Key Takeaways
- May is Older Americans Month — and the 2026 theme, “Champion Your Health,” is a call to take an active role in your own well-being.
- For older adults in Northwest Colorado, that means using the local programs and support that exist specifically for mountain communities.
- Five ways to participate: get a preventive screening, visit your senior center, share your story, help a neighbor find a resource, or attend a local event.
- Vintage connects older adults and caregivers across all six counties to free local services — call 970-455-1067 or visit yourvintage.org.
Every May, the country takes a moment to recognize older adults – and this year’s theme, “Champion Your Health,” makes that recognition practical.
Older Americans Month 2026 is a call to action. It’s an invitation to take an active role in your own well-being and make informed decisions that support the life you want to live.
For older adults in Eagle, Grand, Jackson, Pitkin, Routt, and Summit counties, championing your health at altitude means taking advantage of the programs, people, and resources that exist specifically for this region.
So, how can you get involved this year? Here’s what the theme means and how to get involved this May.
What Does “Champion Your Health” Mean?
This year’s theme isn’t about perfection or dramatic lifestyle changes. It’s about three more straightforward things:
- Staying on top of preventive screenings and care
- Making choices that support your independence and quality of life
- Knowing when – and where – to ask for help
For caregivers, it also means recognizing that your health matters too. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and Older Americans Month is as good a time as any to take stock of what you need.
Five Ways to Participate This May
1. Get a preventive screening you’ve been putting off
Medicare covers a range of screenings at no cost – blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, and more. If you’re not sure what’s covered under your plan, Vintage’s free Medicare counseling can walk you through it!
2. Show up and get involved at your local senior center
Balance class, a community meal, a fitness program, a drop-in social—whatever sounds low-pressure enough to actually do. Senior centers across our six counties are the front door to much of what Older Americans Month is about.
3. Share your story and inspire others
ACL and participating organizations encourage older adults to post, speak up, or simply tell someone how they champion their own health. “I champion my health by…” is a prompt worth finishing—and worth sharing with people around you.
4. Help someone else find a resource
Know an older neighbor who’s been struggling with a health question, a benefits decision, or just getting out more? Point them to Vintage. One conversation can open a lot of doors!
5. Attend or host a local event
Libraries, senior centers, and community organizations across Northwest Colorado use May to run health workshops, lunch programs, and educational sessions. Check with your local senior center or watch Vintage’s site for what’s happening near you this month.
How Vintage is Making Older Americans Months Practical
Vintage has been celebrating Older Americans Month for years – and 2026 is no different.
Throughout the month of May, we’ll be highlighting local older adults and the programs that help them live well. We’re also sharing resources aligned with the “Champion Your Health” theme and pointing the way to events happening across Eagle, Grand, Jackson, Pitkin, Routt, and Summit counties.If you’re ready to champion your health – or want to help someone you care about do the same – reach out online or call us at 970-455-1067. Together, we can celebrate, support, and empower our older Americans to live their best lives.