The 2026 national observance of Older Americans Month is celebrated throughout May. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this year’s theme is “Champion Your Health“. The highlights are wellness, preventive care, self-advocacy, and independence.
The City of West Hollywood, CA, known for its bold spirit, inclusivity, and Aging in Place plan, observed the month with the following activities:
- LGBTQ+ Art (in collaboration with the Los Angeles LBGT Center and Jewish Family Services) Apologies to the artists, had hoped to see the exhibit and take photos and was unable to.
- An Older Adults Health Fair at Plummer Park offering preventive care in collaboration with Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Jewish Family Services, and other community partners
- A televised Older Adult Advisory Board meeting celebrating two seniors for their service to the community as part of the 21st Annual Older Adults Service Awards
- A WeHo Mishka Party honoring the city’s Russians (Russians make up about 20% of the city’s population – exact number of Russian seniors unknown)
- An Honor Your LGBTQ+ Seniors Day at Plummer Park
Please find below a link to the Wehoville Online article by Brian Holt about the Older Adult Advisory Board and Older Adult Service Awards with photos and other links: https://wehoonline.com/west-hollywood-older-adults-service-awards-lynn-lemay-larry-block/
The Be Well WeHo initiative offered a virtual Zoom “Healing the Inner Child” class with mindfulness and reflective practices, and an “Avoid Unexpected App and Data Charges” class at the West Hollywood Library Community Room.
Francisco Gomez, Strategic Initiatives Program Administrator for the City of West Hollywood, and Maribel Ulloa, Social Services Program Administrator are the smiling faces in the photo below who warmly and enthusiastically welcomed all at the Older Adults Health Fair May 7, 2026. Together with colleagues from the city’s Human Services department they were responsible for producing the successful event.
Below is a photo of the Plummer Park services building courtyard where a free lunch was served.
The photo below is from early, early morning at the Older Adult Health Fair before it was crowded.
Below is a photo of West Hollywood Care Team member Sergio Becerril sharing with an older adult from the community about 24/7 mobile behavioral health support that includes safety planning and wellness checks. The team was established in 2025, and like the Security Ambassadors, is a welcome program for all residents.
Below are three West Hollywood end-of-life doulas and educators – Catherine Eng, Nicole Payton, and yours truly. We are eager for the first in a series (we hope) of Death Cafes at the West Hollywood Public Library Community Room. The first café will be Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Death Cafes are opportunities for informal, respectful conversation sharing about death, dying, and mortality. Agenda-free. Theme-free. Tea, coffee, water, and cake is served. Open to the public.
Surprise synchronicity. One of the tables at the Older Adult Fair in West Hollywood was manned by Golden Gate Hospice owner Arash Shamsian, MD, MHA, a palliative care and hospice physician. Catherine Eng introduced us. He proudly shared his hospice is the only one in LA County that provides volunteer end-of-life doulas. Dr. Arash is focused on relationship building with West Hollywood for care and hospice services that include everyone in a coordinated, populations health management model – children, the LGBTQ+ community, the Iranian community, the Spanish-speaking community, everyone else.
Observation:
The national agenda for older adults is shifting. By highlighting wellness and independence during Older Adults Month, the government is focusing on foundational guidance while encouraging individuals and local networks to lead long-term care efforts.
West Hollywood’s older adult and disabled residents currently benefit from a robust social safety net that outpaces many other California cities. This includes an Aging in Place plan created with the SCAN Foundation, a Rent Stabilization model tailored to fixed incomes, an interim housing homeless initiative, free mental health support, and specialized transportation.
These programs are the result of years of dedication by the City Council, the Human Services department, and various boards and commissions.
However, as our older population grows, we can no longer rely solely on existing programs. We must take steps now to establish and advocate for grassroots, local networks dedicated to housing stability and long-term care.
City of West Hollywood Older Adult Month photos may be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/weho/albums/ scroll down to see Older Adults Month Community Fair, Older Adults Advisory Board Meeting, and City Council Meeting May 4, 2026 – Older Adult Advisory Board Month Proclamation
Wendy Jane Carrel, MA, is a trusted senior care advocate and consultant with over 25 years of hands-on experience navigating cross-border healthcare systems. A specialist on Aging-in-Place and international retirement transitions that include long-term care, Wendy continues to conduct extensive due diligence for senior housing, long-term care, and palliative care across California, Mexico, Ecuador, Italy, and other destinations.
© Wendy Jane Carrel 2026
Wellness Shepherd 