May is Older Americans Month, which was established to celebrate the contributions that seniors make to their communities.

There is evidence everywhere that today’s old age is nothing like it was just a generation ago. Some current examples:

• 88-year-old Betty White capturing the nation’s imagination as the host of Saturday Night Live.
• Soon to be 80-year-old Warren Buffett entertaining 37,000 shareholders during the recent Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha (a friend who is a regular attendee said Warren was at his best this year).

But something is still missing in the way society views aging. It’s a perplexing phenomenon.

I personally hope Older Americans Month will prompt younger people to think about what kind of old age they want for themselves, and to take action to make it happen. And by younger people, I mean any one under the age of 70.

I’ve had the great fortune of working with many organizations that advocate on behalf of issues that are important to seniors. From this experience, I know that for most people growing older is not something they think about, let alone prepare for.

It’s an interesting juxtaposition for a society where one quarter of households is caring for an elderly friend or relative. You’d think caring for someone and sharing their aging experience would encourage family members to make plans for themselves as they grow older.

As a result of work we do on behalf of an outstanding nonprofit organization we represent – Experience Works – I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Jack Borden, a 101-year-old attorney who still reports every day for a full day of work at his law practice in Weatherford, Texas. He relishes helping people.

Jack, Betty White and Warren Buffett are all great examples that life doesn’t stop at 70, 80 or even 100. You can and should look forward to it.