With age comes wisdom, or so it is often agreed, and around the world experienced people are honored on October 1, the International Day of Older Persons. According to UN.org, this is the 30^th anniversary of this special day, and their theme for the year is “Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Aging?” Aging has been a concern as it impacts the healthcare system and older people are more likely to suffer from cancer, dementia, obesity, and diabetes.

While people may focus on the frailty of older people, we often forget the impact they have based on the variety of roles they have filled in society. Older people have often been on both sides many experiences and can share both perspectives. They have been students before they became teachers, caregivers before relying on those who care for them. They have also survived many challenges and faced various types of discrimination.

The number of people who are considered “older” is increasing as health care and longevity improve. “By 2030, the number of people over the age of 60 is expected to grow by 46%. This means there will be 1.4 billion people over the age of 60. Older persons will outnumber youth and children under the age of 10. Part of the reason for this is older people are living longer than ever.” (National Day Calendar) This means that more people will be honored this special day, more than ever before.

As a young person, you can celebrate in many ways. A simple phone call to your grandparents, assistance for an older person in need, or a gift of time or aid to an elderly neighbor all go a long way to recognizing the value of age and experience. Those who want to take it a step further can donate money or time to a senior advocacy group near you. To find out more about where there is a need for volunteers to assist older persons, go to Help for Seniors and see what you can do