Theme of Older Americans Month 2026— Champion Your Health
Every May, the Administration on Community Living leads the observance of Older Americans Month by declaring a theme. The theme for 2026 is“ Champion Your Health” and encourages Americans to actively advocate for their health and make informed decisions about their wellness.
Sara Figueroa( speaking at head of class) held a Cannabis and Aging class for the St. Louis Oasis group in March at The Church on Delmar.( Photo by Daniel Blunt)
This year’ s theme seems especially appropriate for medical cannabis. With so few cannabis-trained doctors and nurses, people need to seek out quality information from reliable sources. Older adults also need access to the medical cannabis products that they rely on for their wellness. We all need to advocate for access to medical cannabis.
The Church On Delmar Upcoming Events
Pamela Sprecher, Puff‘ n Pose instructor for IntroSpectrum Events, led a chair yoga class after the lecture.
Swade dispensary on the first floor! At the end of the presentation, Pamela Sprecher from IntroSpectrum Events provided a demonstration of her very popular Puff‘ n Pose yoga class, but in chair yoga style. All attendees received free samples from Sinse Cannabis, BeLeaf Medical’ s product brand.
History of Older Americans’ Month
Attendees of the Cannabis and Aging class received samples of vapes, topicals, and tinctures.( Photos by Sarah Ceti)
You may have heard by now that there are more older Americans than ever before. In the United States, we are now in an era known as“ Peak 65”— the period from 2024 to 2027 when the largest number of Americans in history reach traditional retirement age. As of 2026, approximately 62 million Americans are aged 65 and over.
In 1963, only 17 million Americans were over the age of 65, yet there was already a recognized need for programs and services tailored to older adults. President John F. Kennedy met with the National Council on Senior Citizens to discuss these concerns, and as a result of that meeting, a month dedicated to celebrating older adults was designated.
The Church on Delmar officially opened its doors in February 2026. As an intentional community space dedicated to celebrating the love of the plant, The Church on Delmar offers a multitude of cannabis-friendly classes and events. Throughout the year, more wellness-themed programs will be added to expand awareness and access to cannabis. If you have ideas for events at The Church, I would love to hear from you.
Remember, by observing Older Americans Month and Champion Your Health, we encourage older Americans to actively advocate for their health and make informed decisions about their wellness, including learning more about the potential benefits of cannabis as medicine.
Sara Figueroa studied Gerontology at Webster University and is the first gerontologist to work in Missouri’ s cannabis industry. In addition to managing BeLeaf Medical’ s Wellness and Aging Program, Figueroa is co-director of The Church on Delmar, a cannabis consumption event space in St. Louis, MO. For inquiries, email Sara Figueroa at wellness @ swadecannabis. com.
Notice: The information contained herein is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research and experience. The content is for general informational purposes only. As always, check with your doctor first.
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