Older Women and Friends with Jane Leder
Podcast, 27:27 min.

Host Jane Leder and Helen Hirsh Spence discuss ageism, self-directed ageism, and taking calculated risks to move out of your comfort zone. Our population is not only living longer, women are living around six years longer than men, and that time is a gift. We are in a transition period and now is the time to take advantage of our longer lifespans by thinking and planning differently. Helen notes, “We have infinitely more control over our longer lives than we previously thought and it has everything to do with our mindset which is what I refer to in my TEDx talk as a Longevity Mindset”. When we think positively and optimistically about our longer lives, we have the opportunity to extend our lives another 7.5 years, according to Yale Professor, Dr. Becca Levy. LISTEN HERE

About Older Women and Friends Podcast
Award-winning author Jane Leder and guests take a deep dive into the joys and challenges of being an older woman. “Older Women & Friends” is a podcast that sets the record straight, dispels the myths, and explores the many contributions older women make and the wisdom they have earned and are anxious to share. Add a sense of humour, and there are many reasons why older women are the happiest demographic in the country today.

Donna Cravotta chats with Top Sixty founder Helen Hersh Spence about her fascinating background as an educator, international volunteer, TEDx and International Keynote Speaker, Age Provocateur, Mindset Shifter, Longevity Literacy Coach and Trainer. The conversation covers entrepreneurship, age diversity, and how mixed-age workplaces benefit all.

Bold(h)er | Season 4
Lisa Bragg, Podcast Host, Author & Journalist
BMO for Women
Podcast, 42:42 min.

BMO’s Lisa Bragg and Top Sixty’s Helen Hirsh Spence dig in deep to explore ageing and the many facets of ageism (overt, subtle, internalized, and gendered). Along the way they look at the longevity dividend, the fact that we are living about 30 years longer than our parents did.

Notes Helen in the podcast, “We have to educate people because… when you introduce that phrase [You look good for your age], people think it’s a compliment. I think many of us took it as a compliment until we realized, “What does my age look like? What does any age look like?”

“Age is intersectional. You can be old and you can be Black and you can be anything, old and gay, but you would never say to somebody, ‘You look good for being—’ I’m just trying to think of another example other than gay, but there you go. ‘You look good for being gay.’ That’s ridiculous. CLICK HERE to listen, then scroll down to the podcast.

By Sheryl Bennett-Wilson
Parenting Times Magazine | June 27, 2024
Estimated read, 4:12 min

One in five Canadians will be over the age of 65 by 2030, yet the World Health Organization states that ageism is a global health epidemic.

Hirsh Spence has seen it over and over. A speaker promoting age inclusion through her social venture “Top Sixty Over Sixty,” Hirsh Spence routinely speaks at conferences, on podcasts, and national and local radio.

“Ageism—the bias or prejudice based on age—continues to be socially acceptable, going largely unnoticed,” says Helen Hirsh Spence. “It’s evident everywhere and every day. It’s visible at the checkout in the grocery store, in our healthcare system, and throughout the service industry. If you’re labeled a ‘senior’ you are considered frail, vulnerable and in decline.”

A Canadian survey found that 63 percent of older adults surveyed felt they had been treated unfairly based on their age. Younger people, healthcare professionals, government policies, and employers were the most identified sources of age discrimination. READ MORE

By Ritika Dubey | Canadian Press | May 31, 2024
Estimated read, 4:23 min.

Nina Hornjatkevyc, a counselling director and registered psychologist with Canada Career Counselling, notes she has seen an increase among older people, either approaching retirement or already retired, who are getting back into the workforce.

