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Tag: ageism

Positive Aging

Sun, August 19, 2018 Published by

Positive Aging: Changing Your Mindset About Growing Older

What is your attitude about the aging process? Do you view it as a positive rite of passage or a negative phenomenon that must simply be endured?

I recently read an inspiring article written in 2017 by oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens in which he reflects on his life’s “fourth quarter.” Having suffered several strokes in the past few years, which necessitated extensive speech therapy, and a bad fall that required hospitalization, he acknowledges that he is facing his own mortality.

Yet, at 90 years old, Pickens remains invigorated by life. “Be the eternal optimist who is excited to see what the next decade will bring,” he advises. “I remain excited every day, engaged and thrilled in the office and on the road. I thrive on that activity, and I’m going to stick to it, no matter the setback.”

Pickens’ attitude is inspirational by almost anyone’s standards, yet not everyone views the aging process as positively as he.

How ageism distorts views on aging

Much has been written about ageism. It’s a hot topic and a societal issue that some say is becoming more endemic than even sexism or racism.

The World Values Survey (WVS), which is an ongoing research project conducted by social scientists around the globe, asked over 83,000 people of all age groups in 57 countries about their feelings on aging. The World Health Organization (WHO) analyzed the WVS data and found that 60 percent of survey respondents said that they don’t think older people are respected. Interestingly, the lowest levels of respect for older generations were reported in higher income countries. These negative attitudes about aging and older people reflected in the WVS can have a significantly detrimental impact on the physical and mental health of seniors. A 2002 study by psychology researchers in Yale University’s department of epidemiology and public health looked at the long-term health consequences of ageism on seniors. The researchers determined that age discrimination actually has the potential power to shorten seniors’ lives. The Yale study followed 660 seniors age 50 and older. Among the study group, seniors who held more positive views about the aging process actually lived 7.5 years longer than people who negatively perceived aging. Older people who perceive themselves as a burden to others view their very lives as less valuable, which in turn ups their risk for depression and social isolation, both of which have been shown to be “silent killers” for seniors.

The positive aging movement

Of course, some facets of a person’s health, good or bad, are genetic and thus out of their hands, but many aspects of health and the aging process in general are well within our control. However, as we age, “health” isn’t just about the absence of ailments. The concept of “positive aging,” also referred to as “healthy aging,” is achievable by every older person as we work to make better choices in the near-term to improve our lives in the long-term.

Positive aging is basically adopting a positive view of aging as a healthy, normal part of life. I see this happening is so many of our Beatitudes Campus clubs, service groups and our Life Long Learners program.  And it’s the mindset that you will do whatever is needed in order to continue doing the things that you love and are important to you as you grow older. Just like T. Boone Pickens working hard to regain his speech after his strokes and getting back to work — in a 60-year career he still loves — after his fall.

Tips for positive aging

Dr. Manfred Diehl, professor of human development and family studies at Colorado State University, focuses on successful and healthy aging. He has done extensive research on adults’ perceptions and understanding of their own aging process and also how changing middle-aged and older adults’ negative views on aging can facilitate the adoption of behaviors that are known to promote positive aging.

Dr. Diehl created a list of ways to adopt a more positive attitude toward your own aging process. He suggests that seniors:

Stay physically active by doing at least 30 minutes of movement or exercise every day.

Exercise your brain by engaging in mentally challenging activities, and never stop learning new things.

Adopt an overall healthy lifestyle by eating healthfully, getting enough sleep, managing weight, and not drinking in excess or smoking.

Stay connected to other people by nurturing relationships with your spouse or partner, family, friends, neighbors, and others in your community, including young people.

Create positive emotions for yourself by practicing positive emotion exercises and learning to feel good about your age.

Don’t sweat the small stuff; accept what you cannot do, and ask for help when needed.

Set goals for yourself and take control of the steps needed to achieve them.

Minimize life stress; practice healthy coping techniques, and learn to relax and unwind.

Have regular medical check-ups, take advantage of health screenings, and engage in healthy preventive behaviors.

A positive outlook for a healthier life

With his positive outlook and can-do spirit, T. Boone Pickens seems to have mastered the art of positive aging. For those of you who may struggle with maintaining optimism about the aging process, you’re certainly not alone. But by reframing your thoughts on growing older and focusing on Dr. Diehl’s healthy suggestions, you can improve your mindset, and hopefully, following your example, your fellow campus residents see an example that they can embrace, as well.

