Standing Up for Our Future Selves

Standing Up for Our Future Selves

Many people don’t want to talk about it. Others try to ignore it, and even fewer take the time to investigate all the issues and opportunities that come with it.

Let’s face it, if we live long enough, sooner or later, every one of us will become old.

How we define ourselves as we grow older, and how others define us, can make all the difference in how we are treated at home, in our community, and around the globe.

That’s why this October, the United Nations Division for Inclusive Social Development, the American Society on Aging, the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, Changing the Narrative, Wisdom of Age, and many other like-minded organizations and individuals are inviting you to join in helping to raise awareness about age discrimination and put an end to ageism wherever it is found.

The 2024 campaign kicks off with the United Nations International Day of Older Persons on October 1. It continues with the UN’s 34th International Day of Celebration event in New York City on October 7. The American Society on Aging is also drawing attention to ageism by inviting individuals and organizations nationwide to participate in Ageism Awareness Day on Wednesday, October 9.

In giving thought to ways you can help raise awareness, consider the following:

In the United States, a staggering 5.5 million senior citizens currently grapple with hunger, and millions more suffer in isolation. For many older adults, buying groceries or affording essential medical care too often become critical but essential choices.

Age discrimination literally infiltrates every aspect of our lives. Be it health, housing, employment, social engagement, and transportation, ageism continues to impact how individuals lead their lives, live their values, and maintain their self-worth.

If we can dismantle generational barriers based on disinformation and mistrust, we may discover a shared wealth of common ground and opportunities for mutual enrichment.


Imagine a world devoid of ageism

  • Older and younger individuals are equally cherished.
  • Employment is rooted in abilities rather than stereotypes.
  • Derogatory terms for older people are as taboo as those for gender or race.
  • People can thrive at any age.

Ageism Awareness Day serves as a call to action, urging each of us to strive for a world free from the grip of age discrimination. Let's begin by embracing these guiding principles:

  • Acknowledge the right of every individual to be treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of their age, ability, social status, or income.
  • Recognize the vast human potential accessible at every life stage.
  • Empower those whose insights, experiences, and wisdom often go unnoticed or unheard.
  • Promote inter-generational dialogue, planning, and collaborative action on issues impacting the quality of life for individuals of all ages.
  • Safeguard the well-being of older persons, enabling them to lead lives without a forced choice between food and medication, nor the anguish of isolation and loneliness.


Eliminating ageism begins with the power of one and the wisdom that spans generations.

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This video really touched my heart. I hope you enjoy it as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZZAAWxB_W4&t=5s

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P.S. Join us for our monthly roundtable:

Standing Up for Our Future Selves

Thursday, September 26

Noon to 1 P.M. Eastern Time

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/standing-up-for-our-future-selves-tickets-1024217300517?



The following resources will give you some ideas on ways you can help raise and amplify the call to awareness.

UN International Day of The Older Person 2024

https://nationaltoday.com/international-day-of-older-persons/

https://social.desa.un.org/issues/ageing/events/2024-unidop

American Society on Aging

https://www.asaging.org/ageism-awareness

Global Campaign to Combat Ageism

https://www.aworld4allages.org/

Changing the narrative – https://changingthenarrativeco.org/

Wisdom of Age https://wisdomofage.net/blog/

Pass-It-On Network – https://www.passitonnetwork.org/

Sage-ing International https://www.sage-ing.org/

Age Wave https://agewave.com/

International Assoc. for Hospice and Palliative Care https://hospicecare.com/what-we-do/programs/advocacy-program/

Active Aging Consortium Asia Pacific https://www.napca.org/

Age Knowble https://www.ageknowble.com/

The Association for The Aged (TAFTA) https://tafta.org.za/

Albanian Society for All Ages (ASAG) https://ageing-equal.org/asag-women-activists-albania/

Committee on Ageing/NY https://www.ngocoa-ny.org/

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I liked your article about “standing up for our future selves” and call for a world without ageism very much.?I’m a co-founder of the?Old School Hub, which I hope you'll draw on and recommend to others working to end ageism. And you might be interested in our recent transition from a resource bank into a hub for age equity: https://mailchi.mp/oldschool/hub-launch?e=04beebf5e7

Jobs can solve a lot of problems. Attached is a hire age graph from your home of Kentucky. I request hire-ages across cities, states, provinces, countries and create the graphs. All the graphs are the same and systemic, year after year: hire the 20s and then a steep decline from there. Through technology, a new place can be created for accumulated knowledge and the accumulated bigger picture of the 50+. The free solution is on my LinkedIn page.

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Thanks Jeff! Some resources for people wanting to take action on Ageism Awareness Day: ASA's toolkit https://asaging.org/ageism-awareness Changing the Narrative's blog https://changingthenarrativeco.org/2024/08/26/gearing-up-for-ageism-awareness-day-2024/

Carol Bradley Bursack, CDSGF

Carol Bradley Bursack, as Minding Our Elders, is certified to provide caregiver and dementia support. She also writes content and manages social media for clients.

2 个月

Thanks, Jeff. This is incredibly important information.

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