>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
>> GOOD MORNING!
>> IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME
YOU TODAY, ALL THE GUESTS HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING,
AND THOSE THAT ARE ONLINE TO
LIPSETT AMPHITHEATER AT NIH.
WE ARE SO DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU
HERE TODAY.
I'M DR. PATRICIA FLETCHER, AND
I'M HONORED TO BE THE PRINCIPAL
STRATEGIST FOR THE AGING
EMPLOYMENT PORTFOLIO, AND WE'RE
SO EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE.
TODAY WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE
JOINED TO CELEBRATE OLDER
AMERICANS MONTH, AND WITH
TREMENDOUS PRIDE, TO INTRODUCE A
NEW PROJECT WITH SIGNIFICANT
IMPORTANCE.
IT WILL FOCUS ON OLDER
EMPLOYEES, 40 AND OLDER.
AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE A
TRAILBLAZER IN THIS SPACE.
THE PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO
MAKING SURE THAT OLDER ADULTS OR
OLDER EMPLOYEES ARE WELL TAKEN
CARE OF, ARE TREATED WITH
RESPECT, AND WITH DIGNITY.
AND THE TOPICS YOU WILL HEAR
TODAY, WE WILL DISCOVER SOME NEW
AREAS FOR CONSIDERATION, AND
IT'S A TOPIC THAT'S REALLY DEAR
AND CLOSE TO MY HEART AS A
GERONTOLOGIST.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU.
LET'S BEGIN THE DAY BY
INTRODUCING THE ESTEEMED DEPUTY
AND INCLUSION DIRECTOR, DR. D
DR. DANNY DICKERSON.
>> THANK YOU, DR. FLETCHER.
APPRECIATE THAT.
GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO
EVERYONE.
TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR AND
PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING
MR. KEVIN WILLIAMS.
KEVIN WILLIAMS, ESQUIRE,
POSSESSES A LEGAL CAREER THAT
SPANS OVER 25 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE PRACTICING CIVIL
RIGHTS LAW.
CURRENTLY, KEVIN SERVES AS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
AS THE EDI DIRECTOR, KEVIN
DIRECTS THE TEAM IN THE
FULFILLMENT OF THE OFFICE'S
MISSION TO ESTABLISH AND
MAINTAIN A MODEL EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
AT THE NIH BY LEVERAGING THE
PILLARS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY,
INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY TO
ADVANCE HEALTH DISCOVERY.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE NIH, KEVIN
WORKED AT THE US FEDERAL TRADE
COMMISSION FOR 15 YEARS.
HOLDING THREE ROLES, AS AN
ATTORNEY ADVISOR IN THE OFFICE
OF EEO FOR TWO YEARS, AS THE EEO
DIRECTOR FOR 11 YEARS, AND AS
THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR TWO YEARS.
KEVIN BEGAN HIS LEGAL CAREER AS
A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY AT THE
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, WHERE HE
WORKED FOR EIGHT YEARS.
KEVIN EARNED HIS BACHELOR'S OF
ART IN POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE IN ATLANTA,
GEORGIA AND JURIS DOCTORATE FROM
HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
HE IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE
NEW JERSEY BAR, AND WE ARE SO
HAPPY TO HAVE MR. WILLIAMS HERE
TO LEAD US IN ALL THESE NEW
INITIATIVES ALONG WITH
DR. FLETCHER, SO SIT BACK AND BE
PREPARED FOR A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
MR. WILLIAMS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, DANNY, FOR THAT
INTRODUCTION, AND MANY THANKS TO
PATRICIA FLETCHER FOR ALL THE
HARD WORK THAT SHE HAS PUT INTO
LAUNCHING THIS NEW PORTFOLIO.
YOU WOULD THINK SHE HAD BEEN AT
THE NIH MUCH LONGER THAN SHE HAS
BEEN, BUT SINCE HER ARRIVAL, SHE
HAS TAKEN THE BULL BY THE HORNS
AND HAS LED THE WORK THAT IS SO
CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS
OFFICE.
MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE IN
ATTENDANCE FOR THIS MOMENTOUS
OCCASION, AND SPECIAL THANKS TO
OUR INVITED GUESTS FOR COMING TO
THE NIH.
IN THE TIME THAT IS MINE TODAY,
AND FOR ALL OF MY TEAM MEMBERS
WHO ARE NERVOUSLY WATCHING THEIR
CLOCKS BECAUSE THEY KNOW I HAVE
10 MINUTES, I PLACE PREPARED
REMARKS AT THE TOP OF MY INDEX
CARD SO THAT I CAN STAY ON TASK.
IN THE TIME THAT IS MINE TODAY,
I WANT TO ADDRESS THREE RELEVANT
QUESTIONS.
FIRST, WHY ANOTHER SPECIAL
EMPHASIS PROGRAM?
SECOND, WHY SHOULD IT FOCUS ON
AGING?
LASTLY, WHY NOW?
REGARDING THE FIRST QUESTION,
WHY ANOTHER SPECIAL EMPHASIS
PROGRAM?
I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
LEADS ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
BECAUSE WE HAVE A FULL TEAM OF
STRATEGISTS WHO ARE
LASER-FOCUSED ON SEVEN
COMMUNITIES.
WOMEN, BLACKS AND AFRICAN
AMERICANS, ASIAN AMERICANS,
NATIVE HAWAIIANS, AND PACIFIC
ISLANDERS, SEXUAL AND GENDER
MINORITIES, INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES, NATIVE AMERICANS,
HISPANICS AND LATINX, AND NOW,
AGING.
AS THE NIH'S OFFICE OF EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY, E.D.I.
IS REQUIRED BY EEOC REGULATIONS
TO HAVE SPECIAL EMPHASIS
PROGRAMS TO DRIVE AFFIRMATIVE
EMPLOYMENT.
REGARDING THE SECOND QUESTION,
WHY SHOULD IT FOCUS ON AGING,
GENERALLY SPEAKING, AMERICANS
ARE LIVING LONGER, AND MANY ARE
CHOOSING TO REMAIN IN THE
WORKPLACE.
INTERESTINGLY, OF THE 20,000
EMPLOYEES AT THE NIH, ALMOST
7,000 WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE
IN FIVE YEARS.
THIS REPRESENTS 37% OF THE NIH
WORKFORCE.
AND IF CURRENT STATISTICS HOLD,
THE MAJORITY OF THESE EMPLOYEES
WILL CHOOSE TO CONTINUE TO WORK
AT THE NIH.
THE NUMBER IS 77%, THAT'S A BIG
NUMBER, 77% OF THE NIH WORKFORCE
IS 40 YEARS OLD AND OLDER.
77%.
IN A RECENT REPORT BY THE EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
COMMISSION, THE DATA SHOW THAT E
THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED AGE
DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE.
AND 90% SAY IT IS COMMON.
AS THE NIH'S OFFICE OF EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY, E.D.I.
IS REQUIRED TO ENFORCE THE
FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS, WHICH
INCLUDES THE AGE DISCRIMINATION
AND EMPLOYMENT ACT, WHICH
CONGRESS PASSED IN 1967.
THE ADEA PROHIBITS
DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT
AGAINST EMPLOYEES AND APPLICANTS
FOR JOBS WHO ARE 40 YEARS OLD
AND OLDER.
THE REALITY IS THAT AGEISM IN
2024, MUCH LIKE RACISM, SEXISM,
HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA,
ANTISEMITISM, ISLAM PHOBIA,
XENOPHOBIA AND ABLEISM ARE ALIVE
AND WELL.
IN ADDITION, ALTHOUGH THE NIH IS
CIRCLED BY DATE AND PROTECTED BY
ARMED SECURITY, AGEISM DRIVES OR
WALKS THROUGH THOSE GATES EVERY
DAY.
THE NIH, LIKE EVERY OTHER
EMPLOYER, REFLECTS WHAT IS
OCCURRING ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
YOUTH IS MUCH MORE VALUABLE TO
MANY PEOPLE.
THE CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN AND THE MEDIA CIRCUS
THAT SURROUNDS IT GIVE VOICE TO
COMMENTS THAT A ARE AGEIST IN
ORIGIN.
A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE
CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF THE
PASSAGE OF THE ADEA, EXPERTS
TESTIFIED AT THE EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
COMMISSION THAT AGE
DISCRIMINATION REMAINS A
SIGNIFICANT AND COSTLY PROBLEM
FOR WORKERS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND
THE U.S. ECONOMY.
THE THIRD AND FINAL QUESTION IS,
WHY NOW?
NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE
DETERMINED THAT WE NEEDED A
STRATEGIST AND A SPECIAL
EMPHASIS PORTFOLIO WHO OVERSEES
THE EMPLOYMENT LIFECYCLE OF
NIHERS WHO ARE OLDER THAN 40.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED A
ROBUST SPECIAL EMPHASIS PROGRAM
THAT REMAINS DEDICATED TO
ENSURING EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN IMPORTANT
SEGMENT OF OUR NIH COMMUNITY.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, AND THERE IS
NO BETTER TIME THAN THE PRESENT
TO OFFICIALLY LAUNCH DURING
OLDER AMERICANS MONTH THE EIGHTH
EMPLOYMENT PORTFOLIO, WHICH WILL
FOCUS ON AGING.
IT WAS OUR VISION AND AS A
CHURCH KID, WHERE THERE IS A
VISION, THERE WILL BE PROVISION.
