How society views age

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Obstacles to Long Life (Read First).

Living100

AARP's Disrupt Aging campaign https://www.aarp.org/disrupt-aging/ seeks to allow people to live the way they want to as they age.

We often use the phrase "50 is the new 50" which is to say that the problem is not your age (the 1st number) but how society views that age. Also, as people age, the old three stage life where education is reserved for youth, and play is reserved for children and retirement simply does not work. Instead we need to consider gap years when we are young, retraining at middle age and encore careers when we are older.

Another consideration is the health impact of perceptions on aging and age stereotype threat. In 2017 I guest edited a supplement of the Gerontologist titled: Disrupt Aging: A Call to Action for Gerontologists. AARP published this in an open access format if folks are interested: https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/issue/57/suppl_2

We need to engage in cross sector conversations if we are to "Disrupt Aging". In 2018 AARP sponsored a workshop of the National Academies of Science titled Aging and Disability: Beyond Stereotypes to Inclusion: A Workshop. This workshop was hosted by the Parsons School of Design Fashion School and the proceedings can be found at the following link. http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/Activities/Aging/AgingDisabilityForum/2017-OCT-10.aspx

I am looking forward to the discussion from the group. Erwin Tan

LisaCovington

Hi Erwin @Living100 So glad to have join the community and share your input! Great points above. Regarding the health impact of perceptions on aging and age stereotypes, here's a great read from Psychology Today on the ways our beliefs shape our behaviors:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-love-and-war/201508/3-ways-your-beliefs-can-shape-your-reality

JessicaYoon

Thank you so much Erwin @Living100 for sharing--I haven't heard the phrase "50 is the new 50" until now and I personally interpret it to mean that youth and being youthful is not a trait exclusive to those under 30 for example. I love AARP's #DisruptAging campaign message and website, I just signed up for their newsletter and look forward to learning more about it!

SamBlake

@Living100 I've heard it said that everyone is on board to re-imagine what it means to age -- unless the re-imagination results in rolling back one's age-related benefits. How can we overcome this have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too conundrum?

NickOttens

@andersimfu, you may have thoughts on this discussion as well.

andersimfu

On the contrary, age in the developing world is irrevocably misconstrued as only and just the number of years on lives on planet earth. However, what is trending is that as a people in the developing world we pretend we are unaware that any second that passes one ages and that crowd is hanging on our heads with no appropriate interventions in the long run and people championing such are looked upon as time wasters. Ageing should have been the most funded contemporary issue after the post natal activities. Alas, ageing especially in Africa, it is something unworthy investing in as is the case in the Western world.
No one wants to be associated with ageing in any form and I am personally known as Mr Dementia for advocating for older persons living with condition. Older Persons are merely used to garner support in political mileage after which they are left in the background and stereotyped in any form and their health challenges are mostly not covered.