respite event for caregivers, participate in a • 28: Good Neighbor Day  Stop and say hello, respite program get to know your neighbors • National Veterans and Military Families • Active Aging Week (September 23-29, 2019) Month  Participate in Veterans Day events,  Celebrate positive aging and active living ask veterans to share their stories • National Hispanic Heritage Month • National Preparedness Month  Build an emergency kit DECEMBER • 21: Crossword Puzzle Day  Challenge a friend to complete a puzzle OCTOBER • 25: Christmas • 13: National Train Your Brain Day  Challenge • 31: New Year’s Eve  Make a plan to be more yourself with a puzzle, learn a new language or engaged in your community in the new year! explore a new subject • Hanukkah • Kwanzaa