DR. PATRICIA FLETCHER IS A MAJOR
PART OF THAT PROVISION, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE GREAT
WORK THAT SHE WILL DO AT THE
NIH.
MY NEXT ASSIGNMENT IS
INTRODUCING JENNIFER CRAWLEY.
JENNIFER CRAWLEY IS THE DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGING.
SHE HAS 25 YEARS OF COMBINED
EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND THE PRIVATE HEALTHCARE
INDUSTRY.
HER AREAS OF EXPERTISE INCLUDE
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION,
POPULATION HEALTH, PATIENT
ADVOCACY, AND STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT.
BEFORE JOINING THE MARYLAND
DEPARTMENT OF AGING, DEPUTY
CRAWLEY WAS DIRECTOR OF THE
MULTI-SECTOR PLANNING FOR AGING.
SHE WAS THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING
ADMINISTRATOR FOR HOWARD COUNTY.
IN THIS ROLE, SHE OVERSAW
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR OLDER
ADULTS, CAREGIVERS, AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
INCLUDING ESTABLISHING AND
DIRECTING PANDEMIC RESPONSE
SERVICES, AND INITIATING HOWARD
COUNTY AGE FRIENDLY.
DEPUTY CRAWLEY'S ACHIEVEMENTS
ARE A TESTAMENT TO HER
CAPABILITIES AND DEDICATION TO
HER FIELD.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING A WARM
NIH WELCOME TO AGING DEPUTY
SECRETARY-GENERAL FER CRAWLEY.
SECRETARY JENNIFER CRAWLEY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. WILLIAMS.
WHAT A PLEASURE IT IS TO BE HERE
THIS MORNING, COMMEMORATING
OLDER AMERICANS MONTH, AND TO
ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS THAT
ACKNOWLEDGE THE GIFTS,
OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES
THAT EXIST WITH LIVING LONGER
LIVES.
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH OFFICE OF EQUITY,
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IS
LEADING THE WAY WITH THIS
HISTORIC LAUNCH OF THE AGING
EMPLOYMENT PORTFOLIO.
IN RECOGNITION, THAT AS AN
INSTITUTION, LEADER AND
EMPLOYER, LONGEVITY IS CHANGING
THE FACE, CULTURE, AND NORMS
WITHIN OUR SOCIETY.
INCLUDING OUR WORKPLACES.
THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGING
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF
SECRETARY CAR MEL ROAK AND UNDER
THE MOORE MILLER ADMINISTRATION
HAS SET OUT TO CENTER THE
WELL-BEING OF OLDER PEELED,
CAREGIVERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES
ACROSS ALL OF GOVERNMENT,
UTILIZING A LONGEVITY FRAMEWORK.
AS THE STATE UNIT ON AGING, WE
ARE ALSO LASER-FOCUSED ON
IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OLDER
PEOPLE TODAY, AND PLANNING FOR
THE LIVES OF OLDER PEOPLE
TOMORROW.
OUR VISION IS THAT ALL
MARYLANDERS WILL BE HEALTHY,
FINANCIALLY SECURE, CONNECTED,
AND PURPOSEFUL.
THE LONGEVITY READY MARYLAND
INITIATIVE IS A 10-YEAR
MULTI-SECTOR PLAN FOR AGING AS
MANDATED BY GOVERNOR MOORE'S
EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED EARLIER
THIS YEAR, IN JANUARY.
WE HAVE FOUR EPIC GOALS THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE AGING
EXPERIENCE AND TO HELP MARYLAND
COMMUNITIES THRIVE IN THE YEARS
TO COME.
THESE GOALS INCLUDE BUILDING A
LONGEVITY ECOSYSTEM THAT
CONNECTS SECTORS, SERVICES, AND
POLICIES TO COLLABORATIVELY
ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE,
PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
FOR AN AGE-INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE
THROUGH MULTIGENERATIONAL
EMPLOYMENT AND CONSUMER
PARTICIPATION, AND PREPARING
MARYLANDERS TO AFFORD LONGEVITY,
THROUGH IMPROVED ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTHCARE,
AND RETIREMENT PLANNING.
AND LASTLY, OPTIMIZING HEALTH,
WELLNESS, AND MOBILITY FOR ALL
AGES THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN
NUTRITION, HEALTH LITERACY,
OUTDOOR SPACES, PUBLIC HEALTH,
AND TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURES.
WITH LONGER AND HEALTHIER LIVES
THAN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS, THERE
ARE MANY, MANY POSSIBILITIES
THAT INFLUENCE THE WAY IN WHICH
WE LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND PLAY.
THE STANFORD CENTER FOR
LONGEVITY PROPOSES A NEW MAP OF
LIFE FOR THE 100-YEAR LIFESPAN,
OUTLINING NEW WAYS OF THINKING
ABOUT EDUCATION, PARENTHOOD, AND
CAREERS DURING YOUTH, MIDDLE
ADULTHOOD, AND IN LATER YEARS OF
LIFE.
I WON'T GO INTO EACH COMPONENT
OF THE NEW MAP.
I CERTAINLY DO STRESS, PLEASE
CHECK IT OUT.
IT VERY MUCH WORTH THE READ AND
WORTH APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES,
BUT I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
NEW MAP EMPHASIZES A SHIFT FROM
A DEFICIT MINDSET AROUND AGING
THAT IS CENTERED ON LOSSES TO
ONE THAT IS GENERATIVE, AND
FOCUSES ON THE VALUE AND
CONTRIBUTIONS OF OLDER ADULTS.
THE NEW MAP ALSO IDENTIFIES THAT
HEALTHY LONGEVITY REQUIRES
INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH AT
EVERY LIFE STAGE.
I CAN'T EMPHASIZE THAT ENOUGH.
EVERY LIFE STAGE, WE HAVE TO
MAKE INTENTIONAL INVESTMENTS.
NOTING ESPECIALLY, WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES IN
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE DECREASED
HEALTHSPANS DUE TO HISTORIC
DISINVESTMENT, AND FOR TODAY'S
DISCUSSION, THE NEW MAP SUGGESTS
WORKING MORE YEARS, BUT WITH
MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE
WORKPLACE, SUCH AS PAID AND
UNPAID INTERVALS FOR CAREGIVING,
HEALTH NEEDS, LIFELONG LEARNING,
AND OTHER TRANSITIONS THAT ARE
EXPECTED OVER CENTURY-LONG
LIVES.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, AS NOTED
BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF
MEDICINE'S 2022 GLOBAL ROAD MAP
FOR HEALTHY LONGEVITY REPORT, WE
MUST CONSIDER AND RAISE
AWARENESS OF THE MAJOR
DISRUPTORS TO HEALTHY LONGEVITY
THAT INCLUDE AGEISM, DISEASE,
POVERTY, POLLUTION, AND
INEQUITY.
SO TODAY'S THEME OF INTENTION
AND AGE-INCLUSIVITY HELPS TO SET
THE STAGE TO EXPLORE HOW THESE
DISRUPT TDISRUPTORS OF HEALTHY Y
EXIST AND WHAT NEW WAYS OF
THINKING AND DOING ARE NEEDED TO
COMBAT THEM.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE MUST
RECOGNIZE, AGING IS NOT ABOUT
OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT IT'S ABOUT US, EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF US.
AGEISM IS THE ONE FORM OF
DISCRIMINATION THAT IMPACTS US
ALL.
AGEISM IS EVERYWHERE, IT IS
HARMFUL, AND TOGETHER, THROUGH
ACTIONS LIKE TODAY, WE CAN
COLLECTIVELY COMBAT IT.
SO HOW DO WE DO THAT?
TO SUCCESSFULLY COMBAT AGEISM,
WE MUST APPLY A LONGEVITY
FRAMEWORK, BROADENING OUR
PERSPECTIVES, REFRAMING THE
AGING NARRATIVE, AND
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT LAST CENTURY
POLICIES, PLANNING, LEGISLATION,
AND ADVOCACY DO NOT BEGIN TO
ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED TO'S OR
TOMORROW'S LONGER LIVES.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO TRANSFORM
INSTITUTIONS, SYSTEMS AND NORMS
BECAUSE WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO DO
THE SAME THING AND EXPECT
DIFFERENT AND BETTER OUTCOMES.
SO TODAY'S FIRESIDE CHAT,
BRINGING TOGETHER A COMMUNITY OF
EMPLOYEES AND EXPERTS, AND
LAUNCHING THIS HISTORIC AGING
EMPLOYMENT PORTFOLIO IS EXACTLY
THE INNOVATION AND COLLECTIVE
EFFORT REQUIRED TO DISRUPT THE
STATUS QUO, APPLY NEW
PERSPECTIVES, AND TO HARNESS THE
POWER OF INTENTION AND AGE
INCLUSIVITY.
I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT TODAY
HOLDS, AND THE MOVEMENT AFOOT
THAT IS BEING STARTED TODAY,
THAT IS CREATING A SOCIETY THAT
SUPPORTS AND CELEBRATES LONGER
AND HEALTHIER LIVES.
SO THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'LL MOVE NEXT TO
THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY
OF AGING COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY
BUT SENT A MESSAGE.
AND WE'LL HEAR IT AT THIS TIME.
>> TODAY, MORE THAN 55 MILLION
PEOPLE LIVING IN THE UNITED
STATES ARE 65 YEARS OR OLDER.
THEY REPRESENT OVER 16% OF OUR
COUNTRY'S POPULATION.
