Bridging the generational divide and the growing importance of fostering intergenerational dialogue is more relevant than ever. Today, we navigate a world where five, sometimes six, generations coexist and collaborate in workforces. With such diversity of age, experience, and perspective, the potential for both friction and innovation is immense.
Ageism is NOT disappearing and it is more widespread than ever. The message that it’s great to grow old is beginning to get out, but it’s far from mainstream. How good are you at noticing ageism?
Heard about the Longevity Bonus that could add 7.5 years to your life? A short and inspiring video with Jane Fonda and Ashton Applewhite explores how we can reframe aging as a graceful, positive, and empowering experience.
This summer, I had the unique opportunity to spend time with some of the most well-known and sometimes, outspoken, thought leaders in the age space who offered two entirely different learning structures for their events. I gained a new perspective on collaboration and learning.
Dr. Ranganath puts Biden’s forgetfulness in context by explaining that the average older person may experience “retrieval failure” but that doesn’t signal cognitive decline.
The 100-year life isn’t a vision of the future. It is already here. There are almost 10,000 Canadian centenarians according to the last census. Eighty-five-year-olds are the fastest-growing age group and there are now more people aged 65 or older than there are children.
While attending a professional conference recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with colleagues whom I haven’t seen in a long time. Since I only see many of these colleagues at this annual event, chatter about work, family, and health is at the forefront. At this particular conference, my ear was especially tuned in to what I call #AgeSpeak. I define it as any phrase or comment that makes a reference to a person’s age that perpetuates ageism.
Age equity is a social justice issue. It’s more relevant than ever, especially in a world that is ageing rapidly. Ageing adults deserve to be respected and accorded the same rights as others. It’s going to take a movement to set the record straight.
I’ve heard the expression, the ‘messy middle’, to describe the stage of life that those born between 1945-1964, or earlier, are living through today. The last of the Boomer generation will turn 65 in 2030 which means a large majority are experiencing a period of transition that can be both frightening, and exciting.
I frequently invite participants in our workshops to describe what “old” looks like to them. Typically, two out of three words offered have negative connotations which conjure up images of decrepit, solitary, and vulnerable individuals. It used to surprise me, but it no longer does.
In honour of the International Day of Older Persons on Oct. 1, Top Sixty Over Sixty hosted a session on ageing and ageism. The general consensus after an hour long discussion on how to deal with ageism was quite straightforward. The time has come to move beyond raising awareness about the issue to more action.
With an upcoming election, it is surprising that so little attention is being given to how ageism undermines the value, potential, and vital contributions of Canada’s older generations: the generations, who incidentally are those who always come out to vote.