August 21 has been celebrated as National Senior Citizens Day in the United States since President Ronald Reagan so proclaimed in 1988:
For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older — places in which older people can participate to the fullest and can find the encouragement, acceptance, assistance, and services they need to continue to lead lives of independence and dignity.
Changing demographics have made older adults more common in communities than they were in previous generations. As a result, older-adult characters have also become more prevalent in fiction. Here are several articles about older adults in literature.
Never Too Old for Murder: Why an Elderly Woman Character Is the Perfect Serial Killer
With tongue firmly in cheek, novelist Samantha Downing explains why an older woman might make the best serial killer. Meet Downing’s creation, 75-year-old Lottie Jones, in her recently published novel Too Old for This.
The Top 9 Novels About Aging and Growing Old
From the Institute on Aging: “At Institute on Aging, we know that aging is no end to life’s adventures or life’s romance, and certainly, it is not an end to life’s passion.”
Why We Need More (and Better) Depictions of Older People in Literature
“Anna Johnston on How to Write Aging Characters without Valorizing Youth.”
From novelist Anna Johnston, author of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife.
The best books that celebrate old age
From Penguin UK:
. . . as anyone of a certain age knows, growing old is not all blue rinses, loose dentures and dementia. And Dumbledore and Gandalf are far from the only senior citizens flying the silver flag in literature. Look hard enough, and you’ll find a wealth of books that explores the permutations of growing old – the hopes and fears, the nostalgia and regrets, the love, passion and excitement that punctuate our winter years. Look no further, in fact, than these great reads.
7 Novels Featuring Protagonists Over 70
From novelist Anna Montague, author of How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund?: “Whether it’s pursuing a giant, relentless marlin or embarking on a road trip with your ex-husband, here are a few favorites with senior protagonists on great adventures.”
The Representation of Aging in Contemporary Literature
“In today’s literature, the theme of aging is not simply a backdrop but a powerful narrative element that provides depth and resonates deeply with readers. As society grapples with demographic changes, understanding how aging is portrayed in contemporary literature offers essential insights into evolving cultural attitudes.”
Reading Fiction and Psychological Well-being During Older Adulthood: Positive Affect, Connection and Personal Growth
If you’re interested in some of the psychological research behind the portrayals of older adults in literature and Life Stories in Literature, here are the results of a study into “how reading fiction supports feelings of positive affect (emotions elicited by, and influencing, reading experiences), connection (to fictional characters, settings, and authors, in addition to real-life others) and personal growth (lifelong reflection, empathy and enhanced understanding of others, and improved knowledge and communication).”
© 2025 by Mary Daniels Brown
