Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

1K Shares
1K Shares
TueOct 1

​International Day of Older Persons – October 1, 2024

We’re fortunate to have older people around us, whether they’re family, friends, or just general acquaintances. Older people are fonts of wisdom, experience, and storytelling. They can inspire us to continue striving — or warn us of dangers we’re unaware of. We should look to them for guidance whenever and wherever possible. Unfortunately, far too often we tend to forget — or, worse, downright ignore — the older people in our lives. That’s one of many reason why the International Day of Older Persons on October 1 is such a terrific holiday.

​International Day of Older Persons timeline

​1948
Human rights and the elderly

The U.N. seeks to promote "the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by older persons."

​1982
Assembly on Aging

​According to the United Nations, "the international community started to highlight the situation of older persons" by adopting the "World Assembly on Aging."

1990
U.N. proclamation

The United Nations adopted October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons. About 10 months later, the world observed the first-ever International Day of Older Persons on October 1, 1991.

​International Day of Older Persons FAQs

Do older people need to save for retirement?

It’s generally recommended that you start saving early for retirement so that by the time you reach an older age, you have plenty or resources for when you stop working.

Why do we celebrate International Day of Older Persons?

The purpose of the holiday is to increase awareness of the impact of having an aging population. We want people in society to be able to grow old with dignity.

How to Observe ​International Day of Older Persons

  1. Chat with an older person

    If we take the time to get to know an older person, even one right in our own family, we may see them in a new light and learn something about ourselves in the process.

  2. Volunteer your time

    There's a lot that can be done to make life easier for older people. Find out about organizations in your area that work with the elderly and see what you can do to help.

  3. Become an advocate

    The United Nations says "enhanced attention to the particular needs and challenges faced by many older people is clearly required." It's important to recognize, as the U.N. also says, "the essential contribution the majority of older men and women can continue to make to the functioning of society."

4 Reasons To Embrace Aging

  1. The world is getting much older

    ​Almost 900 million people in the world are older than 60. By 2050, 2 billion people — or 22 percent of the planet’s population — will be that age. In fact, by 2050 — for the first time in human history — there will be more people over 60 than there are children in the world.

  2. ​Longevity is becoming commonplace

    According to the U.N., life expectancy worldwide rose from 46 to 68 years between 1950 and 2010. It's expected to rise to 81 by the end of this century.

  3. Happiness increases with old age

    ​According to a recent study, most people are happiest in youth and then once they reach their 70s and 80s. Most people reported that they were the least happy in middle age.

  4. ​Sex gets better, too — at least for women

    ​Although older women may have sex less often than they did when they were young, researchers have found that sexual satisfaction improves with age. In fact, women over 80 are more likely than their younger counterparts to report a satisfying sex life.

Why ​International Day of Older Persons is Important

  1. Older people deserve our respect and attention

    In addition to the wonderful things older people bring to our lives, a day set aside to honor them reminds us to take the time to be kind and humble in the presence of a long life well-lived.

  2. We want to teach young people

    The holiday is a way to educate younger people on many of the issues faced by the elderly, such as abuse and senescence — the deterioration of mental and physical processes.

  3. We don't know everything

    If we're lucky, age confers upon us a measure of self-awareness and wisdom. Focusing on the challenges faced by the elderly reminds us that there is still much to learn about ourselves and the world.

​International Day of Older Persons dates

YearDateDay
2024October 1Tuesday
2025October 1Wednesday
2026October 1Thursday
2027October 1Friday
2028October 1Sunday
Elderly Filipino Week
Fungal Disease Awareness Week
National Walk Your Dog Week
Ancestors' Day
Balloons Around the World Day
Balloons Around the World Day
CD Player Day
CD Player Day
China National Day
Cyprus Independence Day
Filipino American Month
Filipino American History Month
International Coffee Day
​International Day of Older Persons
International Music Day
International Music Day
Investiture Ceremony of the Captains Regent
Model T Day
Model T Day
National Black Dog Day
National Day of China
National Fire Pup Day
National Fruit at Work Day
National Hair Day
National Homemade Cookie Day
National Lace Day
National Poetry Day
National Raccoon Day
Nigeria Independence Day
Pchum Ben
ROK Alliance Day
Teacher's Day in Uzbekistan
Tuvalu Independence Day
World Sake Day
World Vegetarian Day
ADHD Awareness Month
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
AIDS Awareness Month
American Pharmacists Month
American Pharmacists Month
Bat Appreciation Month
Bat Appreciation Month
Black Speculative Fiction Month
Blindness Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Celebrate The Bilingual Child Month
Celebrate The Bilingual Child Month
Church-Library
Church Library Month
Contact Lens Safety Month
Country Music Month
Critical Illness Awareness Month
Dental Hygiene Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Emotional Wellness Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Fair Trade Month
Family History Month
Financial Planning Month
Financial Planning Month
German-American Heritage Month
​Global Diversity Awareness Month
Go-Sober-For-October
Go Sober For October — October
Halloween-Safety-Month
Halloween Safety Month
Head Start Awareness Month
Health Literacy Month
Healthy Lung Month
Hog Out Month
International School Libraries Month
International Walk To School Month
International Walk To School Month
Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month
Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month
​Italian-American Heritage Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
Liver Awareness Month
Long Term Care Planning Month
Menopause Month
Museums and Galleries Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Apple Month
National Apple Month
National Arts & Humanities Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National Book Month
​National Bullying Prevention Month
National Caramel Month
National Chili Month
National Chiropractic Month
National Church Safety and Security Month
National Cookbook Month
National Cookie Month
National Cookie Month
National-Crime-Prevention-Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month - October
National Depression Education and Awareness Month
National Dessert Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
​National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Ergonomics Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
National Learning and Development Month
National LGBT History Month
National Medical Librarians Month
National Medical Librarians Month
National Non-GMO Month
National Orthodontic Health Month
National Pasta Month
National Pescatarian Month
National Pet Wellness Month
National Pickled Peppers Month
National Pizza Month
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
National Pretzel Month
National Protect Your Hearing Month
National Sausage Month
National Work and Family Month
Physical Therapy Month
Pitbull Awareness Month
Polish American Heritage Month
Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
Spina Bifida Awareness Month
SQUIRREL AWARENESS MONTH
The Big Draw
Ultrasound Awareness Month
Unblocktober
Vegetarian Month
World Animal Month
World Habitat Awareness Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.