Where the Rubber Meets the Road
I often cite the work of Dr. Becca Levy whose research revealed that the better people feel about aging, the better they age AND the longer they live.
To me, asking those who enjoy the privilege/luck of good mental, physical, and financial health to adopt a positive attitude about aging does not seem to be unreasonable. But what about those who are not blessed with such good fortune? Those forced to endure the loss of eyesight, hearing, mobility, cognition, and/or financial security? Those relegated to a life of too much time spent alone, not just in solitude, but in silence?
How do we #changethenarrative for them? Perhaps this is where the rubber of ageism meets the road of aging? Why is it that our society's greatest thinkers and innovators have seemingly ignored/dismissed the opportunity to generate ideas and products that truly help people age better and live longer?
With 10,000 Americans turning 65 EVERY DAY, surely there must be some impetus for society to develop solutions--accessible, affordable solutions, mind you--that address many of the challenges older adults must deal with as they continue to age.
As a society, we MUST create ways to help older adults age better and live longer. We MUST make it a priority to train more physical and mental health professionals in geriatrics. We MUST challenge our most creative thinkers and innovators to prioritize the development of cures for conditions like macular degeneration, hearing loss, poor mobility, and dementia.
As for addressing social isolation and financial insecurity, we as a society MUST ensure that our elders are surrounded by people who don’t just care FOR them, but also care ABOUT them. And, we MUST work to ensure their wealth span matches their lifespan—so that they aren’t subjected to the added stress of wondering just how they are going to afford to live during the extra years they’ve been blessed with.
It's time for society to wake up. Because the fact is, if we’re lucky, WE will be THEM someday. And what makes a difference in their lives will ultimately make a difference in ours.