Watch.
We began posting videos and podcasts about aging and ageism in early 2019. Below are notes on plans for several shows. Many more are in the works. Send us your suggestions and questions, and/or volunteer to be a guest, here or via social media.
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What Is Ageism and Why Is It so Hard to Beat?
Ageism is the discrimination against individuals based on their age, whether old or young. It's the last “ism” standing, and it hurts everyone. How do we finally put it to bed? We're thrilled to be joined by Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks! A Manifesto against Ageism, for this inaugural conversation. You can also check out this blog post for a quick definition of ageism and thoughts about combating it now. |
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What is the Radical Age Movement and Why Do We Need It?
The Radical Age Movement (RAM) was founded by Alice Fisher, a social worker and activist in New York City. What does RAM do and how can people across the country advance its agenda? |
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Are you a Denialist, a Realist, or an Enthusiast about Aging?
I am an unabashed fangirl of the amazing geriatrician and humanist Dr. Bill Thomas. You'll find his work in the Resources section of this website under books (Second Wind), living (MINKA homes and the Eden Alternative), and activism (Changing Aging). In this first episode dedicated to his work we discuss his foundational ideas for thinking about how age is approached in America: Denialism (the default mode), Realism (growing, still not good), and Enthusiasm (a subculture I'm jumping into with both feet). Here's a quick blog post about these approaches. The show goes into more details and offers some telling examples. |
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The Pass It On Network -- Connecting Elder Activists Worldwide
The world’s population of people over 60 will more than double by 2050, and policymakers on every continent are scrambling to prepare for what many fear will be an onslaught of needy, greedy seniors. But this older generation is unlike ones that have gone before: worldwide, we’re throwing ourselves into activism on behalf of our own lives and the health and welfare of the planet. Serial entrepreneurs Janet Hively, PhD, now living in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Moira Allan, a longtime resident of Paris, France, have founded the Pass It On Network, a global digital network of elder activist groups. I’m thrilled that Jan and Moira could join me to talk about their exciting work. |
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Transforming Elder Living Options
Dr. Bill Thomas, with his wife, Jude Thomas, has done more than any other individual in America (possibly the world) to systematically improve the lives of elders by bringing compassionate design to group living arrangements. Dr. Thomas began decades ago, by bringing plants and animals into a dim nursing home, transforming residents’ lives through connection and purpose. This seemingly simple act launched the Eden Alternative, which has grown into a system of principles of compassionate, person-centered care for elders and their caregivers, with training and conferences worldwide. Dr. Thomas went on to develop the Green House Project, a national network of well-staffed small-group homes for frail elders, and to pioneer Minka Homes – affordable, small, pre-fab houses that enable people of all ages to live independently in community – perhaps in MAGIC communities – multi-generational, multi-ability, intentional communities – also being pioneered by Dr. Thomas. In the midst of all this culture-changing innovation, Dr. Thomas wrote several books, created a road show called “Changing Aging,” and raised a family with his wife, Jude. I don’t know when the man sleeps, which makes me even more grateful that he took the time to talk with me. |
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Dementia Is a Social Justice Issue
As the world population ages, people are increasingly worried about dementia: about developing dementia themselves, about a loved one’s being diagnosed with dementia, about the costs involved in dementia care – both on a personal and on a societal level. It’s a heartbreaking and frightening diagnosis. People are frantic for preventive magic bullets and cures. My guest is Dr. Kenneth Langa, Professor of Internal Medicine, Gerontology, and Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan. Dr. Langa’s research focuses on the incidence, causes, and costs of chronic disease in older adults, with an emphasis on dementias. In an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2017, Dr. Langa and colleagues reported on a study showing a large decline in dementia rates across a broad population in America, from 11.6% in 2000 to 8.8% in 2012. That is great – and complicated – news. Dr. Langa talks with me about types of dementia, factors that influence who gets dementia and who doesn’t, and a range of interventions to continue to decrease its incidence or severity. We discuss the fact that stresses associated with poverty, systemic racism, poor diet, low-quality education, and environmental toxins are important contributing factors in dementia risk. In broad terms, a society worried about dementia rates should immediately fund universal preschool and start scrubbing the environment clean. Listen to Dr. Langa discuss his work on the Diane Rehm Show and on All Things Considered with Ina Jaffe. Read his book chapter for the National Academies of Sciences, and articles in the Washington Post, Stat News, and The Atlantic about social justice and dementias. |
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Help for Care Partners of People Living with Dementia
Many of us, despite our best-laid plans (humans plan; god laughs), end up being a primary care partner for one or more people as we age—parents, spouses, dear friends, and others. Caregiving is a soul gift; it can also be a great emotional strain. Where can primary care partners find the support they need to keep going? My guest for this episode, Laura Rice-Oeschger, LMSW, has worked in dementia care since 1996. She now leads the Wellness Initiative at the University of Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center where she designs, implements and evaluates well-being and mindfulness-based programming. As CEO for the “Presence Care Project,” Ms. Rice-Oeschger trains new facilitators in Mindfulness-based Dementia Care (MBDC). Several national organizations can help you locate the support you need in your neighborhood (learn more about them here): Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA); Caregiving.com; Daughterhood; and Caring across Generations. Your local Area Agency on Aging is also a good source of information about local support. |
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Aging while LGBTQ: Challenges, and Coalitions of Support.