Drop me a note anytime you have an example of how the positive aging environment at Beatitudes Campus has enriched your life.  We’re kicking around the idea of a marketing piece that highlights these benefits.  Stay cool!*

Can You Catch the “Old Disease”?

Sun, July 22, 2018 Published by

Brad Breeding of MyLifeSite spends a lot of time travelling around the country, speaking to groups of people about senior living options, including Life Plan Communities such as Beatitudes Campus. During his travels, he mentions that he’s fortunate to meet people who live in these communities, as well as people who may be considering a move to a Life Plan Community or other type of senior living community; it’s always eye-opening to hear the perspectives of both personas.

In conversations that I have with prospective residents, I sometimes hear people say that they are hesitant to move to a retirement community because they aren’t ready yet or don’t want to be around a bunch of “old people,” maybe because they saw a few of the residents using assistive devices, such as walkers or scooters.

I believe I understand the sentiments—conscious or subconscious—that they are voicing.

Lack of diversity vs. fear of aging

For some, what they may really be saying is that they prefer to live in an intergenerational environment, meaning a community with people of all different ages. That’s an understandable wish. Fortunately, even though by definition they are age-qualified, more and more senior living communities are developing intergenerational programs. These initiatives offer numerous benefits to both the residents and the younger generations involved in them.

But for many other seniors who say they don’t want to live with other older people, I can’t help but wonder if on some level, they are saying that they are worried about catching the “old disease.” I’ve even heard people well into their 80s and beyond express that they feel they are too young to move to such a community. Even if it is on a subconscious level, it’s as if they feel that if they’re around people who have experienced physical decline as a result of a health condition or the natural aging process, they too will become older and frailer—like a contagious disease.

A continued lifestyle

For seniors who voice concerns about living among “old people,” perhaps they’ve been fortunate enough to have lived a long and healthy life thus far by remaining active, eating well, AND staying young-at-heart. But does that mean being around other older adults will stifle that? In Brad’s experience visiting nearly a hundred Life Plan Communities, he states that he has not found much evidence of this.

“People who are active and have healthy habits when they move to a Life Plan Community or other senior living community are likely going to remain that way, if not more so. In fact, many residents feel they are far healthier and happier than they would have been otherwise. Are there exceptions? Sure, but in my conversations with Life Plan Community residents across the country I hear far more positives than negatives. This is due, in large part, to the wide variety of ways Life Plan Communities further enable and enhance this active lifestyle among their residents. From fitness classes and wellness centers to healthy menu options; from social gatherings and cultural excursions, to affinity groups and lifelong learning—there are countless (but of course, optional) ways to stay physically active and mentally engaged when you live in a Life Plan Community. Of course, residents are not restricted in any way from doing any of the same things they did previously, such as eating out, travelling, attending dinner parties with friends, etc.

So, for those seniors who are opposed to living in a Life Plan Community or other retirement community because they don’t want to be around other “older people”, isn’t this, on some level, ageism among peers? Or does it speak to a more deep-seated fear and/or disdain of aging that is common among Americans?”

Contempt for growing old

A 2013 Pew Research Center survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults examined people’s views of aging, medical advancements, and life extension. While modern medicine is helping people live longer lives, not everyone views this as a good thing. When survey respondents were asked how long they would like to live:

Less than 10 percent of people were hoping to live to be 100 or older.

20 percent of respondents said they wanted to live into their 90s.

32 percent said they would like to live into their 80s.

30 percent of survey participants said they didn’t want to make it past 80.

Interestingly, on the flipside, this survey also revealed that 41 percent of respondents believed that “having more elderly people in the population” is a positive for society.

I find the results of this survey intriguing. Even though older adults are viewed as a positive force within our country, nearly two-thirds of people in this survey didn’t want to live to be 90. This seems like a fascinating paradox.

When looking at the results of the Pew survey, what I believe so many people are missing in this equation is that age truly is just a number. I do not mean to be naive or deny the changes that come with aging. The fact is that some people come to grips with the realities of aging better than others, but I’ve met many people in their 80s and 90s who are still as healthy and spry as someone three decades their junior. The one common denominator I have found among them is a positive attitude and outlook on life, regardless of the age or physical condition.

