March 19, 2024

Episode 17:10 Dr. Kerry Burnight on shifting ideas in gerontology, embracing a ‘longevity’ perspective, and the principles of aging well

31 minutes

In our final episode of Season 17, Dr. Kerry Burnight offers listeners a chance to examine ageism through their own attitudes toward aging and shares her perspective on how the field of gerontology has shifted in the last few decades. Gerontologist, professor, researcher, podcaster, and writer, Kerry provides relatable, digestible, and humor-filled insights on aging through articulating six core principles that support individuals to age well.

About Kerry

Dr. Kerry Burnight is a gerontologist on a mission to make

older better. She served as a Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the University of California, Irvine for 17 years. She is the co-founder of the nation’s first Elder Abuse Forensic Center, where her team of law enforcement officers, physicians, attorneys, and social workers have served over 2000 older adults. Her research focuses on the two ends of the spectrum of the aging experience: wellness and purpose at the one end and loneliness and elder abuse at the other end. As a society, and as individuals, there is so much we can do to improve older lives.

Burnight founded the national non-profit Ageless Alliance and serves on executive advisory boards for companies innovating in the aging space. She is currently writing a book and was recognized for her work by the U.S. Department of Justice and has appeared on the Dr. Phil Show, The Doctors, Money Matters, and Headline News.

Our health span, meaning the length of time a person is healthy (versus simply alive), is a key component of aging well. By dedicating energy and awareness to our health spans, we can incorporate longevity, vibrancy, and wellbeing to our lives.

“Othering” older people is harmful. We are, as a

society, starting to acknowledge that intergenerational connection is both

necessary to our health and is an antidote to ageism.

Getting older is inevitable, but growing older is not. It takes effort to continually grow and you have to think about what kind of older person you want to be and what will it require to get there.

We are all – at least – somewhat ageist. Internalized ageism that we turn on ourselves is really dangerous. We must start looking at our own ageist thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Six Principles of Aging:

A: Acceptance (Accept Yourself)

B: Be that Friend (the one who brings over soup,

gives the best hug.)

C: Challenge Yourself

D: Decide to Give (Recognize what you have to

give, and give it.)

E: Educate to Navigate (Learn about resources to

help you navigate your aging journey)

F: Focus on Interdependence (Humans are

naturally interdependent; don’t silo yourself, especially as you age!)

...more

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By Nancy Griffin

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