Let’s flip the script on aging.

That’s the theme behind this year’s Older Americans Month (OAM), observed every year in May. Created to honor older adults, OAM also aims to raise awareness around elder abuse and neglect.

The San Antonio Area Foundation advocates for older adults through its Successful Aging and Living in San Antonio (SALSA) program, which is observing OAM through promotion of volunteerism.

SALSA seeks to transform the way people understand getting older, starting with reframing the way people understand and talk about aging.

“As we ‘Flip the Script on Aging’ this Older Americans Month, we face a historic milestone: by 2034, older Americans will outnumber our youth for the first time,” said Jane Paccione, the Area Foundation’s Managing Director of Collective Impact who oversees SALSA.

“Rather than seeing this as a challenge, let’s recognize it as our opportunity to unlock the ‘longevity dividend,’ the powerful economic and social benefits that flow when we fully value older Americans’ contributions,” Paccione noted.

SALSA plans to “flip the script” with older adults by coordinating volunteer opportunities. Social interaction and having a sense of purpose have shown to be quite beneficial for both the physical and mental wellbeing of older adults, so SALSA encourages volunteerism among older adults.

“By advocating for policies that support their continued engagement, we transform this demographic shift into one of our nation’s greatest resources,” Paccione explained.

SALSA is organizing “Wisdom in Action: Reframing Aging in Volunteer Engagement” as part of its OAM observance.

“While nonprofit volunteer coordinators and administrators are often skilled at engaging youth, older adults are frequently overlooked in recruitment efforts,” said Sarah Davis, SALSA Project Associate. “This event aims to change that by shining a light on this vibrant and capable demographic.”

The event includes a networking breakfast and culminates in a seminar for volunteer coordinators and administrators. SALSA will discuss its reframing aging curriculum to illustrate countless opportunities that exist for older adults as volunteers.

“Our SALSA Social Connection Workgroup has been developing materials for an upcoming volunteerism campaign aimed at encouraging older adults to engage, connect and thrive through meaningful volunteer experiences,” Davis said. “Together, we hope to foster a stronger, more connected community through the power of volunteerism.”

The Wisdom in Action event will also mark SALSA’s official unveiling of its Volunteer Resource Guide. This new resource is a great starting point for volunteers and volunteer coordinators. The guide will be available in print as well as digitally.

The point is to show to older adults that volunteerism isn’t just for their younger counterparts.

“We recognize that finding the right volunteer opportunity can feel overwhelming. Questions like ‘Where do I even begin?’ or ‘What would I be good at?’ often become barriers to getting started,” Davis explained. “At the same time, we understand that many of our SALSA partners face ongoing challenges in recruiting volunteers and raising awareness about the important work they do.”

Want to find more about the Area Foundation’s SALSA program, including ways to get involved and show support? Click here to get started.