Retirement at 65 is an antiquated notion, says Helen Hirsh Spence, founder of Top Sixty Over Sixty, which helps organizations understand the value of having a multi-generational workforce. “Older adults have what’s called crystallized intelligence. Young people have fluid intelligence,” said Spence. “You need both.” READ MORE

Bedtalks | Episode 95 | April 13, 2024
Podcast, 42:49 min

More a spontaneous conversation than an interview, Elizabeth Overstreet and her husband chat with Helen Hirsh Spence about embracing age. Helen explores ageing and guides us through the profound shift that occurs when we adopt a longevity mindset. Ageing is often accompanied by misconceptions and imposed expectations, but Helen challenges these norms and reveals the untapped power of growing older. LISTEN HERE

About Bedtalks, by Elizabeth Overstreet & K.
“My husband and I found that we have our best discussions about life, love, and the myriad of topics associated with relationships when we are lying in bed. Something about being in bed calms the spirit and makes it difficult to be contentious about any topic, even the highly charged ones. This is our podcast where we have real, honest, and straightforward discussions about relationships, love, and life.”

Ottawa Citizen | April 05, 2024

Much was known about the federal budget before it was tabled on April 16, 2024. Leading up to the budget’s release, The Ottawa Citizen asked some Ottawa residents what they hoped the budget would offer to support Canada’s National Capital.

Social entrepreneur and founder of Top Sixty Over Sixty, Helen Hirsh Spence, was one of the residents who was asked for her wish list. Helen hoped, “…the budget includes resources for age-diversity training to be included in all diversity strategies; incentives for employers to retain, hire and retrain older employees; entrepreneurial programs specifically designed for the older adult; and subsidies for a return to college/university for older adults keen on upskilling or reskilling.” Read what others had to say HERE

For many, International Women’s Day can feel like a bit of a whirlwind due to the many celebrations that take place in and around the global day of recognition of women in early March. That’s why it was nice to have one last hurrah during the waning days of March at an International Women’s Month reception hosted by Liberal Ottawa-Vanier MPP Lucille Collard. She settled on Good Friday, mostly because the date worked with her busy work and travel schedule.

Helen Hirsh Spence, founder and CEO of Top Sixty Over Sixty, addressed the subject of ageism while disclosing her age — 75 as of this summer. “And I’m proud of it. “I think one of the things we have to do is, we have to start talking about age positively. We talk about an aging society as if it’s all decline, and I can assure you it isn’t. In fact, the happiest people are those who are over the age of 60.”

Photo by Caroline Phillips. From left, Ontario MPP Lucille Collard with guest speakers Carole Myre, Helen Hirsh Spence, and Danielle Drever

What’s the Big Deal About Ageism
Centre for Ageing and Brain Health (CABHI)
2024 Summit, Defy Dementia

With panellists:
Bianca Stern, Executive Director, Health Innovation, CABHI
Helen Hirsh Spence CEO and Founder, Top Sixty Over Sixty
Adele Ostfield, Seniors Advisory Panel, CABHI

Bianca, Adele and Helen offer insights, personal experiences, and research studies to help audience members grasp the concept of ageism, from defining ageism to explaining its many forms, the associated dangers, and how we can overcome it. Says Helen Hirsh Spence, “Ageist expressions are so normalized and so accepted in society that you don’t recognize them. And that’s where the danger lies… Ageism isn’t addressed in diversity initiatives. It’s the one ‘ism’ that is left out of 92% of global companies’ diversity strategies.”

Kamrin Huban’s series, 50, Not Dead, Episode 8
February 23, 2024
Podcast, 33:11 min

Personal coach, Kamrin Huban, and Helen Hirsh Spence delve into the transformative impact of age diversity in the workplace, dispelling myths and advocating for inclusivity across generations. Helen notes, “A third of the population in Canada is almost 65 and older. In the United States, ten thousand people turn 65 daily. We need to change the way we think about ageing and begin to think of it as the positive force that it is”.

Kamrin writes of her podcast series, “We aim to empower listeners to challenge ageist stereotypes, embrace their worth at any age, and carve out a path of fulfillment and purpose. By sharing our stories, I want to inspire a generation to embrace the richness of life’s journey with open arms.”  LISTEN HERE