Ageism Awareness Day
“I don’t believe we have to accept what society determines we ‘put up with’ as we grow older.” -Stephanie McNally, Vivalon Director of Healthy Aging.
Did you know more people over age 65 live in Marin than kids under 18? People are living longer. Our perception of aging must change.
October 7 is Ageism Awareness Day.
Age·ism (noun)
Prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age.
This is an opportunity to engage in the conversation on the impact of ageism and the ways our members rise above stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination every day.
Here are the facts.
- Ageism exists in many forms, including internalized, cultural, implicit and benevolent.
- Ageism decreases quality of life and can shorten lifespan by 7.5 years.
- Although it is universal, people do not always take ageism as seriously as they do other forms of inequity.
- Ageism intersects with, and exacerbates, all other discriminatory “isms.”
- In media, underrepresented older adults most often reflect negative stereotypes.
- According to the United Nations, on a global scale, one in two people are ageist.
“Aging is not a problem,” says American Society on Aging President/CEO Peter Kaldes, “Ageism is. And because of this, we are determined to explore cultural views on aging and portrayals of aging at the individual, community and national levels. We want to reframe how we talk about aging as the natural process of life, shift representations of aging often portrayed in the media as being a period of decline and promote representation of older adults in the arts as the experienced and unique individuals they are, engaged with the well-being of their families, communities and the world.”
“I hear people say again and again, ‘Older adults can’t remember things and move slowly’,” says Stephanie McNally. “While this can certainly be true, it’s not reality for every adult. Anyone at any age can improve their physical strength, fitness, and balance. We can adjust how we eat, sleep, and manage stress to live the lives we want for longer.”
This is what healthy aging at Vivalon looks like:
- Older adults are setting goals and changing habits for a healthier lifestyle through Vitality@Vivalon classes. Click here to learn more.
- In-home technology training is helping bridge the digital divide.
- Participants are engaging in fun, fitness, and falls prevention through Bingocize. Click here to join.
Thank you to our Premier Healthy Aging Sponsor, Alignment Health, for supporting healthy aging classes in Marin.
