October 9 is commemorated as National Ageism Awareness Day. The National Center to Reframe Aging works to end ageism by advancing equitable and more complete story about aging in America according to the Executive Director, Trish D’Antonio.

“What's most important here is that we're raising awareness, because one of the things we've learned in our work, in our research, what we learn is that people aren't aware of ageism. It's one of those things that people just accept. And one of those things that it's not only how people we talk about how we define ageism, it's not only how people might interact with others, “said D’Antonio.

The PA Council of Aging provides advice to the governor and department on suggestions on how to plan and provide service for older adults. Velma Carter-Dryer is a member of the PA Council of Aging. She also is a retired social worker.

“There's always had always been a bias regarding older adults seeking help in a behavioral health field. Well, a lot of times they didn't hear about different treatment options. They weren't involved in clinical trials. I mean, there were a number of things that we could see. People were always didn't have always had access to even preventive care in that field. And I saw that in health care as well. So, I know that there are many things that we can be doing. And I think the work we're doing with the state plan, what aging the aging in our way, is one of those opportunities to really focus in on ageism and how we can do things better, “said Carter-Dryer.

Through experience and research, D’Antonio and Carter-Dryer also learned ageism can occur in every age group.

“people have heard comments like, she's too young to run that program. She just finished college. Yeah, well, that's not true either. She might be like a really great leader in a room, Right? And she can run that program just as much as we hear he's too old. He'll never pick up that technology. And it's like him. If you teach him, he will learn just like everybody else does. So like, think thinking about that and that intergenerational work. We know that that's a way to really combat ageism across the life course, “said D’Antonio.

“The students learned a lot about what life experiences have been for the older adults that they connected with and these students also. Many of them decided that they wanted to work in the field of gerontology because they had such a positive experience. That doesn't happen all the time, but we really need to capitalize on those opportunities because you will find what's unfortunate is one of those other ageism issues is that geriatrics, gerontology are not those areas where people get paid a lot of salary. They're not a specialty. So people drive too. But that's where we need more people working in the areas. Things will be different, “said Cater-Dryer.

 

 

 

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