AND THEIR NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE
TO GROW RAPIDLY OVER THE NEXT 30
YEARS.
THIS DEMOGRAPHIC TREND IS
MIRRORED AROUND THE GLOBE, AND
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY,
OLDER ADULTS OUTNUMBER CHILDREN
IN MANY COUNTRIES.
IN ADDITION, PEOPLE ARE LIVING
LONGER, BETWEEN 2022 AND 2040,
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
85 OR OLDER WILL MORE THAN
DOUBLE.
THIS TREND GIVES US MUCH TO
CELEBRATE, AS OLDER ADULTS
CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SOCIETY IN
COUNTLESS WAYS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE AGING OF
OUR POPULATION WILL CREATE
CHALLENGES.
WITH THOUGHTFUL INTENTIONAL
PLANNING AND ACTION, AT AND
ACROSS EVERY LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT, ACROSS INDUSTRY,
PHILANTHROPY AND ACADEMIA, AND
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OLDER
ADULTS, WE CAN ADDRESS THESE
CHALLENGES.
WE CAN IMPROVE THE AGING
EXPERIENCE FOR THE OLDER ADULTS
OF TODAY AND TOMORROW, AND
CREATE AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES
THAT APPRECIATE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF OLDER ADULTS,
SUSTAIN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AT
ALL AGES, RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT
FAMILY CAREGIVERS, AND VALUE AND
REWARD THE WORKER PROFESSIONALS
WHO PROVIDE IN-HOME CARE.
THE INTERAGENCY COORDINATING
COMMITTEE ON HEALTHY AGING AND
AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES, ICC,
IS LEADING THIS CHARGE AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL.
AUTHORIZED BY THE OLDER
AMERICANS ACT AND LED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY
LIVING, THE ICC WAS FUNDED IN
FISCAL YEAR 2023, AND IS CHARGED
WITH FOSTERING FEDERAL
INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION TO
DEVELOP A NATIONAL SET OF
RECOMMENDATIONS ON KEY AGING
ISSUES.
THE FIRST STEP IN THIS PROCESS
IS THE CREATION OF A STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK FOR A NATIONAL PLAN ON
AGING, A VISION-SETTING DOCUMENT
TO RAISE AWARENESS ON KEY AGING
ISSUES, AND OUTLINE GOALS FOR
SUPPORTING THE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF OLDER ADULTS.
THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK ALSO
SEEKS TO BREAK THE PATTERNS OF
AGEISM AND ABLEISM THAT SERVE AS
PREVENTABLE BARRIERS TO OLDER
ADULTS THRIVING IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
IT IS INTENDED TO SPARK DIALOGUE
AND INNOVATION, AND PROVIDE A
FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPING A
NATIONAL PLAN ON AGING FOR
SYSTEMS CHANGE, TO ENSURE THAT
ALL AMERICANS CAN AGE WELL AND
THRIVE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.
THE FRAMEWORK WILL BE RELEASED
THIS MONTH, WHICH IS OLDER
AMERICANS MONTH.
THE NEXT STEP WILL BE TO DEVELOP
THE NATIONAL PLAN ON AGING.
A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE PLAN
THAT WILL REFLECT AND ELEVATE
EXISTING GLOBAL, FEDERAL, STATE
AND LOCAL EFFORTS SEEKS TO
SUPPORT OLDER ADULTS IN
COMMUNITIES THAT RESPECT AND
INCLUDE THEM AND ARE DESIGNED TO
ENCOURAGE HEALTH, WELL-BEING,
ENGAGEMENT AND CONNECTION.
EXAMPLES INCLUDE, ESTABLISH
AGE-FRIENDLY STANDARDS AND
DESIGNATIONS IN VARIOUS SECTORS.
FOR EXAMPLE, HEALTHCARE, URBAN
PLANNING, COMMUNITY SPACES.
SCALE FLEXIBLE WORK AND
EDUCATION MODELS, AND PREVENT
AGE DISCRIMINATION IN THE
WORKPLACE, TO INCREASE INCLUSION
AND PROMOTE INTERGENERATIONAL
EXCHANGE.
ENHANCE LIFELONG LEARNING AND
VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AND LINK
ENGAGEMENT TO RELEVANT COMMUNITY
PRIORITIES.
THE ICC WILL CONSIDER FEDERAL
RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIONS TO
EXPAND UPON EXISTING EFFORTS AND
TO INNOVATIVELY ADDRESS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH RELATED
TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
AGE-FRIENDLY WORKPLACES AS A KEY
COMPONENT OF AGE-FRIENDLY
COMMUNITIES.
THE WORK YOU ARE EMBARKING ON
PROVIDES A MODEL WITHIN FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO ELEVATE THE AGING
OF THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE,
FACILITATE DISCUSSIONS AROUND
AGEISM IN THE WORKPLACE, AND
INFORM THE NATIONAL PLAN ON
AGING.
>> WE WANT TO THANK THE DEPUTY
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR THAT
MESSAGE, AND RIGHT NOW WE'LL
MOVE RIGHT INTO THE PROGRAM.
AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S
CALLED AGE INCLUSIVITY.
AND THIS DEVELOPS A FRAMEWORK OF
WHICH WE WILL CREATE A MODEL OF
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE LEADING
AGENCIES IN THE SPACE, AND WE'RE
DELIGHTED TO HAVE OUR
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS WITH US.
WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO
PRESENTATIONS BY EACH.
WE'LL EXAM IP EXAMINE THE GLOBT
OF AGING, WE'LL MOVE INTO
REFRAMING HOW WE TALK ABOUT
AGING, THE GLOBAL INITIATIVE ON
AGEISM STUDY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT,
AND THEN WE'LL SEE HOW THE WORK
SPACE LOOKS IN AGING.
FIRST WE'LL HEAR FROM THE
EXPERTS, AND AFTER WE HEAR FROM
THE EXPERTS, THEN WE'LL MOVE
INTO A FIRESIDE CHAT.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER AND ASK
QUESTIONS.
FOR THOSE IN LINE, YOU CAN POST
YOUR QUESTIONS ONLINE.
SO RIGHT NOW LET'S LISTEN TO THE
FIRST INTRODUCTION OF OUR
SPEAKER.
>> ENSURING THE PROTECTION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS IS CRUCIAL FOR
PROMOTING WELL-BEING, JUSTICE
AND DIGNITY FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS.
TODAY WE'RE HONORED TO INTRODUCE
OUR SPEAKER.
AS A GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL
WORKER WITH OVER 40 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE, SHE HAS BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL IN IMPROVING THE
LIVES OF OLDER INDIVIDUALS, AND
ADDRESSING THE LIFELONG
INEQUITIES THEY FACE.
HER EXPERTISE IN POLICY,
PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION HAS
BEEN SIGNIFICANT.
SHE HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE
FROM VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY, A
MASTER'S DEGREE FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, AND A
DOCTORATE FROM COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL
WORK.
SHE HAS ALSO SERVED AS PAST
CHAIR OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY ON
AGING AND IS A LEADER OF AGING
ORGANIZATIONS.
HER INSIGHTS, GAINED FROM A
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON AGING, ARE
INVALUABLE.
PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO
THE PAST CHAIR OF THE NGO
COMMITTEE ON AGING NEW YORK AND
THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION ON
AGEING, DR. CYNTHIA STUEN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S A REAL HONOR AND A
PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY WITH
YOU AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES
OF HEALTH, AND PARTICULARLY
LAUNCHING THIS VERY IMPORTANT
PROGRAM ON EDIA.
REALLY, CONGRATULATE YOU ALL ON
THIS WORK.
AS I LOOKED OVER THE 27
INSTITUTES, CENTERS, HERE AT THE
NIH, I REFLECTED ON THE FACT,
THERE IS NOT ONE OF THEM THAT
DOESN'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE
FUTURE OF AGING.
AND I CHALLENGE YOU TODAY TO IN
EACH OF YOUR CENTERS AND
INSTITUTES THAT YOU REPRESENT,
TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND ITS
IMPACT, POSITIVE IMPACT THAT IT
CAN HAVE ON THE LIVES OF OLDER
PERSONS.
NOW, YOU MIGHT ALL HAVE SAID,
WELL, OF COURSE SHE'LL TALK
ABOUT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON
AGING, ONLY ONE OF 27, BUT IT IS
SPECIAL TO ME BECAUSE I
PERSONALLY KNEW DR. ROBERT
BUTLER, AND WE WERE PLEASED TO
GET HIM TO NEW YORK AFTER HE
LEFT THE NIA.
BUT IT'S DUE TO ROB BUTLER THAT
HIS SEMINAL -- I THINK IT WAS A
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING BOOK,
"WHY SURVIVE?
BEING OLD IN AMERICA," IN 1969,
TRULY THE FORESIGHT OF WHAT
WE'RE SEEING PLAY OUT TODAY.
SO, YOU MIGHT ALSO SAY, WELL,
SERIOUSLY, SERIOUSLY, DOES CHILD
HEALTH HAVE ANYTHING TO DO?
YOU BET IT DOES.
A CHILD BEING BORN TODAY IS
EXPECTED TO LIVE TO BE A
HUNDRED, AND THE BETTER WE TAKE
CARE OF THAT CHILD AS AN INFANT,
GROWING AND THRIVING, THE BETTER
OFF WE WILL BE WHEN THEY REACH
100.
SO IT IS A LIFE COURSE
PERSPECTIVE THAT I'M HERE TO
TALK ABOUT.
