Aging Unbound: Celebrating Older Americans Month

May is Older Americans Month and the 2023 theme, “Aging Unbound,” highlights diverse aging experiences, combats ageist stereotypes and showcases how we all benefit when older adults are supported to remain engaged, independent and included.

Texas has one of the fastest-growing populations of older adults, and older Texans are a vital element in what makes Texas the diverse, strong state it is. According to the 2018 Texas Population Projections Data Tool, Texas has the third largest population of adults age 50 and older. In 2020, Texas had 9 million adults age 50 and older, and that population is projected to grow 82% to 16.4 million by 2050.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Age Well Live Well (AWLW) campaign assists older adults, their caregivers and their communities to prepare for aging. This statewide healthy aging campaign promotes easy pathways to available resources and emphasizes how to make healthy changes using three core message areas: Be Healthy, Be Connected and Be Informed. Explore AWLW and other aging resources by visiting the Aging Well Resources Order Form.

Texas HHSC has a variety of resources to support healthy aging. These include:

• 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 helps communities build their service capacity. The Aging Texas Well strategic plan uses the Older Americans Act impact areas as a foundation to plan for aging needs and identifies aging specific priorities for the state.

• Texercise is a health promotions initiative that provides free physical activity and nutrition resources to educate, motivate and engage adults age 45 and older in healthy behaviors. To learn more, visit the Texercise website.

• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program assists people with buying the food they need for good health. To learn more, visit the SNAP website.

• Area Agencies on Aging provide older adults, their families and caregivers with nutrition services, including home and congregate meals as well as evidence-based fitness programs. To connect with the nearest AAA, call Texas HHS at 800-252-9240.

• Aging and Disability Resource Centers are part of the No Wrong Door System and help streamline access to long-term services and support for the whole family. To learn more, call Texas HHS at 855-937-2372.

When older Texans are engaged in healthy behaviors, have opportunities to stay socially connected and are informed of aging resources, they can age unbound and live well.