September 25th AgeWell Symposium Will Dismantle Stereotypes and Illustrate Benefits of Growing Older

Palos Heights – From the moment we’re born, we do it. It’s the ultimate universal experience, and the most natural thing in the world. All of us are getting older, every day, every minute, every second.

When we turn 1, or 10 or 18, our birthdays are celebrated as much as for the vision of our future as for the attainment of the milestone. So why does this happiness, this hopeful outlook, the excitement about all we’re going to do in the next phase of our life, turn into something negative as people turn 40, or 50 or 65?

“Our AgeWell Symposium is dedicated to turning that attitude around,” says Elaine Grande, Executive Director of Pathlights. On Thursday, September 25, Pathlights is welcoming experts in aging to educate the community about battling stereotypes, creating second acts after retirement, and seeing growing older as an exciting, positive phase of life.

Lydia Manning, PhD and Social Gerontologist, says, “In the U.S., capitalism is very ingrained in us, and that can translate into seeming to have less worth as we retire and are less traditionally productive. In the 1900’s, everyone at every age had about the same risk for death – birth to 80 years old – because of infectious disease. Now, age itself is more tied to the end of life – and we are death phobic here in the U.S.”

“Age segregation does us no favors. We don’t live multi-generationally anymore. For many children and teens, the only older person they really know is their grandparent. But the reality is that when you are out in the world, you see more older people now than ever before. We are now aging in a public way that hasn’t been seen before.”

“The word “old” should be abolished from our vocabulary,” says Colleen Ceh Becvar, Gerontologist and Certified Care Manager. “That word contributes to ageism. We say things like, “I’m too old for skiing” when what we really mean is, “If I have an injury, it will take me longer to heal,” so let’s say that instead. Modern medicine has advanced so that decline and chronic disease is no longer tied to getting older. We now look at that as separate and distinct from aging. Older people are not naturally decrepit; they are leading more robust, stronger lives – it’s becoming more the norm.”

Manning instead advocates for recognizing signs of ageism and calling them out. “We need media to feature older adults in a positive and realistic way. We’re living longer, in better health and it’s time to incentivize companies to integrate these images into their advertising and social media to normalize the experience of growing older and being older.”

That experience has changed dramatically over the last decades. One hundred years ago, not even 5% of the population was over the age of 65. Fifty years ago, about 10% had celebrated their 65th birthday. Today, nearly 17% of Americans are 65 or older, and that percentage continues to grow. Beyond medical advances, attitude can play a significant role in the aging experience. When an older adult focuses on loss, such as hearing loss or a loss of independence, they are more likely to view aging overall as a series of losses and begin a downward physical and mental trajectory. However, when aging is viewed as a series of new opportunities, challenges and experiences, the older adult is more likely to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, keeping mind and body strong and fit.

“When a person has made a decision not to work anymore,” Ceh Becvar notes, “it means you’ve made it. You’ve arrived and can live a life of leisure. And now we have positive role models, people who are showing us how retirement can be done differently.”

Ceh Becvar elevates those who are defying ageist stereotypes, the people who believe genetics are not their destiny, who are taking care of their lives. “There are things that contribute to our lives and things that subtract from our lives – you don’t have to succumb to your hereditary factors. We are more than our genetics – we’re the choices we make, the foods we eat and the media we consume. We are not keeping secrets about how to age well; it’s out there for everyone to learn, every day! There are people weight-lifting at 70, staying active through dance, being selective about the foods they eat.” She says there are so many inspiring older adults, but “pretty soon, inspiring adults will be normal. It won’t be news or a surprise when someone runs a marathon when they are 100 years old.”

Positive messages about aging are vital to help us abandon outdated ideas about growing older, because we just aren’t getting older in the same way we did 100 years ago, or even 50 years ago. Older adults who actively maintain their physical health and social community are thriving – and typically living about 7 years longer than those who don’t. In fact, studies show that the single most important factor in healthy aging is having robust social connections.

Manning understands there is work to be done in dismantling stereotypes about aging, about relieving fear of growing older and helping people be more comfortable just being human. “We must have real, meaningful conversations with each other, with our loved ones, about getting older. I’m excited to be a part of the Pathlights’ Symposium. It’s wonderful to work with people who are consciously and intentionally gathering to combat ageism and look at the ways we age. Events like this make me more hopeful, and I am optimistic about the future.”

The Symposium is free for anyone in the community who is interested in or involved in the process of growing older. “We expect to see an audience of older adults who are hoping to improve their own path as they age, caregivers who want to educate themselves about the latest theories and data about aging positively, and people who are helping a loved one along the journey – and may be looking at that journey themselves in a few decades,” says Grande.

Check in begins at 8 am on Thursday, September 25 at the DoubleTree Alsip, 5000 W 127th Street in Alsip. Presentations by Ceh Becvar and Manning will begin at 9 am. Leanne Jackowiak will lead a chair yoga session for all fitness levels between presentations, helping participants enjoy the benefits of this exercise for both body and mind. Lunch is included, and also free, with registration. For more information and to join the waitlist, visit Pathlights.org or call 708-361-0219.

There is a U-shaped happiness curve in our lives; data says we are happiest when we are very young, such as on our tenth birthday, and then again after age 65. That happiness is evident in the third attitude shift about birthdays, because no one is ever upset that there are 80 candles on their cake.

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