0 comments
With 67 exhibitors spanning health care, arts, finance, civic services, and residential support, the annual event — now in its fourth year — drew hundreds of attendees eager to connect with resources and celebrate the city’s commitment to active aging.
“Pasadena is a great place to grow old,” said Chelsea Mason of the Pasadena Senior Commission, which organizes the event each year. “We have so many resources, a vibrant arts and culture scene, strong residential communities, and world-class healthcare. This event brings all of that together in one place.”
Older Americans Month is nationally recognized each May, and this year, the City of Pasadena issued an official proclamation from Mayor Victor Gordo on Monday, reaffirming its dedication to older residents.
“This is a public extension of that commitment,” said Mason, which provided a vibrant and hopeful contrast to recent months of disaster response.
“Even though older adults have really had a rough time with the recent fires,” Mason said, “we also want to recognize that older adults have so much to give. They are an important and vibrant part of our community.”
Rather than focusing on crisis or decline, this year’s theme was about thriving — encouraging active participation, community connection, and personal growth at every age.
“We don’t want to, once someone retires, put them in a corner and say, ‘You’re finished,’” said Mason. “That’s not the approach we want to take.”
City departments were well-represented among the 67 organizations present, along with nonprofits and businesses that serve seniors directly or offer programs of interest to them. From financial planning and in-home care to music programs and fitness classes, the event highlighted the wide range of ways Pasadena supports aging.
Mason also reflected on its growing popularity, saying, “Each year, this gets bigger and more impactful,” she said. “It shows that our city values older adults not just in name, but in action.”
For Pasadena’s seniors — and those who support them — it was a day not of looking back, but of leaning forward.
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
