Responding to ageist comments
It’s the time of year when many of us connect with loved ones. It can also be the one time of the year when multiple generations come together. While this can be a rewarding and lovely experience, it can also cause tension. Maybe it has been a while since you...
Gearing up for Ageism Awareness Day 2024
October 9 is Ageism Awareness Day 2024 This day, led in the US by the American Society on Aging, draws attention to ageism and its impacts. Ageism negatively affects our health and well-being, financial security, and economy. We can amplify our efforts by raising our...
Elections, Eclipses & Life Expectancies
Most people who live to 65 will make it to 90. I was speaking with a colleague recently about ageism in our current presidential election in the United States. I was sharing my frustration and fascination with all the questions about whether there should be an upper...
Moving Beyond the Proclamation: 35 Ideas for 2024 Older Americans Month!
This year, the theme for Older Americans Month 2024 in May, hosted annually by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), is Powered by Connection. According to ACL, the 2024 theme: “…recognizes the profound impact that meaningful relationships and social...
3 Reasons Why Aging and Equity Struggle to Co-Exist
My mom turned 83 in March, and I’m grateful for the comfortable life she lives. She’s overcome some major life blows, health scares, and unexpected changes, but despite all that, she knows she’s blessed. Blessed to be living in her private mother-in-law’s home...
Beliefs about age impact how healthcare is delivered
What we think impacts more than just our mood. What we think impacts our feelings and actions. With this "thinking, feeling, action" continuum, we can impact those around us. Ageism is when we have bias, stereotypes and prejudice about people based on age. It changes...
What’s Next?
On Sunday, February 11, 65-year-old Andy Reid coached the Kansas City Chiefs to their second Super Bowl win in as many years—a feat last accomplished two decades ago. It marks the third time the Chiefs have won the Super Bowl during the past five years. The game’s MVP...
Why Is Our Tolerance For Ageism So High?
Last November, I completed Changing the Narrative’s Ending Ageism training and became a program facilitator and speaker for the organization. Since then, I’ve facilitated discussions and led ageism workshops for corporations, community organizations, and religious...
Is having gray hair brave?
I found my first gray hair when I was thirty—the same year my children were born (coincidence?). And those hairs have continued to multiply throughout my life—and theirs (again I ask, coincidence?). Over the years, as the grays have increasingly grown to dominate the...
5 Tips for Handling Nosy Questions During the Holidays
While many of us look forward to the merriment of the holidays, this time of the year can also be equal parts stressful. One contributing factor is spending time in a captive setting with family members, distant friends, or people you rarely see throughout the year. ...