Here’s my question: Can we as a society get to a place where a person, regardless of age or physical condition, is embraced as a valuable individual, both for who they are and what they’ve done in life? Can we focus not on age, but on what we can learn from one another, and grow as individuals as a result of our shared experiences?*

Be Bold, Claim Old!

Sun, June 24, 2018 Published by

That title caught your attention, didn’t it?

That is the name of a campaign started by a colleague of mine in North Carolina. It is her action learning project for LeadingAge Leadership Academy, an executive leadership program within our national association of not-for-profit aging services organizations. This is the same program I had an opportunity to participate in 2008, Jon Shilling completed in 2014, and Cheryl Knupp in 2016. The action learning project is an important aspect of the curriculum, designed to influence change and help advance innovative programs and practices, by implementing a specific program or practice within their own organization.

Be Bold, Claim Old was recently highlighted in a LeadingAge webinar and is now an exhibit as part of the ChangingAging tour. The national tour is a social movement bringing communities a new and highly disruptive understanding of aging. The premise of Be Bold, Claim Old is simple; fight ageism by sparking a new way of thinking about old in a society that inherited a cultural value that youth is the gold standard and anything that does not appear young is less valued. Amy, the campaign creator, is working with residents in her community to take the Be Bold, Claim Old campaign to their broader community.

Now, you are probably wondering why I would write about this topic. I’m preaching to the choir-you are all well aware that age is just a number! Look at the amazing programs, projects, and events you all create, implement, and hold. And everyone who steps foot on this campus sees the vitality that exists here and it changes their view of aging and what goes on behind the walls of communities like ours.

During our new employee orientation I have the opportunity to talk to our new staff members about our mission, vision, and core values.  We also have a long conversation about society’s views of aging, as well as their own views of aging. The typical stereotypes usually come up in the conversation and I, or better yet a new employee who has already worked a few shifts on Campus, have an opportunity to dispel the myths by lifting up examples of your lives. That is the rewarding work.  As they experience it, they pass it on to others.

With this, the cultural shift continues and we each get to play a role in this important work. Keep spreading the message Be Bold, Claim Old!*

 

 

 

If you would like to learn more about Be Bold, Claim Old or the ChangingAging tour, you can find more information at the following links:

www.beboldclaimold.com/amy-gorely/

www.changingaging.org/tour/

Be Bold, Claim Old!

Tue, April 26, 2016 Published by

That title caught your attention, didn’t it?

That is the name of a campaign started by a colleague of mine in North Carolina. It is her action learning project for LeadingAge Leadership Academy, an executive leadership program within our national association of not-for-profit aging services organizations. This is the same program in which I had an opportunity to participate with in 2008, Jon Schilling completed in 2014, and Cheryl Knupp is currently participating in. The action learning project is an important aspect of the curriculum, designed to influence change and help advance innovative programs and practices, by implementing a specific program or practice within their own organization.

Be Bold, Claim Old was recently highlighted in a LeadingAge webinar and is now an exhibit as part of the Age of Disruption tour. The national tour is a social movement bringing communities a new and highly disruptive understanding of aging. The premise of Be Bold, Claim Old is simple; fight ageism by sparking a new way of thinking about old in a society that inherited a cultural value that youth is the gold standard and anything that does not appear young is less valued. Amy, the campaign creator, is working with residents in her community to take the Be Bold, Claim Old campaign to their broader community.

Now, you are probably wondering why I would write about this topic. I’m preaching to the choir-you are all well aware that age is just a number! Look at the amazing programs, projects, and events you all create, implement, and hold. Just last week we celebrated Earth Week with a whole series of events! And everyone who steps foot on this campus sees the vitality that exists here and it changes their view of aging and what goes on behind the walls of communities like ours.

During our new employee orientation, I have the opportunity to talk to our new staff members about our mission, vision, and core values. We also have a long conversation about society’s views of aging, as well as their own views of aging. The typical stereotypes usually come up in the conversation and I, or better yet, a new employee who has already worked a few shifts on Campus, have an opportunity to dispel the myths by lifting up examples of your lives. That is the rewarding work. As they experience it, they pass it on to others.

With this, the cultural shift continues and we each get to play a role in this important work. Keep spreading the message Be Bold, Claim Old!

As I close, join me in celebrating one of our very boldest….Happy 104th Birthday, Vicky Moe!

If you would like to learn more about Be Bold, Claim Old or the Age Disruption tour, you can find more information at the following links: