RHODA MEADOR, PH.D.D I R E C T O R , I T H A C A C O L L E G E G E R O N T O L O G Y I N S T I T U T E

Y O U W I L L N O T I C E A C O L O R E D C A R D O N Y O U R S E AT.

O N T H E C A R D, W R I T E S I D E # 1 A N D L I S T 5 W O R D S T H AT C O M E T O M I N D W H E N Y O U T H I N K A B O U T A G I N G.

D O N ’ T OV E R T H I N K T H I N G S - J U ST W R I T E T H E F I R S T F I V E W O R D S T H AT C O M E T O M I N D.

Reframing Aging:Older People as Community

Assets

We live in an Aging Society

Crossroads - Need to Reframe Aging

Current view of aging in our culture often emphasizes costs and challenges associated with aging population Physical and mental decline Losses Burden on families and society Health problems and associated costs

Negative Perspective on Aging

Human Cost of Ageism

Becca Levy, PhD, of Yale University conducted longitudinal study of 660 people 50 years and older, those with more positive self-perceptions of aging lived 7.5 years longer than those with negative self-perceptions of aging.

-Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 83, No. 2).

Ageism = Unbalanced View of Aging

Challenges

Ageist Stereotypes

Increased Burden

on Families and

Society

Physical and

Mental Decline

Losses

Reframed Perspective

Increasing recognition that older adults can be dynamic, generative contributors to their families and communities Supportive family members Active, participatory health care consumers Healthy aging Seasoned , dedicated volunteers Encore careers Productive, dependable workforce

Positive Perspective on Aging

Balanced View of Aging

Challenges Contributions

Creativity &Wisdom

Encore Careers and Older Workers

Civic Engagement

Family Support

Ageist Stereotypes

Increased Burden on Families and

Society

Physical and Mental Decline

Losses

Types of Contributions

1. Family Support2. Civic Engagement3. Older Workers4. Creativity5. Wisdom

Family Support

Older adults support their families via many different roles, including: Grandparents Family caregivers Health care advocates Advisors Teachers Passing down values and traditions

Heart of the Family

Family Support: Economic Value of Caregiving

Family caregivers provided the equivalent of $450 billion worth of care to their adult parents and other loved ones in 2009, an amount that makes caregivers one of the largest and most overlooked pillars of the U.S. health care system.

AARP Public Policy Institute, "Valuing the Invaluable: The Growing Contributions and Costs of Family Caregiving, 2011 Update."

Family Support: Priceless

Civic Engagement: Formal and Informal

Most engagement happens on an informal basis

Look around-a large proportion of volunteers and community leaders are 60+ Local governments Community boards Faith-based organizations Philanthropy

Civic Engagement: Experience Corps

Formal, research-informed program modelHigh intensity volunteering for older adultsHigh impact roles in public elementary schools

improving outcomes for childrenCritical mass of older adults:

Shift outcomes for schools Force for social benefit Social networks and friendships

Experience Corps Model

Volunteers 60 and olderServe in public elementary schools: K-3Provides meaningful roles; Addresses important unmet needs: at-risk schools High intensity: 15 hours per weekSustained dose: full school yearCritical mass, teams in each schoolMonthly stipend to reimburse for expensesHealth behaviors: physical, social and cognitive

activity Fried et al, 2004

Older People in Workforce

In a 2008 AARP survey of older adults, 75% of women and 78% of men considered "need the money" as a major reason for working.  The need to maintain health insurance coverage was cited by 63% of men and 58% of women. 

Support and Training for Older Workers: Experience Works

National community-based organization that helps older adults get the training to find good jobs

2009-2010 31,142 older workers in 30 states and Puerto Rico were served

2009-2010 3,288 older workers got jobs Past 10 years more than 55,600 low-income

seniors found employment

Experience Works-Emily Abrego

At 60, Emily no longer able to make homemade tortillas that she sold to help cover living expenses

Training and placement in Audubon Science Center, where she helps with children’s programs

Creativity and Aging

Artists who flourished as they aged-Matisse, Titian, Monet, Grandma Moses, Da Vinci, Tennyson, Rembrandt, etc.

Creativity:Linden Center for Creativity and Aging

Explores the relationship between the creative arts (e.g. music, acting, painting, photography and writing) and the enhancement of quality of life among older adults.

Creativity: Enduring Masters Series

A partnership of the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute, Ithaca College School of Music, Linden Center for Creativity and Aging

Features older artists and musicians like Stanley Drucker, Marian McPartland and Billy Taylor performing and reflecting on aging and their art

Wisdom

Wisdom has been attributed to older people in nearly all world societies from ancient times.

Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. records and preserves traditional cultural values, oral history, prophesy and other messages of guidance from indigenous elders in order to regenerate the greatness of culture among today’s and future generations of native peoples. http://wisdomoftheelders.org/

Wisdom: Legacy Project

For the Legacy Project, Karl Pillemer and his Cornell research team systematically gathered nearly 1500 responses to the question : “What are the most important lessons you have learned over the course of your life?”

Life’s Lessons from Legacy Project

“Take each day and live it, love it, it might be your very last day here.”

“When you face a decision really think it through, then don’t look back.”

“Awe, that rush of quiet passion in the presence of great beauty or immensity, is a necessary ingredient for the full appreciation of life.”

“You learn as much from unpleasant experiences as

you do from pleasureable ones.”

Revisiting Challenges

Challenges Contributions

Reframing Challenges as Opportunities

Obesity and sedentary lifestyles are creating the perfect storm for the increased prevalence of chronic conditions Arthritis Diabetes Chronic pain

"If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself"--Jazz pianist Eubie Blake, upon reaching the age of 100.

Opportunities-Health and Wellness

Physical changes and negative health events can be mediated by attention to health and well-being.

PreventionRecovery

Opportunities-Health and Wellness

Wellness activities in senior centers

NYC-United Hindu Senior Center

Wellness: Ithaca College Center for Life Skills

 Partnership between Longview, IC School of Health Sciences & Human Performance, and ICGI-Ithaca College faculty and students from a variety of disciplines come together to offer individuals rehabilitation services to enhance their quality of life, independence, health, and personal growth.

Finally, what will it take to reframe aging?

Challenge ageism!

Advocate for policies that provide structural supports. New York State Office for the Aging: Livable New York

http://www.aging.ny.gov/LivableNY/ResourceManual/Index.cfm

The Future of Successful Aging

“We maintain that the future of old age depends to a significant degree on making images of aging more positive, empowering people to live healthy lives, and redesigning society to include more age-friendly technology and opportunities for challenging and meaningful roles in old age.” (Baltes, Smith, & Staudinger, 1992)

It’s our choice

Closing Activity

Now, on the other side of the card, write Side # 2 and list 5 words that come to mind when you think about aging.

Thank You!