We Have A LOT of Work To Do

Earlier this week I was talking with someone who has invited me to come speak about ageism to a group of people from his house of worship. As he was describing the group, he shared with me that when he suggested ageism as a possible topic of discussion for this group, one of them said, “I don’t want to talk about death and illness.”

The second I heard that comment, I thought to myself—say it with me now—THAT’S AGEISM.

Fast forward a day or so, and I’m reading an article about Jimmy Kimmel’s appearance this week at ABC-TV’s “upfronts”—the event at which various TV networks and streamers introduce the shows they’re going to broadcast during the coming TV season. Generally, I love Jimmy Kimmel’s humor, but his remarks this year were riddled with ageist references. Clearly, he hasn’t gotten the memo.

Ladies and gentleman, we are now halfway through Older Americans Month, and it’s clear we have a LOT of work to do.

On April 2, @Changing the Narrative and my friend and colleague @Janine Vanderburg published a list of 35 different ways people can reinvent Older Americans Month in 2024. I’m reposting the article below and suggesting that, from now through the end of this month (and beyond, of course), we each work to advance the idea that AGEISM IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN OUR SOCIETY by putting into action one of the article’s ideas.

Because aging is NOT just about death and illness. And ABC-TV is struggling NOT because the network is led by older adults.

Aging is Living. And it’s time the world started embracing that.