Celebrating Storied Legacies: National Centenarian’s Day
Here’s to a whole century of memories and experiences!
National Centenarian’s Day is observed annually on September 22. This day is set aside to honor the people who have celebrated 100 or more birthdays on this earth.
Traditionally, this day has urged younger people to listen to the stories, wisdom, and history that can be shared by people who have lived long enough to become a wealth of information for our modern day. A centenarian alive today has, after all, lived through the Roaring 20’s, the Great Depression, World War II, a series of civil rights movements, and so many more cultural and technological changes and challenges, each of which they encountered from a unique point of view, allowing them the ability to share stories that have never been heard before or have been forgotten by the history books.
Current estimates specify that approximately only 0.27% of the American population is 100 years of age or older. These centenarians impressively exceed the average American lifespan of 75-80 years.
Even so, the number of centenarians in the world is rapidly increasing. In 1950, it was estimated that there were approximately 33,899 centenarians in the world, but in 2021, it was estimated that there were approximately 573,423 centenarians in the world.
Advancing medical practices and technologies have allowed the average person to live longer than ever before, with the number of individuals who are 100 years of age or older nearly doubling in the past 20 years. Because of this, we have all the more reason to celebrate the storied legacy of our centenarians on this day!
How can you celebrate National Centenarian’s Day?
- Visit or send a card to a centenarian you know.
- Ask a centenarian about their secret to longevity, their best advice, or their favorite traditions.
- Bring a group of centenarians together for a conversation about how the world has changed and what they have learned from it.
- Listen to the rich history and stories told by a centenarian to learn from their wisdom.
- Read a book written by a centenarian, such as Looking Up, Moving Forward by our own resident, Ms. Vaddie Todd.
- Create a collection of 100 things related to a centenarian you know, such as 100 pictures of them, 100 stories they’ve told, or 100 songs they’ve loved.
- Share about your celebrations on social media using #CentenariansDay.
Here at McGregor, we believe every senior has a storied legacy. We have one too… that has lasted 145 years. Click here to read about the history of how we have grown to better serve the seniors of our community since it all began in 1877.
Submitted by Ryan Eisenhuth, Marketing and Communication Assistant, and Gabrielle Carrara, Marketing and Communication Intern.