IT'S JUST NOT ABOUT AGING.
I ALSO MIGHT ADD, THERE'S A
LITTLE STORY AT THE UNITED
NATIONS.
FOR YEARS WE DIDN'T COLLECT DATA
ON WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 49.
WHY?
DEEMED BEYOND REPRODUCTIVE
YEARS.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE MANY COHORTS
OF WOMEN THAT EXIST -- THAT DID
NOT HAVE DATA COLLECTED ABOUT
THEM, THEIR WORK, THEIR HEALTH,
ET CETERA.
BUT IT'S REALLY A VERY IMPORTANT
AREA, AND I KNOW AS ALREADY THE
STAGE HAS BEEN SET THAT THERE
ARE DISCREPANCIES ACROSS THE
LIFECYCLE, AND I WILL SAY ALL OF
US WHO ARE NOT IN THE
MAINSTREAM, MEANING MALE IN
WHATEVER, AND THERE, TOO, IS THE
DISCRIMINATION THAT HAS CREATED
A HIERARCHY.
BUT CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THE
NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE, I SPENT
24 YEARS WORKING IN THE FIELD OF
VISION, AND HEARING AND HEARING
LOSS, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
AND HOW CAN YOU NOT EVEN THINK
ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF CANCER, AND
INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ALCOHOL, ET
CETERA.
THEY'RE ALL, ALL CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT.
SO AS WE TAKE THIS LIFE COURSE
PERSPECTIVE, WE WANT A HEALTHIER
ONE FOR ALL AGES.
AFTER ALL, WE ARE IN THE DECADE
OF HEALTHY AGING.
SO EVERY GERONTOLOGIST CANNOT
START A LECTURE WITHOUT SOME
SLIDES.
I'M JUST GOING TO FOCUS, BECAUSE
WE ARE HERE IN THE U.S. AT THE
NATIONAL INS TEUNATIONAL INSTIT,
JUST LOOKING AND WHAT'S
HAPPENING.
I WILL TELL YOU IS THIS PLAYS
OUT GLOBALLY.
CERTAINLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
HERE PLAYS OUT IN DEVELOPED
COUNTRY.
COUNTRIES.
IN LESS DEVELOPING COUNTRIES,
EVEN IF THEIR POPULATION OF
OLDER PEOPLE COMPRISES -- IT'S
EXPECTED TO DOUBLE BY 2050.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS
JUST AHEAD OF THE GAME THAT'S
HAPPENING GLOBALLY.
SO THIS IS A SLIDE, THE U.S.
POPULATION PYRAMID IN 1900.
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD PYRAMID,
RIGHT?
ALSO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ON
THIS SLIDE, THAT PEOPLE AGED
65 AND OLDER WERE ALL AGGREGATED
AT THE TOP.
THEY DID NOT YET DISAGGREGATE
DATA.
PROBABLY BECAUSE THE LIFE
EXPECTANCY IN 1900, 47 YEARS
OLD.
MAKES YOUR POPULATION HERE, THE
LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE
INSTITUTES' EMPLOYEES ARE OVER
40, WAS IT?
YEAH.
SIT UP AND LISTEN, RIGHT?
IT'S BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS STORY.
BUT LAST WEEK, I WAS -- BEFORE I
GET TO -- LAST WEEK I WAS
LISTENING TO ANDREW SCOTT'S
LECTURE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY.
AND SE'S AN ECONOMICS PROFESSOR
AT LONDON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.
HIS FAVORITE BOOK OF MINE WAS
THE HUNDRED-YEAR LIFE, LIVING
AND WORKING IN THE AGE OF
LONGEVITY.
AND JUST OUT LAST MONTH IS THE
LONGEVITY IMPERATIVE, BUILDING A
BETTER SOCIETY FOR HEALTHIER,
LONGER LIVES.
BUT HE SHARED WITH ME, SHARED
WITH HIS AUDIENCE IN THAT WHEN
HE STARTS HIS CLASSES IN
ECONOMICS OF, YOU KNOW, GLOBAL
ECONOMICS, HE ASKS HIS STUDENTS,
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR TRENDS
AFFECTING US TODAY?
HE SAID, ALMOST UNIVERSALLY,
THEY ARE CLIMATE CHANGE, AND
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
SO THEN HE GOES ABOUT
INTRODUCING THE DEMOGRAPHIC
DIVIDEND, AND THEY SOON -- I
HOPE I CONVINCE YOU ABOUT IT
TOO.
BUT ANYWAY, HERE WE'RE LOOKING
AT A POPULATION PYRAMID, JUST
COMPARING 2010 AND 2020.
OKAY?
AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THIS
ONE IS IN 2020, THE BEGINNING
BABY BOOMERS BORN STARTING IN
1946, SO THAT'S YOUR MID CYCLE
ON THE LEFT, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU
HAVE A POINTER BUT IT DOESN'T
MATTER, YOU'LL SEE THEM, AND
THEN YOU CAN WATCH THEIR BULGE
AS THEY -- WELL, IN 2010, THE
FIRST GROUP OF BABY BOOMERS BORN
STARTING IN 1946 ARE NOW IN
THEIR EARLY 50s.
OKAY?
AND THEN -- SO THE 40s, A LOT
MORE MOVING UP, AND YOU CAN SORT
OF TRACK IT AS YOU MOVE ACROSS
TO 2010, THAT BULGE OF BABY
BOOMERS MOVES UP, AND AGAIN,
EVEN HIGHER, AND THE TOP HERE
DISAGGREGATION IN BOTH IS FOR
CENTENARIANS.
BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY CAN'T SEE
THAT ON THIS SLIDE.
BUT ANYWAY, VERY, VERY TELLING.
THEN JUST A QUICK COMPARISON
FROM 1960 TO THE PROJECTIONS OF
2060, WOW!
LOOK AT THE RECTANGULARRIZATION
OF THAT PYRAMID.
SO I REALLY THINK THAT YOU
RECOGNIZE THE MEGA TREND THAT IS
HAPPENING HERE IN THE U.S. AND
GLOBALLY.
NOT TO DIMINISH THE FACT THAT
CLIMATE CHANGE AND A.I. AND MANY
OTHER TRENDS, BUT I THINK WHAT
IT ALSO SAYS IS THAT WE ALSO
HAVE -- WE NEED A MAJOR PARADIGM
SHIFT IN HOW WE THINK OF THE OLD
TRADITIONAL YOU'RE BORN, YOU GO
THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, ET
CETERA, AND THEN YOU WORK, AND
THEN YOU RETIRE.
THATTHAT AGE STRUCTURE IS NOT
MEANINGFUL ANYMORE.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO
RESTRUCTURE AND THINK ABOUT THE
FACT THAT OLDER PERSONS CAUGHT
IN THIS LIVING SO MUCH LONGER,
MYSELF INCLUDED, MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO AFFORD TO RETIRE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE OTHER
DISABLING CONDITIONS, AND THEY
NEED TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE
WORKPLACE.
IN FACT, I WAS JUST SPEAKING
WITH DAVID RICE BEFORE AND
SAYING, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBILITY
IS WHAT REALLY COMES IN HERE,
BECAUSE FOR AN OLDER PERSON WHO
DIDN'T EVEN GROW UP WITH A
COMPUTER WHEN THEY STARTED THEIR
CAREER, THE FIRST TIME I USED A
COMPUTER WAS DURING MY PH.D. IN
THE MID 70s TO TYPE A
DISSERTATION.
IT'S AMAZING, THE KIND OF CHANGE
THAT HAS OCCURRED.
SO OLDER PERSONS ARE
DISADVANTAGED IF THEY DON'T HAVE
THE LIFELONG LEARNING, THE
CHANGING, THE UPGRADING OF
SKILLS, JUST AS ANYBODY WHO'S
YOUNGER, I KNOW IN THE TECH
WORLD, THEY SAY THREE TO FIVE
YEARS, YOU HAVE TO RETOOL, THE
TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING THAT
QUICKLY.
BUT LET'S BACK UP TO SOME
HISTORY AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
THE U.N.
THE U.N. WAS FORMED IN 1945.
IT WAS AT THE END OF WORLD WAR
II, AND LET THERE NEVER BE
ANOTHER WAR LIKE THAT.
WELL SADLY TO SAY WE HAVEN'T
QUITE ACCOMPLISHED THAT BUT IT'S
HOPEFULLY AT LEAST SOME PLACE
THAT ALL THE COUNTRIES CAN COME
TOGETHER, AND I STILL BELIEVE IN
ITS WORK.
BUT THREE YEARS LATER, IN 1948,
IT ADOPTED THE UNIVERSAL
DECLARATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS.
I WANT TO READ TO YOU FROM THAT
ORIGINAL DECLARATION.
IT STATES THAT ALL PERSONS, THAT
ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE ENTITLED TO
ALL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS SET
FORTH WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE,
COLOR, SEX, LANGUAGE, POLITICAL,
OR OTHER OPINION, NATIONAL EYE
SOCIAL ORIGIN, PROPERTY, BIRTH
OR OTHER STATUS.
END QUOTE.
YOU SEE WHAT'S MISSING?
AGE ISN'T EVEN RECOGNIZED.
OF COURSE THINK ABOUT IT IN THE
MID, YOU KNOW, IN 1948, OUR
LONGEVITY HAD INCREASED A LITTLE
SINCE 1900.
IT WAS IN THE EARLY 50s.
