September Blog – Learn more about the history of Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day

The Senior Alliance Celebrates Grandparents

In the United States, the Sunday after Labor Day always marks Grandparents Day – a day set aside to pointedly celebrate the lives and legacies of grandparents. At The Senior Alliance, we know how important being a grandparent is to so many of our participants, and this month, we’re pausing to celebrate the role you have in the lives of your families.

The History of Grandparents Day

Marian McQuade, who served on the West Virginia Commission on Aging and the state’s nursing home licensing board, started a campaign in 1970 to establish a national day of recognition for grandparents. President Jimmy Carter proclaimed National Grandparents Day to be an official holiday in 1978, and it was first celebrated on the Sunday after Labor Day in 1979.

In his proclamation, President Carter stated:

“Our nation was shaped by the wisdom and courage of our founding fathers, and by the steadfastness of succeeding generations who have sustained their vision through two turbulent centuries of challenge and growth…I urge each citizen to pause and to reflect on the influence his grandparents have had in shaping his own destiny, and on the legacy bestowed upon our contemporary society by his grandparents’ generation.”

Multigenerational Living and Help from The Senior Alliance

Today, according to the latest from PEW Research Center, more than 18% of Americans are living in multigenerational households. That’s more than quadruple the number in the 1970s. Multigenerational living has grown at the fastest rate for adults ages 25-34, which also means that more adults are now acting as caregivers for their aging family members. 

The Senior Alliance is committed to supporting older adults and their families with resources, services, and programs to enable each individual to thrive as they age. Whether directly or through contracts with service providers, The Senior Alliance can connect aging adults and their caregivers to programs that include:

  • Adult day services
  • MI Choice Waiver Program
  • Care management
  • Caregiver support, education, and training 
  • Case coordination and support
  • Congregate meals
  • Evidence-based disease prevention 
  • Friendly Reassurance
  • Homecomings
  • Home-delivered meals
  • Information and assistance
  • Long-term Care Ombudsman
  • Legal assistance
  • Medicare/Medicaid Assistance (MMAP)
  • Medication management
  • Outreach, advocacy, and education
  • Prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation
  • Senior Center Staffing
  • Transportation

Call us at 1-800-815-1112 to connect with an Information Specialist for more information about these and other services designed to assist older adults and their caregivers. More information is also available on our website at thesenioralliance.org.

Categories: Blog