A powerful antidote to the seemingly relentless trauma and divisiveness gripping our country is to do something unexpected — start an Age Friendly revolution.
The global Age-Friendly City movement overseen by the World Health Organization and AARP has the potential to counter the increasing viciousness of our political discourse and heal the trauma of recent events by transcending ideology and rallying humanity around the universal experience we all hold in common — aging.
As John F. Kennedy said, “We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.”
Of all the toxic -isms that needlessly divide our communities — racism, sexism, jingoism, ableism — AGEISM stands out because it amplifies all the other -isms and, eventually, every single one of us will feel its sting. But I strongly believe that Disrupting Ageism head on, bringing together people of different ages and knocking down ageist stereotypes, has the power to expose, combat and heal prejudices of all stripes and kinds.
Whatever condition a community currently finds itself in, the AARP Age-Friendly framework provides a roadmap for improving livability that benefits everyone. It challenges cities to address affordable housing, expand low-cost public transportation, and provide opportunities for older adults to be active and engaged in the community, as well as improving healthcare. Communities can move at their own pace while holding elected officials and other leaders accountable for progress, and the -isms could slowly begin to dissipate.
Over the past four years as director of Dr. Bill Thomas’ ChangingAging Tour I’ve had the privilege to visit 120 communities in North America in partnership with AARP’s bold #DisruptAging initiative. At every one of these Tour stops we’ve sat down with community stakeholders to discuss the most pressing concerns and most exciting opportunities to disrupt aging in their communities.
Indeed, ageism is universally the most common topic of discussion in these meetings. The good news is that nearly every one of these communities has made combating ageism through development of age friendly communities a top priority.
Earlier this year we performed to robust Age Friendly communities in the Pacific Northwest and New England. We also celebrated with Santa Clara County in April becoming the nation’s first county to have all of its cities adopt an Age-Friendly status. Nearly 180 towns, cities and counties across the U.S. have joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities and more sign up every day. Last week on Tour we championed Western New York’s Age Friendly Erie County movement with a show in Amherst. Then we barnstormed Indiana to plant the seeds for Age Friendly communities in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and Evansville, with support from AARP Indiana.
One of the most exciting days I’ve ever had on tour came in Evansville. We were hosted by the University of Southern Indiana (USI), who convened a group of 60 students, faculty and older adults from the community. We conducted a participatory design exercise called 25/10 Crowd Sourcing to tap the group and generate a series of “Ten Times Bolder” ideas to disrupt aging in their community. We then crowdsourced the ideas and ranked them to identify the top five. Here are the results:
- Make building a multi-generational housing complex part of the University of Southern Indiana’s Master Plan.
- Create 55+ living in proximity to students, open and welcoming to all sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds – with a purpose of helping each other with daily life and future planning.
- Incorporate preschools, colleges, housing and senior homes together. Where the college students have free housing in exchange for volunteer hours.
- What about creating a college-like community for elders to improve social, intellectual and spiritual growth?
- Use the campus day care to team up with adult day care.
It was incredible to see a multigenerational group of 60 people nearly spontaneously reach a consensus on a vision for an age friendly future in their community. It demonstrated the power of bringing people together of different ages to break down barriers and tackle a shared problem. We had so much fun that USI has invited the ChangingAging Tour to perform on campus November 6, 2017 and explore a potential partnership to tackle one of their Ten Times Bolder ideas.
I believe the Age Friendly revolution is already here and it proves that we have more in common than we do dividing us. I hope you’ll join.
Mary Ann Allen says
November 23, 2018 at 6:11 pmWe could start with handicapped parking spaces closer business entrances. All elderly people are not in wheelchairs, and those of us who use canes, etc. need closer access to entrances.
Kennedy C. says
November 21, 2018 at 7:58 pmThis seems very interesting and beneficial. The Age Friendly revolution ensures that everyone has the same opportunities and outcomes regardless of their age. I wonder much about this framework, it seems very thought out and wanting to create a positive outcome. However, I wonder about the cost and if it will actually help communities in the long run? I think ageism is still about and will be. Though, I think this could help and I would be eager to see a change in how ageism is handle.
katlyn says
November 19, 2018 at 5:00 pmSo the Age Friendly Revolution is mostly just making communities up to the AARP standards? I think it is more than that but I don’t know exactly know how else you could change ageism. I understand that creating all of this and using that framework can make things more age friendly but I also wonder on how it could hurt communities? I just wonder how expensive it would be to put these ideas into action or if elders would really even use them. I think it is a good step in a good direction though.
Kacie says
November 12, 2018 at 10:28 pmI think this article is interesting and says a lot. They created this framework that will help communities out in whatever the issue may be and allow them to go at their own pace. This can help with transportation, health care, and engaging the elderly more. It benefits everyone and I love that concept. Everyone should have equal access to almost everything depending on the circumstances and we should all help one another out if it’s possible. This can benefit people in some ways and even decrease other issues we face in this world such as ageism.