OR MAYBE EVEN APPROACHING 60.
BUT WE HAVE FALLEN OFF.
BY THE WAY, I'LL BE REFERRING TO
A CONVENTION WHICH IS UN-ESE FOR
A LEGALLY BINDING INSTRUMENT
THAT HAS TO BE PASSED BY THE
U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THEN
RETURNS TO EACH MEMBER STATE FOR
RATIFICATION, AND IF IT'S
RATIFIED BY THAT MEMBER STATE,
THEN IT IS SUBJECT TO MONITORING
BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
BUT SINCE 1948, WHEN THE
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION WAS
PASSED, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER
CONVENTIONS TO RECOGNIZE AND
PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD,
THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, THE MOST
RECENT, THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES.
BY THE WAY, IT WAS MODELED ON
OUR OWN AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT, BUT I MIGHT
SAY, THE U.S. HAS NEVER RATIFIED
IT, NOR THE ONE ON WOMEN, BUT
ANYWAY, THAT'S FOR ANOTHER DAY.
SO BY 2010, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE U.N. HAD BEEN GETTING
ENOUGH PRESSURE TO SAY, MAYBE WE
NEED TO LOOK AT AND PROTECTING
BETTER THE RIGHTS OF OLDER
PERSONS.
THEY ESTABLISHED WHAT THEY CALL
THE OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP ON
AGING, AND IT HAS BEEN MEETING
EVERY YEAR SINCE 2010.
WE'RE GOING INTO THE 14TH
MEETING IN TWO WEEKS AT THE U.N.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, THERE'S
BEEN -- THE PAST YEARS HAVE BEEN
AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE
PRESENTED, SHOWING THE
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST OLDER
PERSONS BASED ON THEIR AGE.
SO THAT COMES FROM STATEMENTS BY
THE MEMBER STATES THEMSELVES,
INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES,
FROM THE NGO COMMUNITY, OTHER
CIVIL SOCIETY, AS WELL AS THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HUMAN
RIGHTS, NHRI, NATIONAL HUMAN
RIGHTS INSTITUTE, I SHOULD SAY.
ALMOST 900 DOCUMENTS HAVE
SUBMITTED, ALL OF THEM CALLING
FOR ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR
OLDER PERSONS.
SO THE OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP
A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO STARTED
LOOKING AT PARTICULAR NORMATIVE
ELEMENTS OF AGING, AND WE HAVE
COVERED THE BALLPARK.
AS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES LIKES TO
SAY, IT'S BEEN A GERONTOLOGY 101
COURSE.
BUT IT HAS COVERED TOPICS OF
EQUALITY, AGE DISCRIMINATION,
NEGLECT, VIOLENCE AND ABUSE,
AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE, LONG
TERM AND PALLIATIVE CARE,
EDUCATION, LIFELONG LEARNING,
THE RIGHT TO WORK, ACCESS TO
JUSTICE, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND
OLDER PERSONS CONTRIBUTIONS TO
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
SO THE LAST TWO COMING UP IN TWO
WEEKS ARE, ACCESSIBILITY
INFRASTRUCTURE AND HABITAT, AND
PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC LIFE AND
IN DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES.
AND I HARKEN BACK TO WHEN THE
CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES PASSED, THE
MODEL THEY USED WAS, NOTHING
ABOUT US WITHOUT US.
AND I THINK IT'S AS EQUALLY TRUE
FOR ALL OF US AGING PEOPLE TODAY
AND FOR FUTURE AGING PERSONS.
ALSO, IN THIS PROCESS STARTING
10 YEARS AGO, THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION AESTABLISHED AN
INDEPENDENT EXPERT TO LOOK AT
PROTECTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF
OLDER PERSONS.
AND SHE, IN THIS CASE IT'S BOTH
OF THEM HAVE BEEN WOMEN SERVING
IN THAT CAPACITY, HAVE PRODUCED
ENORMOUS NUMBER OF REPORTS, OVER
29, THAT HAVE DOCUMENTED THE
GAPS IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF
OLDER PERSONS, IN ADDITION TO
THE OFFICE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION BY ITS OWN REPORTS,
AND I PERSONALLY MET AND TALKED
WITH THE HIGH COMMISSIONER ON
HUMAN RIGHTS, WHO SAID I SUPPORT
YOU, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A
CONVENTION ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS.
SO, WHY HASN'T IT PASSED?
WELL, IT'S AGEISM AT ITS WORST.
THE AGE -- I WILL SAY, IT ALSO
HAS TO DO WITH, RIGHT NOW,
POLITICAL WILL, AND THAT'S
UNIVERSAL.
BECAUSE DECISION-MAKERS DO HAVE
THE POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE,
IT'S THE CHOICE THEY MAKE NOT
TO.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE ALL COME IN
AND I'LL GET TO THAT IN A
MOMENT.
BUT BASING DISCRIMINATION ON AGE
REALLY MARGINALIZES AND DENIES
THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF AN
OLDER PERSON.
AND NOT TO BE A POLLYANNA
STUDYING THIS FIELD THE WHOLE
TIME, BUT AS WE AGE,
PARTICULARLY THE COHORTS TODAY,
SUBJECT TO A LOT OF THINGS WE
DIDN'T KNOW, THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
ISSUES, MAYBE WE KNEW ABOUT
THEM, BUT THEY MAYBE WEREN'T AS
PROFOUND BECAUSE WE WEREN'T
LIVING AS LONG, RIGHT, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT HAVE
CREATED MANY HEALTH ISSUES, ET
CETERA.
BUT ANYWAY, I THINK OLDER WOMEN,
PARTICULARLY WHETHER YOU'RE IN A
DEVELOPED OR A DEVELOPING
COUNTRY, ARE AT GREATER RISK
ACROSS THE LIFESPAN.
AND AS MENTIONED BEFORE, SO
ELOQUENTLY BY THE SPEAKERS, IS
I'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE
CONCEPT OF AGEISM FOR THE VERY
REASONS YOU ARTICULATED TODAY
EARLIER, AND THAT IS, IT'S NOT
ONE YOU GET TO CHOOSE.
RIGHT?
I MEAN, REALLY.
THE ALTERNATIVE IS YOU CAN DIE
YOUNG.
I'VE NEVER MET A PERSON WHO SAID
I WANT TO DIE YOUNG, I DON'T
WANT TO GET OLD.
WELL, IT'S ONE OF THOSI THOSIS E
ISMS -- I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
GROW OLD BUT THE DIFFERENTIAL
VULNERABILITIES ARE CUMULATIVE
ACROSS THE LIFESPAN.
VERY CUMULATIVE.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY
TAKE NOTE OF THAT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, I'M A CHEERLEADER
FOR A CONVENTION, BUT I'M NOT
DOING THAT IN A VACUUM, BUT I DO
THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY THE
CORRECT AND RIGHT THING TO DO AT
THIS POINT IN TIME.
HAVING BEEN INVOLVED AT THE U.N.
SINCE 2012, I HAVE SEEN A
PROGRESSION, BUT AS I WAS
INVOLVED IN LOOKING AT
PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND
PARTICULARLY FOR OLDER WOMEN, I
MET WITH THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH
COMMISSIONER IN NEW YORK, WHO
SAID TO ME TWO THINGS.
I SAID TO HIM -- AT THE TIME,
IT'S CRAIG MCKEIBER, I SAID,
CRAIG, WHAT CAN WE DO HERE IN
THE U.S.?
HE SAID, ONE, YOU CAN GET THE
U.S. TO ACTUALLY TAKE LEADERSHIP
ON DOING THIS, AND THE SECOND
THING HE TOLD ME IS, OLDER
PERSONS ARE TOO POLITE.
YOU NEED TO MAKE SOME NOISE.
SO I'VE BEEN DOING BOTH, RIGHT?
ANYWAY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED THEN WAS --
AND HE TOLD ME THIS BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC HIT.
SO WE'RE GETTING OUR DUCKS IN A
ROW AND TRYING TO INFLUENCE, AND
THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND WE ALL
UNDERSTOOD, LIFE STOPPED, THINGS
CHANGED AND WE GOT BEHIND.
BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
PANDEMIC WAS THE EARLY DAYS,
BEFORE WE EVEN HAD THIS TRIAGING
OF EQUIPMENT, VENTILATORS,
INADEQUATE PPE FOR PEOPLE BEING
SERVED AS OLDER PERSONS, AND
HERE I'M TALKING GLOBALLY, BUT
IT HAPPENED HERE IN THE U.S.
WHEN WE GOT THE VACCINES, SOME
COUNTRIES, NOT OURS, BUT SOME
COUNTRIES ACTUALLY TRIAGED OLDER
PERSONS TO BE THE BACK OF THE
LINE, RIGHT?
AH, YOU'RE OLD ANYWAY, YOU'RE
GOING TO DIE.
YOU KNOW, AGE ALONE SHOULD NEVER
BE A CRITERIA.
BUT -- CRITERION.
BUT ANYWAY, THERE ARE OTHER
ISSUES, AND WE SAW SOME HORRIFIC
THINGS HAPPEN IN LONG-TERM CARE
INSTITUTIONS WITH NOT HAVING
AVAILABLE PPE FOR THE WORKERS,
AS WELL AS ONE THING THAT CAME
OUT OF THE COVID WAS THE
ISOLATIONISM OF OLDER PERSONS.