Just as race and wealth affect how we age, so does being LGBTQ, and generally not for the better. Older people who identify as LGBTQ are twice as likely to be single and live alone, four times less likely to have kids, and far less stable financially than older Americans after a lifetime of discrimination. SAGE is a national organization advocating to make LGBTQ elders visible and valuable to policy makers, elder organizations, and care partners in and out of the home. We spoke with Angie Perone, Executive Director of Sage Metro Detroit about support and services for LGBTQ elders. In addition to our interview, see this video overview of the systemic obstacles contributing to LGBTQ elder poverty and loneliness; this video about SAGE nationally; this training video, useful for everyone, created for staff of residential care facilities; this fantastic toolkit for organizations supporting elders, developed by ACLU, Sage Metro Detroit, and three Michigan Area Agencies on Aging; and this outstanding guide for preventing online harassment based on your gender identity or sexual orientation. |
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Elders Protecting the Planet, One Child at a Time
Despite the heroic efforts of people all over the world, in small groups and large, the Baby Boomer generation has presided over a galloping environmental catastrophe. Driven largely by unbridled human consumption of fossil fuels, climate change now threatens much life on the planet. Many environmental organizations need our help (including Elders Climate Action), and on a day- to-day basis we can all do our part by recycling, driving less, eating less meat – you know the drill. But author and environmental educator Dave Bauer offers tips for environmental protection that bring actual joy: by introducing a child in your life—not necessarily a grandchild; any child—to the wonder and beauty of the natural world and our interconnectedness with it. |
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"Conscious Aging," "Successful Aging," "Positive Aging" -- What's What?
Dr. Harry (Rick) Moody is a towering figure in gerontology. In addition to faculty positions at New York University, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the University of California at Santa Cruz, Dr. Moody has held leadership position sin most of the major institutions on aging, including the National Council on Aging, the American Society on Aging, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. An expert in adult education. Dr. Moody was instrumental in establishing the Elderhostel model, and served as chairman of the board that organization (now Road Scholar) for years. Dr. Moody is the author of several highly influential books, including Abundance of Life: Human Development Policies for an Aging Society; Ethics in an Aging Society; Aging: Concepts and Controversies; and Five Stages of the Soul. I talk with Dr. Moody about a small but important fragment of his expertise: conscious aging. |
Your Legacy of Wisdom, not Wealth
Most of us eventually recognize that we should “get our affairs in order” – create the will, leave advance health directives, write instructions for our funeral and disposal of our remains – before we make our exit so our loved ones are free just to mourn and celebrate our lives. But most of us also want to pass on to our loved ones some of the wisdom we’ve accrued over the years. My guest for this podcast, Rachael Freed, has written two wonderful books – Women’s Lives, Women’s Legacies: Passing Your Beliefs and Blessings to Future Generations and Your Legacy Matters: A Multi-Generational Guide for Writing Your Ethical Will, that bless us with step-by-step instructions for preserving your most important life lessons for your loved ones. Without Rachael’s guidance I wouldn’t have had a clue where to start. Episode coming soon! |
Addressing the Impact of Systemic Racism on Aging
When it’s not obsessed with “anti-aging,” the dominant discourse around age in America today tends to focus on the problems of upper-middle-class white people. But millions of older Americans are living in or near poverty, and are experiencing the toll of lifetimes’ worth of systemic racism. Dr. Vicki Johnson-Lawrence is the director of a program called Flint ReCAST, in Flint, Michigan. ReCAST teaches something called the "Community Resiliency Model" to enhance resiliency and wellness practices in a community that has experienced trauma – not just the culture’s persistent systemic racism, but the very particular trauma of the Flint water crisis. Dr. Johnson-Lawrence discusses the cumulative toll of chronic trauma as we age, and the ways in which her program is helping in Flint. Episode coming soon! |
Taking the Reins in the End-of-Life Choice Movement
Barbara Coombs Lee – registered nurse, physician assistant, lawyer, and president of Compassion & Choices, the leading organization in America’s end-of-life choice movement – has written an indispensable, nuts-and-bolts guide to taking charge of your end-of-life medical care. The book, Finish Strong: Putting Your Priorities First at Life’s End, and the Compassion & Choices website are filled with warm guidance and concrete tools to help us navigate the labyrinth of decision-making and communication involved. In this interview, Barbara and I discuss her necessary book and her life’s work. My brief review of Finish Strong for the Sage-ing International quarterly newsletter, The Communicator, is here. Episode coming soon! |
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Season 2: Activist Elders
People with gray hair are prominent in environmental and social justice movements, as boots on the ground and as board and staff leaders. Our goal with Season 2 of Aging for Life is to raise the profile of these older activists, countering the image of older people as selfish, out-of-it, and culturally burdensome, and stimulating a higher percentage of older Americans to get actively involved in bettering the world. We'll be interviewing activists in organizations such as Elders Climate Action, Pachamama Alliance, Gray Panthers, the end-of-life choice movement, the World Health Organization’s Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, Old School, Grannies Respond, Diverse Elders Coalition, the Work that Reconnects, Grandparents against Gun Violence, and more. Join us! Is there something else you want to see covered? Shows are in development all the time. Suggest a topic! |