Age Loud

Monday was the 34th United Nations International Day of Older Persons and today is Ageism Awareness Day, #TalkAboutAgeism and Iooking at various social media posts, realised I haven't been properly practising what I preach.

I am the youngest of the baby boomer generation and celebrated the big 60 in April. I celebrated the day with an early morning swim in the sea with my family, a lazy day and a trip on a sea tractor for dinner at the Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote many of her books.

I don't see 60 as something to be depressed or sad about, I see it as something liberating with an opportunity to change people's perceptions about what old means.

I decided to stop dyeing my hair when I was 50 as I wanted to some of me to grow old gracefully! Ironically, when people approach me from behind see my face they generally look surprised as with my grey hair they expect me to look a lot older.

This action coupled with a replacement hip in 2021, hearing aids in 2022 and founding a specialist dementia holiday organisation in 2014 has meant I dipped my toes into the world of older people or, as I perfer to say "People with Experience" much earlier than most.

I am all to aware of the discrimination that is targeted to the Baby Boomer Generation as I have lived it personally and seen all to many of my friends from the Baby Boomer and the Silent Generations wrestle with it continuously.

One recent experience of Ageism was a ZOOM meeting with an Alzheimer's Society representative and my friend Maxine Linnell where, as soon as he saw the colour of our hair he started to very condescendingly describe how we could switch the microphone on! I started using ZOOM when it was first released and suspect I knew more about it than him!

I want to #TalkAboutAgeism by asking us Baby Boomers, all the Silent Generation and the people who are and will support us to #AgeLoud, the strap line for the Amnesty International campaign launched 3 months ago.

Watch the Age Loud Video

So what do I want to be AgeLoud about?

Well so many things to raise, but I am just highlighting three.

Firstly, let's Age loud about those challenges we find as we age. I am loud and proud about using the word disabled for my hearing aids, my two knees that need replace and more other hip that has not been replaced. For me its not a description of weakness, its highlighting what I need to be able to live my best life. How can people create solutions if we are not open about what we need support with.

Secondly, let's Age Loud about our experiences and our ability to continue to work and contribute to Society. I started my first organisaton when I was 50 and my second when I was 59. The majority of my staff on the MindforYou specialist dementia holidays were over 60. The oldest was 75. I am currently collaborating with a serial entrepreneur who is in his 70's and is teaching me so much about how to approach the next exciting phase of Sargent Group Consulting . It's fantastic that St. Monica's have just announced a fund to employ people who are over 60, but isn't it sad that this is needed. Lets shout loud about our experience and use it to set up more businesses and organisations to support the Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation.

Lastly, lets Age Loud about how we want to grow old. Yesterday I read the independent report by Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham OM KBE PC FRS requested by Department of Health and Social Care and Keir Starmer 's labour government. Very sobering, many important things raised, but the one that struck me most was his comment about the lack of patient voices. Indeed those over the age of 78 are called the Silent Generation! Lets shout loud about what we need to be able to live our best lives as we navigate the ageing process. Adriane Berg Host Creator The Ageless Traveler Podcast and Blog and her establishment of the Ageless Traveler at the age of 75 is one of my role models who I have learnt a lot from. I am going to be spending my 60th year shouting about the solutions I can see to be able to grow old and live my best live with my family and friends.

Right now, I am focusing on supporting people living and diagnosed with dementia to be heard so people understand what they need and how this differs from their amazing family carers and the assumptions professionals and society makes.

So please support the many activists with and without dementia fighting for the protection of human rights in older age, by joining the Amnesty International movement today, Act Now

Take a listen to our latest guest, Jules Robinson , from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) on my all inclusive solutions podcast with my co-host Dr Tom Adler who explains why falls aren't just something that relates to older adults.

#InternationalDayofOlderPersons #OlderPersonsDay #AgeingWithDignity Ageism Is Never In Style? Silver Marketing Association UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing Centre for Ageing Better International Longevity Centre - UK

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