AND THAT IS TRULY, I THINK, A
PHENOMENON, IF WE WERE LIKE
ENGLAND, U.K., THEY ACTUALLY
HAVE, AT THE HIGH LEVEL, A
DIRECTOR OF AVOIDING ISOLATION
AND CREATING PROGRAMS TO TRY AND
IMPROVE THAT.
SO ANYWAY, BUT SECOND GENERAL
GUTIERREZ SAID, THE PANDEMIC
SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A STRESS
TEST MEASURING HOW PREPARED
MEMBER STATES ARE FOR AN AGING
SOCIETY.
AND THAT COULD NOT BE MORE TRUE.
I THOUGHT, OUT OF THIS HORRIBLE
PANDEMIC WE'RE EXPERIENCING, IFF
SOMETHING GOOD CAN COME OUT OF
IT, THE OPEN ENDED WORKING GROUP
IS GOING TO SIT UP AND TAKE
NOTICE AND SAY IT'S TIME, WE
NEED TO PROTECT OLDER PERSONS.
WELL, THEY COULD BARELY GET A
QUORUM FOR THE TWO YEARS OF THE
HEIGHT OF COVID.
THAT, TO ME, SAID, OH, DEAR,
THIS IS NEVER GOING TO GO.
SO WE'VE REALLY -- THERE'S A
GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE RIGHTS
OF OLDER PERSONS, WHERE EACH
ORGANIZATION, NGO, ANYBODY CAN
BE A MEMBER OF IT, THAT WE HAVE
DECIDED TO GET A PETITION GOING
GLOBALLY, AND THAT IS YOUR
CHALLENGE TODAY.
I DON'T MEAN ON BEHALF OF YOUR
INSTITUTE OR CENTER, ALTHOUGH
YOU'RE VERY WELCOME TO DO THAT,
BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE RULES
ABOUT WHAT YOU COME OUT AND
SIGN, ET CETERA.
BUT EACH INDIVIDUAL.
AND WE THE PEOPLE MAY SIGN
ANYTHING AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AND
THAT'S WHAT I'M URGING YOU TO
DO.
FOR MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION,
VISIT THE WEBSITE, FOR THE
GLOBAL -- THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE
FOR THE RIGHTS OF OLDER PEOPLE,
LOTS OF WORK HAS BEEN GOING ON
THERE.
WE HAVE AN AGE WITH RIGHTS
CAMPAIGN, OR YOU CAN TAKE OUT
YOUR PHONE AND JUST CLICK ON IT
RIGHT TODAY, BUT THE PETITION IS
ON THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE
RIGHTS OF OLDER PERSONS.
LASTLY, I WILL SAY, THE MOTTO OF
THE U.N. IS, THINK GLOBALLY, ACT
LOCALLY.
YOU AND I HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE FOR THE CURRENT
GENERATIONS AND FOR THE ONES TO
COME.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AGEISM CAN SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPACT A PERSON'S OVERALL
HEALTH, INCLUDING THEIR
PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL
WELL-BEING.
TO COUNTER THIS IMPACT, THE
GLOBAL REPORT ON AGEISM HAS
PROPOSED A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION,
WHICH INCLUDE SPECIFIC
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTING
AND COUNTERING IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AN
EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL THERAPIST
WITH OVER 17 YEARS OF CLINICAL
PRACTICE AND RESEARCH ON AGING.
SHE WILL DISCUSS THE REPORT AND
ITS SUGGESTIONS FOR VARIOUS
ENTITIES, SUCH AS GOVERNMENTS,
U.N. AGENCIES, AND CIVIL
SOCIETY.
SHE HOLDS A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
IN PUBLIC HEALTH, A MASTER OF
ARTS DEGREE IN GERONTOLOGY FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
AT CHARLOTTE, AND A PH.D. IN
BIOMEDICAL GERONTOLOGY FROM THE
PONTIFICAL CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
OF DE RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRAZIL.
YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT THE MAGNITUDE
OF AGEISM IN THE UNITED STATES,
UNITED KINGDOM AND CANADA.
PLEASE WELCOME THE HEALTHY AGING
ADVISOR FOR THE PANAMERICAN
ORGANIZATION, THE REGIONAL
OFFICE OF THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION, DR. M PATRICIA
MORSCH.
>> AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE
GREAT WORK AND FOR THE LAUNCH OF
THE EMPLOYMENT PORTFOLIO.
IT'S A GREAT STRATEGY, AND I
THINK WE HAVE A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY HERE TO START AND TO
STRENGTHEN THIS CONVERSATION
AROUND AGEISM.
SO MY TASK TODAY IS TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THAT
WE ARE DOING ON AGEISM IN THE
PANAMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION,
WHICH IS ALSO THE REGIONAL WORK
FOR WHO IN THE AMERICAS.
AND I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT TODAY ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
THAT WE HAVE, A WORLD FOR ALL
AGES, WHICH IS THE WHO GLOBAL
CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT AGEISM.
SO TO START, I'M GOING TO GIVE
YOU A LITTLE BIT OF DEFINITIONS
RELATED TO AGEISM.
SO USUALLY, WE LISTEN A LOT
ABOUT AGEISM RELATED TO THE
DISCRIMINATION BASED ON AGE, BUT
THE DEFINITION IS A LITTLE BIT
BROADER.
BECAUSE IT REFERS TO THE
STEREOTYPES, WHICH IS HOW WE
THINK, THE PREJUDICE, HOW WE
FEEL, AND THE DISCRIMINATION,
WHICH IS HOW WE ACT TOWARDS
PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR AGE.
AND THE AGEISM IS IN VERY
DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR SOCIETY,
SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT
CHARACTERIZATIONS OF IT.
IT CAN BE THE INSTITUTIONAL
AGEISM, WHICH REFERS TO THE
LAWS, THE RULES, THE SOCIAL
NORMS, POLICIES AND PRACTICES
THAT INSTITUTIONS HAVE BASED ON
AGE.
THE INTERPERSONAL AGEISM, WHEN
ALL THIS BIAS HAPPENED IN THE
RELATIONSHIPS PEOPLE HAVE, ONE
TO ANOTHER, AND THE
SELF-DIRECTED AGEISM, OF COURSE,
THAT OCCURS WHEN ONE HAS VIEWS
ABOUT AGE AGAINST ONCE SELF.
ONE'S SELF.
AND TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND A
LITTLE BIT OF AGEISM, ITS
NATURE, IMPACT, PREVALENCES, WHO
ALONG WITH OTHER AGENCIES OF THE
UNITED NATIONS LAUNCHED THE
GLOBAL REPORT ON AGEISM THAT
SERVE AS A FOUNDATION FOR THE
GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AS IT BRINGS THE
CURRENT INFORMATION AVAILABLE.
OF COURSE THERE IS -- THIS IS
THE STARTING POINT.
THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION
STILL NEEDED, A LOT OF RESEARCH
TO BE CONDUCTED TO UNDERSTAND
MORE ABOUT AGEISM.
BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME DATA,
HAVE SOME INFORMATION, AND
ESPECIALLY FROM HIGH-INCOME
COUNTRIES.
AND ONE IMPORTANT THING THAT THE
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS IS THAT AGEISM
IS EVERYWHERE.
AND ONE IN TWO PEOPLE WORLDWIDE
HAS AGEISM AGAINST OLDER PEOPLE.
AND AS CYNTHIA MENTIONED BEFORE
IN HER PRESENTATION, IT AFFECTS
THE INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE
LIFE COURSE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TACKLE
AGEISM IN ALL AGE GROUPS,
BECAUSE OF COURSE WE ARE
EMPHASIZING HERE I AND THE REPOT
ALSO EMPHASIZES THE AFFEC EFFECF
AGEISM ON OLDER PEOPLE BUT IT
CAN AFFECT ANY STAGE OF THE LIFE
COURSE, AND OF COURSE CHILDREN
LEARN ABOUT AGE AND HOW TO REACT
TO A CERTAIN AGE WHEN THEY ARE
BUILDING OUT THEIR PERSONALITY,
THEIR VALUES, SO IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS AND TO TACKLE
AGEISM WITH THE LIFECOURSE
LENSES.
IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE ABOUT
HOW AGEISM INTERACTS AND
ACTUALLY EXACERBATES OTHER TYPE
OF BIAS.
SO OF COURSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
AGEISM FOR WOMEN, FOR AFRICAN
AMERICANS AND OTHER DIFFERENT
RACES, IT CAN EXACERBATE
DISADVANTAGES BECAUSE IT WORKS
TO TOGETHER TO INCREASE
INEQUITIES.
THE REPORT BRINGS A LITTLE BIT
OF THE PREVALENCE OF AGEISM.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
INFORMATION ON THE DIFFERENCES
IN WHY SOME COUNTRIES, SOME
REGIONS HAVE MORE AGEISM THAN
OTHERS.
THERE'S STILL INVESTIGATION THAT
HAS TO BE CONDUCTED, BUT WE CAN
SEE THE AMERICAS IS NOT A REGION
WITH, LIKE, THE MOST AGEISM --
AGES PROFILE.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, AROUND
42% OF MODERATE AGEISM WAS
OBSERVED IN THE AMERICAS, AND
DATA FROM THE UNITED STATES SHOW
MORE OF THE LOW AGEISM
ATTITUDES, AROUND LIKE 80%.
