​International Day of Older Persons Timeline

1990

U.N. proclamation

The United Nations adopted October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons. About 10 months later, the world observed the first-ever International Day of Older Persons on October 1, 1991.

​1982

Assembly on Aging

​According to the United Nations, "the international community started to highlight the situation of older persons" by adopting the "World Assembly on Aging."

​1948

Human rights and the elderly

The U.N. seeks to promote "the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by older persons."