Day 275 of 365 - Rethinking Ageing
There is a lot of ageism in our culture. Thankfully, it is beginning to be challenged more via changing portrayals of older people in advertising and various kinds of media. The tendency in the past has been to portray seniors as more alone, less happy and more sedentary. Those images reinforce stereotypes.
But now, more influencers are realizing that these stereotypes need to be challenged and that there is an audience of seniors wanting their lives to be represented in more diverse ways. Marketers of products are also realizing that the senior demographic tends to have money to spend. Thus, it is in their best interests to advertise to us in a more appealing way.
Many individuals have made their own mark in social media, such as Instagram and YouTube, portraying active, older adults who live interesting lives. Seniors travel alone, wear cool clothes, ride motorcycles, run obstacle courses and enter dance competitions. They are not just sitting around knitting or reading, though they might be doing this too.
One of the ways my own beliefs about ageing has been challenged is simply by where I live. As I've mentioned before, I live in an apartment building. There are quite a lot of seniors living here, though the age range is starting to broaden in recent years. These buildings were originally marketed to seniors, as a sort of upscale place to live.
I've lived in this neighborhood for many years. When we were living in a house in the area, I knew little about this place. I'd seen a brochure in our mailbox showing a well-heeled couple standing by a fireplace, when the buildings were first being advertised. I knew nobody who lived here, and only occasionally saw very nice cars driving in or out of the long entrance lane to the property when I walked past. My impression was that it was a place for rich seniors.
Now, I'm living here and I can assure you I'm not rich. I've seen a variety of people who have lived here many years and lots of new people move in and others move out. This is a place where it seems a number of older people move when they decide they no longer want to manage a home. You can tell sometimes from their adult children who are visiting, that they feel reassured that mom and dad are in a safer place. :)
What has challenged my perceptions of ageing while living here is seeing just how active many tenants continue to be well into their advanced senior years. On my floor alone, there are three people, two in their high eighties, one who turned 90 this year, who still live alone and are actively out and about every day. They are living well and thriving.
There are also lots of other people in the 60 - 75 year range who are engaged in a variety of activities, doing part-time work, and actively socializing. Of course, now that I'm approaching 65 myself, my idea of what it means to be this age has been challenged too. I'm not 'old'.
As I also think I've mentioned before, there is quite an age range of people in my NIA class, which has shown me that at any age we can all enjoy dancing and movement fitness together. It's about living life in a broad range of experience.
To be sure, ageing does include decline, disability and suffering. I've seen this with residents in our building too. But most people make the best of the situation and continue to live their lives as well as they can. People get sick and many get better. Some don't and need to engage more supports here or move on to another location. Some die. It's an inclusive range of experience, not just one extreme or the other.
What we see in the media shapes how we see ourselves. When we have a more upbeat image of growing older, we tend to take better care of ourselves, perform better and live longer according to studies that have been done. It's very timely that re-branding ageing as a more positive experience is being embraced.
But now, more influencers are realizing that these stereotypes need to be challenged and that there is an audience of seniors wanting their lives to be represented in more diverse ways. Marketers of products are also realizing that the senior demographic tends to have money to spend. Thus, it is in their best interests to advertise to us in a more appealing way.
Many individuals have made their own mark in social media, such as Instagram and YouTube, portraying active, older adults who live interesting lives. Seniors travel alone, wear cool clothes, ride motorcycles, run obstacle courses and enter dance competitions. They are not just sitting around knitting or reading, though they might be doing this too.
One of the ways my own beliefs about ageing has been challenged is simply by where I live. As I've mentioned before, I live in an apartment building. There are quite a lot of seniors living here, though the age range is starting to broaden in recent years. These buildings were originally marketed to seniors, as a sort of upscale place to live.
I've lived in this neighborhood for many years. When we were living in a house in the area, I knew little about this place. I'd seen a brochure in our mailbox showing a well-heeled couple standing by a fireplace, when the buildings were first being advertised. I knew nobody who lived here, and only occasionally saw very nice cars driving in or out of the long entrance lane to the property when I walked past. My impression was that it was a place for rich seniors.
Now, I'm living here and I can assure you I'm not rich. I've seen a variety of people who have lived here many years and lots of new people move in and others move out. This is a place where it seems a number of older people move when they decide they no longer want to manage a home. You can tell sometimes from their adult children who are visiting, that they feel reassured that mom and dad are in a safer place. :)
What has challenged my perceptions of ageing while living here is seeing just how active many tenants continue to be well into their advanced senior years. On my floor alone, there are three people, two in their high eighties, one who turned 90 this year, who still live alone and are actively out and about every day. They are living well and thriving.
There are also lots of other people in the 60 - 75 year range who are engaged in a variety of activities, doing part-time work, and actively socializing. Of course, now that I'm approaching 65 myself, my idea of what it means to be this age has been challenged too. I'm not 'old'.
As I also think I've mentioned before, there is quite an age range of people in my NIA class, which has shown me that at any age we can all enjoy dancing and movement fitness together. It's about living life in a broad range of experience.
To be sure, ageing does include decline, disability and suffering. I've seen this with residents in our building too. But most people make the best of the situation and continue to live their lives as well as they can. People get sick and many get better. Some don't and need to engage more supports here or move on to another location. Some die. It's an inclusive range of experience, not just one extreme or the other.
What we see in the media shapes how we see ourselves. When we have a more upbeat image of growing older, we tend to take better care of ourselves, perform better and live longer according to studies that have been done. It's very timely that re-branding ageing as a more positive experience is being embraced.
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