I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF
INFORMATION TO KNOW ABOUT THAT,
AND ESPECIALLY ON THE STUDIES
AND HAVE MORE STRONG EVIDENCE TO
SUPPORT THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE
AS WE'VE BEEN LISTENING AND WE
WILL LISTEN MORE TODAY, AGEISM
IS EVERYWHERE, AND IT'S
IMPACTING VERY STRONGLY PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY OLDER ADULTS.
AND CONSIDERING THE IMPACTS OF
AGEISM, THERE IS A LOT OF IMPACT
ON HEALTH, ON PHYSICAL HEALTH,
MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL WELL-BEING
OVERALL FOR OLDER PEOPLE, AND
THERE IS LIKE DIFFERENT EXAMPLES
ON THE SLIDE, BUT THERE IS ALSO
IMPORTANT ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR
SOCIETIES, AND BECAUSE IT'S
RELATED, ALL THIS IMPACT ON
HEALTH WILL RELATE TO HOW THE
SYSTEMS HAVE TO RESPOND TO THESE
INDIVIDUALS AS WELL.
SO THERE IS LIKE MORE USE ON
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
RELATED TO AGEISM.
AND WHO WAS ALSO WORKING ON THE
ABUSE OF OLDER PEOPLE, AND
ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THAT RAISED
AFTER THE PANDEMIC RELATED TO
THIS ISSUE, AND IT WAS
IDENTIFIED WITH SOME EXPERT
GROUPS, SOME PRIORITIES TO
TACKLE ELDER ABUSE, AND THE
FIRST ONE WAS TO COMBAT AGEISM.
SO IT VERY MUCH RELATED, AND WE
HAVE TO WORK ON COMBATING AGEISM
TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE OTHER
AREAS RELATED TO HEALTHY AGING
AND HEALTHY LONGEVITY.
I'M GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT
OF AN OVERVIEW OF DIFFERENT
AREAS AND HOW AGEISM IS
IMPACTING OLDER PEOPLE,
SPECIFICALLY IN THIS CASE,
RELATED TO HEALTH, SO AGEISM CAN
BE A BARRIER TO ACCESS HEALTH
SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS, AND
IT'S RELATED TO WORST OUTCOMES
IN HEALTH IN DIFFERENT AREAS,
MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH,
IT'S RELATED TO WORSE RECOVERY
FROM DISABILITY AND
REHABILITATION RESULTS.
ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE
DECISIONS OF MEDICAL PROCEDURES,
AND THIS IS SOMETHING RELATED TO
THE PANDEMIC THAT WAS MENTIONED
BEFORE ALSO, THE USE OF
VENTILATORS AND THE PROCEDURES
BASED ONLY ON CHRONOLOGICAL AGE,
THIS IS AGEISM, AND ALSO THE
STEREOTYPES ON, OH, THIS PERSON
IS OLD, SO THAT'S WHY THEY ARE
FEELING THIS WAY.
THAT'S WHY THEY ARE PRESENTING
THIS.
NO, THIS IS HEALTH ISSUES THAT
HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THIS IN MIND IN HEALTH.
AND ANOTHER POINT, IT'S RELATED
TO RESEARCH.
HERE AT THE NIH, THIS SHOULD
BE -- IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER, THAT
OLDER ADULTS MANY TIMES THEY ARE
EXCLUDED FROM CLINICAL TRIALS
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
FACTORS RELATED TO THE OLDER
ADULTS WITH LIKE CHRONIC
CONDITIONS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE AGING PROCESS ITSELF
THAT MIGHT LEAD TO SOME
SITUATIONS THAT CAN BE SOME LIKE
CONFUSION FACTORS FOR RESEARCH.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, OLDER
ADULTS ARE USING THOSE
MEDICATIONS, ARE RECEIVING THOSE
VACCINES, AND THEY ARE NOT AS
MUCH INCLUDED ON THE TRIALS.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
CONSIDER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
AGEISM AND HEALTH.
OF COURSE AGEISM IN THE
WORKPLACE IS SOMETHING VERY
IMPORTANT, WE ARE HERE GATHERED
TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE
PORTFOLIO THAT HAS THE WORKPLACE
AS A FOCUS, SO I WANT TO MENTION
THAT HERE ON THE REPORT, THE
EXAMPLES IN THE WORKFORCE
EMPHASIZE POTASSIEMPHASIZE BOTHT
GROUP AS WELL AS THE OLDEST
GROUP BECAUSE THESE TWO ARE THE
MOST PRONE TO AGEISM IN THE
WORKFORCE, BUT CONSIDERING OLDER
PEOPLE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE OF MANDATORY RETIREMENT
AGE IS WHEN MANY TIMES OLDER
ADULTS NEED OR WANT TO KEEP
WORKING, WORK IS A VERY
IMPORTANT PART OF WHO A PERSON
IS IN SOCIETY, AND REFER TO
THEIR JOB, THEIR POSITION, SO
IT'S VERY, VERY -- IT'S A VERY
IMPORTANT TRANSITION,
RETIREMENT, SO IT SHOULD BE WELL
PLANNED AND PREPARED.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING TO
CONSIDER.
AND ALSO INTEGRATING OLDER
PEOPLE IN THE MARKET WHEN THEY
DESAID TO RETIRE AND LOOK FOR
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, CHANGE
CAREER, LIFELONG LEARNING FOR
NEW EXPERIENCES, OPPORTUNITIES
FOR HAVING OLDER PEOPLE IN THE
WORKFORCE, AND OF COURSE
INTERGENERATIONAL STRATEGIES TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE DIFFERENT
GENERATIONS SHARING THIS
WORKFORCE.
AND ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE --
THERE ARE MANY OTHERS BUT I AM
FOCUSING ON THESE THREE, HEALTH,
WORKFORCE AND ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE, AS MENTIONED
BEFORE THIS CAN BE A HUGE
CONCERN, IT CAN BE VERY HELPFUL,
ESPECIALLY FOR HEALTHCARE,
BULL -- AND NOT ONLY ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE, BUT ALSO THE USE
OF TECHNOLOGY ITSELF, WE HAVE TO
CONSIDER WHEN WE HAVE THIS AGING
SOCIETY BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL,
THERE IS THIS HUGE DIGITAL
DIVIDE BETWEEN THE GENERATIONS
ON THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY, AND A
LOT OF THE TIME IT IS RELATED TO
AGEISM.
BECAUSE THERE IS THE BELIEF
SOMETIMES THAT OLDER PEOPLE
CANNOT MASTER NEW TECHNOLOGIES,
AND THEY CANNOT LEARN FROM
THEMSELVES, FROM OTHER PEOPLE,
WORKING WITH THEM, SO IT VERY
IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS AGEISM ON
THIS AREA.
AND CONSIDERING ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE SPECIFICALLY, IT
CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE,
ESPECIALLY FOR AGING IN PLACE,
FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE
SPECIAL NEEDS DISABILITY, BUT
IT'S CRUCIAL TO ENGAGE OLDER
PEOPLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THESE STRATEGIES.
SO THEIR NEEDS ARE UNDERSTOOD
AND, OF COURSE, THEY CAN BE --
THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAN
RESPOND TO THAT.
ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE
EARLIER IDENTIFICATION OF
DISEASES AND ALL OF THAT, IT'S
BASED ON DIG BE -- BASED ON BIG,
AND STRATIFICATION AND INCLUSION
OF THE DATA, THE SAME PROBLEM AS
I MENTIONED WITH RESEARCH
BEFORE, SOMETIMES OLDER PEOPLE
ARE EXCLUDED FROM THIS BIG DATA.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
AND THERE IS A POLICY BRIEF
SEPARATE FROM WHO ON THIS TOPIC
TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
THE GOOD NEWS, THAT AGEISM CAN
BE COMBATED, AND OF COURSE BEING
HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS TODAY,
IT'S AN IMPORTANT WAY TO DO SO.
BUT ON THE REPORT, IT IS LISTED
THAT THREE MAIN ACTIONS THAT WE
CAN WORK TO COMBAT AGEISM.
AND THE FIRST ONE IS POLICY --
SO OF COURSE THE GLOBAL
CONVENTION, THAT WOULD BE THE
UTMOST POLICY AND LAW THAT WE
CAN HAVE FROM THE UNITED
NATIONS, BUT WE KNOW THAT
COUNTRIES HAVE SOME SPECIFIC
LAWS, FOR EXAMPLE, PAHO'S MEMBER
STATES HAVE SOME LAWS
SPECIFICALLY AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION AT WORK BASED
AGE.
WE NEED SOMETHING BROADER FOR
AGEISM.
AND THE AMERICAS, THEY HAVE --
THE REGION HAS AB INTERAMERICAN
CONVENTION TO PROTECT RIGHTS OF
OLDER PEOPLE.
THE CONVENTION IS RATIFIED BY 11
OF THE MEMBER STATES, SO LAST
YEAR, FINALLY THE TENTH COUNTRY
RATIFIED THE CONVENTION, SO
RIGHT NOW THE ORGANIZATION OF
THE AMERICAN STATES IS WORKING
TO ACTIVATE THE CONVENTION
WITHIN THE INTERAMERICAN COURT,
AND WORKING WITH THE EXPERT
GROUP TO FOLLOW ALL THE ACTIONS
THAT A COUNTRY MAY BRING TO THE
COURT, SO THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT LEGALLY BINDING
INSTRUMENT, AND CAN SERVE AS A
FIRST STEP, AS IN A CASE EXAMPLE
FOR THE GLOBAL CONVENTION IN THE
FUTURE, SO THE TEXT IS AVAILABLE
ONLINE IF YOU WANT TO KNOW.