Hassan says
April 22, 2018 at 9:06 pmI am a current Aging 320 student at the Erickson School of Aging. This post has so many great ideas to it. Aging is something we will all face, and we must all fight for a better environment for older persons, not just those who are elderly now. We have learned about the benefits of intergenerational activities in my course, and this seems like a way that we can work together and learn from each other. In order to combat ageism against the elderly, the younger generation must work with them to create a relationship that rids mindsets of these prejudices. That is why I fully support the idea of incorporating preschools, colleges and senior homes together. This could be a way that intergenerational activities become more of an intergenerational lifestyle. Agism would reduce as we learn to live together.
Diana says
November 10, 2017 at 4:39 pmI am a current AGING 320 student at the Erickson School of Aging. I found this post to be very insightful and significant. An Age Friendly revolution works to transform many aspects of a community to ensure that resources and opportunities are available to all, regardless of age. This is extremely important with our growing older population. AARP’s initiative to promote the Age Friendly revolution works to disrupt aging in communities to better the lives of all. I agree with the suggestions provided in this blog. Multi-generational housing and incorporating senior homes and colleges to promote community service are worthy ideas to bridge the gap between generations. In our course, we have discussed the importance of accessibility to resources and opportunities. We must make sure that aging adults have the rights tools to not only live, but thrive. Medicare would be a big factor in this case, because of the access to proper medical care and assistance plays a huge role in a person’s wellbeing. The blog discussed the rationale that the revolution has already begun. That being said, there is much work that needs to happen. While I agree it has begun, ageism still very much exists and we must continue our educational efforts to best advocate for the population as a whole. Thanks for sharing!
Mary Ann Allen says
November 15, 2017 at 5:59 pmAgreed, but what is being done, and what can I do to bring this about?
Isabel Tom says
October 10, 2017 at 9:26 pmI have always loved the intergenerational living ideas, but having come from one of them I do know there are very real challenges that go along with it as well as amazing amazing benefits. In families, we often are more committed to each other even when personalities flair up and differences arise.I think it definitely could work though, but would require a lot of thought and careful planning. Everyone has been born into a family and so my hope is that we can encourage more families to try it out too. If we prepare them and provide support systems, it can be more successful. With foster care there are support systems for the foster families so that they will succeed in what is truly a difficult yet meaningful endeavor. If we do the same with families who decide to care for their loved ones, I think I can see some amazing things bloom.
Mary Ann Allen says
October 17, 2017 at 6:52 pmWe need to get this essential care covered by insurance and Medicare.
Rev. Kurt Kuhwald says
October 8, 2017 at 4:52 pmWhile you have included racism among the oppressions out of which ageism is expanded, in the five crowdsourced ideas you listed, inclusion of racial difference is not listed.
Unless racism is named and addressed as part of the effort to “heal” prejudices, it will be relegated off the table of concern. Unless, for all of the “isms,” there are programs for directly addressing them within the context of community life, the larger systemic and deeply personal dynamics will be undercut. Where in the program will racism, in particular, be addressed. How will the intersection of “isms” be dealt with as you work with building an Elder culture?
In addition, class issues are vulnerable with the design of this program thus far. Holding it exclusively on college campuses is not likely to attract elders who are working class or are living poor.
I am wondering how and if these concerns will be addressed as you go on.
janice mancuso says
October 7, 2017 at 2:03 pmI first learned of Dr. Bill Thomas in Ira Byock, MD’s book, “Best Care Possible.” I then read more in Atul Gawande’s book, “Being Mortal.” So when I learned he and the Age of Disruption Tour would be in San Diego on Apr 1, 2016, I knew I had to be there. That Event Changed My Life…and has informed every single day since. I now look at aging as a privilege and not something to be feared or dreaded. That’s huge. I also realize how important it is to stay connected with people of all generations, not just those in our families. We ALL have something to share with each other. And I watch my language regarding ageism. Words indeed matter.
Keep up the great work you are doing. You’re making a difference. Thank you.
Ann Hedreen says
October 6, 2017 at 5:22 pmBravo, Kavan. I love this vision!
Alexandra Hart says
September 29, 2017 at 11:35 amKavan, we will speak about positive aging on our upcoming radio shows, as we always do in one way or another — directly or indirectly. “Growing an Elder Culture” has more than five years of programs countering ageism archived on our website (elderculture.com) for anyone to stream at leisure. You yourself are featured as our guest on one of them. I believe our small city of Sebastopol is ripe to be an Age Friendly City in name as well as in its already well developing attitude. Let us know how to go about that!