Friends Life Care has served older adults for over 30 years by helping them to successfully age in place. And as a Quaker-value based nonprofit, Friends Life Care has been fortunate to have a long-standing relationship with Friends Services Alliance (FSA). We have similar missions focused on the wellbeing of older adults. This includes celebrating and supporting the later years of life which is the opposite of ageism.

About Ageism and Anti-Ageism

In view of that, FSA created this amazing collage art which we included in this post. We are sharing it as it illustrates the idea of  ageism with an outpouring of words and images captured from a presentation by Ashley Applewhite.

Ashley Applewhite is an author, blogger, and international speaker. She is a committed anti-ageism activist and explains that it is critically important to build awareness of prejudices about age and aging, to ensure integration and positive connection across generations, and to join her in activism against ageism.

Ageism: The Impact & Steps to Take

The World Health Organization (WHO) provides this definition: “Ageism refers to the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age.”

Although the focus of this blog post is on older adults, ageism can affect people in younger generations as well.

Watch this impactful webinar from an expert in the field to understand more about the intricacies of this important topic. And learn about additional information and resources you can access about ageism.

 

Unfortunately, ageism is entrenched in our society. It can even be self-inflicted! And it can have many negative and damaging affects including shortening a person’s life. If you have any comments to share with us after viewing this video, please let us know.  We’d love to hear from you.

 

Presentation by:

Katie Reilly, PHD, MSG, CDP

Katie Reilly is a master’s level gerontologist with over 13 years of experience in the senior care industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Gwynedd Mercy University, a master’s degree in Gerontology from Saint Joseph’s University and recently completed a PhD in Leadership and Gerontology with a research focus on ageism within senior living communities and the significance of intergenerational relationships at Concordia University, Chicago.

Katie works as a Care Advisor for the Abramson Senior Care Healthy Brain and Memory Center; a diagnostic and consultative program for individuals living with dementia that also provides guidance and support to family caregivers. Additionally, Katie provides education on dementia-related topics to both formal and informal caregivers as well as the community at large. Katie also serves as a volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association as both a support group facilitator and certified community educator. In addition to her work with Abramson Senior Care, Katie works as an adjunct professor at a local university teaching undergraduate courses on aging and dementia.

 

 

 

Friends Life Care  posts on the eMeetinghouse blog. as another way to share health, wellness and prevention information with aging adults.  Friends Life Care is a mission-driven nonprofit that — for over 30 years — has been helping older adults — especially Friends Life Care members — to thrive at home as they age.  If you are not yet a Friends Life Care member, connect with us with questions for one of our Plan Counselors on the benefits joining.