IT'S VERY BROAD, IT BRINGS LIKE
DIFFERENT AREAS, AND WHEN WE
WORK WITH THE COUNTRIES, IT'S
VERY INTERESTING, HOW THEY
APPROACH THE CONVENTION, SAY NO,
BUT WE ALREADY HAVE THE
CONVENTION OF HUMAN RIGHT, IT'S
FOR EVERYBODY.
AS CYNTHIA MENTIONED, IT DOESN'T
BRING AGE SPECIFICALLY IN ALL
THE GROUPS THAT THEY ARE
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THE
GAPS.
AND THEN SOME OTHERS RESPOND,
OH, WE DO HAVE THE CONVENTION
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
WELL, YEAH, THIS IS GOOD FOR
OLDER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES,
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE AGING
POPULATION AND HOW ABOUT
CREATING AGING TRAJECTORIES?
SO THAT'S WHY THE CONVENTION IS
THERE.
THE OTHER ACTIVITY TO COMBAT
AGEISM WOULD BE EDUCATIONAL
ACTIVITIES, VERY BROAD,
PROVIDING LIFE LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AGEISM, SKILLS
RELATED TO THIS TOPIC, AND
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
INTERGENERATIONAL APPROACH,
WHICH IS THE NEXT ACTIVITY TO
COMBAT AGEISM.
THE REPORT SUGGESTS THAT BOTH
COULD GO TOGETHER, BECAUSE THEY
WOULD LIKE STRENGTHEN EACH
OTHER, AND TO HELP TO DEVELOP
THIS, SOME OF THESE EDUCATIONAL
ACTIVITIES, THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN
HAS A TOOLKIT WITH DIFFERENT
MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT
THE ENGAGEMENT IN THE CAMPAIGN.
AND SOME OF THE MATERIALS ARE
RELATED TO HOW TO CREATE AN
EVENT, HOW TO START A
CONVERSATION ABOUT AGEISM, AND
THIS CAN SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
THE LEAST THAT I WANT TO TALK
ABOU -- THELAST I WANT TO TALK E
INTERGENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
I MENTIONED.
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE
ARE LIVING IN THIRD GENERATIONAL
SOCIETY.
NEVER WE COULD EXPERIENCE THIS
THAT FIVE, SIX GENERATIONS SHARE
THE SAME COMMUNITY, THE SAME
HOUSE SOMETIMES, SO WE HAVE TO
INCREASE INTERGENERATIONAL
SOLIDARITY, AND THE REPORT SHOWS
THAT WHEN YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVE
THIS CONTACT WITH OLDER PEOPLE
ARE RAISED WITH OLDER PEOPLE
TOGETHER, THEY HAVE A MUCH
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AGING
AND A MUCH BETTER VIEW OF AGING.
SO WHO LAUNCHED RECENTLY THE
CONNECTING GENERATIONS GUIDES,
AND THE IDEA IS TO HAVE A HOW-TO
GUIDE FOR ALL THE THREE
INTERVENTIONS, THE FIRST ONE IS
AVAILABLE IS THE CONNECTING
GENERATIONS.
AND WE ARE IN A VERY GOOD MOMENT
TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, TO
HAVE THIS WORK ON AGEISM BECAUSE
WE ARE NOW IN THE PERIOD OF THE
UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF HEALTHY
AGING UNTIL 2030, AND THE FIRST
AREA OF ACTION OF THE DECADE IS
TO CHANGE HOW WE THINK, FEEL AND
ACT TOWARDS AGE AND AGING.
SO IT'S EVERYTHING RELATED TO
COMBAT AGEISM.
WHO LAUNCHED LAST NOVEMBER THE
PROGRESS REPORT ON THE DECADE OF
HEALTHY AGING, AND SHOWED THAT
83% OF COUNTRIES HAD SOME
LEGISLATION ON AGEISM.
OF DISCRIMINATION BY AGE.
AND FROM 60% ON THE DATA FOR THE
BASELINE REPORT.
SO IT MEANS IT'S INCREASING, THE
AWARENESS AND THE WAY TO WORK ON
IT, THE POLICIES, BUT AS I
MENTIONED, SOMETIMES THIS
LEGISLATION, THEY ONLY ADDRESS
ONE SPECIFIC TOPIC.
SO WE HAVE TO WORK BROADER.
AND JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
ALTHOUGH COUNTRIES ARE WILLING
SOMETIMES TO WORK, ONLY 22% OF
THE COUNTRIES REPORT HAVING
ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO PUT IN
PLACE THE ACTIONS.
SO IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE CAN RAISE THIS ISSUE AND
STRENGTHEN.
ACTIONS.
SO I WILL JUST LEAVE SOME
WEBSITES FOR THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN
TO COMBAT AGEISM, PAHO'S HEALTHY
AGING WEBSITE AND THE DECADE OF
HEALTHY AGING PLATFORM, WHICH IS
A COLLABORATIVE SPACE WHERE YOU
CAN PUT THE INFORMATION, THE
STRATEGIES, THE RESEARCH THAT IS
BEING DONE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF
EVERYTHING RELATED TO HEALTHY
AGING.
TO FINALIZE, I WOULD LIKE TO
SHOW A VIDEO ON THE GLOBAL
CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT AGEISM.
THIS IS PART OF THE TOOLKIT.
THERE IS THIS VIDEO AND ANOTHER
SHORTER ONE, AND IT'S AVAILABLE
FOR EVERYBODY TO USE.
>> SO WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
>> I'M TOO OLD FOR THIS.
>> YOU JUST WANT ME TO SAY WHAT
PEOPLE SAY ABOUT ME.
>> WEIRD QUESTION, I GUESS.
>> MY TEACHER SAYS YOU'LL GROW
OUT OF IT, IT'S JUST A PHASE.
>> IT WAS NEVER A PHASE.
I NEVER GREW OUT OF IT.
>> PEOPLE LIKE TO TALK VERY
LOUDLY TO ME.
>> THEY SAY I DON'T THINK THINGS
THROUGH.
>> YOU'RE LOOKING STILL GOOD FOR
YOUR AGE.
>> I'LL FIGURE IT OUT WHEN I'M
OLDER.
>> YOU'RE HAVING A SENIOR
MOMENT.
>> WHEN THE FOCUS IS ON MY AGE,
LIFE SEEMS TO GET A LITTLE BIT
HARDER.
>> IT FEELS LIKE I'M NOT GIVEN A
CHANCE.
>> I NEED TO KEEP UP --
>> OR GET OUT OF THE WAY.
>> I LACK EXPERIENCE.
>> OR TOO MUCH EXPERIENCE.
>> I'M BAGGAGE.
>> ONLY WEIGHING PEOPLE DOWN.
>> LOOKING AT MY AGE --
>> LIKE IT IS A DISEASE.
>> WHERE I WORK, NO ONE TAKES ME
SERIOUSLY.
>> IT MAKES ME FEEL POWERLESS.
>> AND IT HITS.
>> WHEN PEOPLE SEE ONLY MY AGE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> DID YOU KNOW THE
GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
AMERICA HAS LED THE STUDY OF
AGING FOR OVER 75 YEARS AND
PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE ON AGING?
IT'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AGENDA
OF EVERY WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
ON AGING HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY
INFLUENCED AGING-RELATED
POLICIES.
IN THE UPCOMING DISCUSSION, OUR
SPEAKER WILL ADDRESS WAYS TO
COMBAT AGEISM BY CHANGING HOW WE
TALK ABOUT AGING.
SHE IS A CERTIFIED SENIOR
PHARMACIST AND A LEADER IN THE
FIELD OF AGING RESEARCH.
SHE HOLDS A KEY POSITION ON THE
LEADERSHIP TEAM OF THE RESOURCE
CENTERS FOR MINORITY AGING
RESEARCH NATIONAL COORDINATING
CENTER.
THIS ROLE UNDERSCORES HER
EXPERTISE AND INFLUENCE IN THE
FIELD.
SHE EARNED HER BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN PHARMACY FROM DUCANE
UNIVERSITY, A MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN HEALTH FINANCE, AND A
MASTER'S DEGREE IN
ADMINISTRATION WITH A
CONCENTRATION IN HEALTHCARE FROM
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY.
HER ACADEMIC PURSUITS WERE
FURTHER ENHANCED BY A RESIDENCY
IN ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE AT
THE PHILADELPHIA GERIATRIC
CENTER, WHERE SHE HONED HER
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE IN
GERIATRIC PHARMACY.
PLEASE WELCOME THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF POLICY AND
PROFESSIONAL AFFAIRS FOR THE
GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
AMERICA, AND THE NATIONAL CENTER
TO REFRAME AGING, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, PATRICIA D'ANTONIO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M TRULY HONORED AND INSPIRED
TODAY.
IN THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH THE
NATIONAL CENTER TO REFRAME AGING
AND OF THE GERONTOLOGICAL
SOCIETY OF AMERICA, IT'S
CERTAINLY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO
BE ON THE SAME PODIUM WITH OUR
DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES TODAY,
AND HOPEFULLY AS I FOLLOW UP TO
CYNTHIA AND PATRICIA'S
PRESENTATIONS, YOU'LL GET SOME
IDEAS ABOUT HOW OUR OWN -- HOW
OUR COMMUNICATIONS, WHAT WE SAY,
HOW WE THINK ABOUT OUR UNIVERSAL
EXPERIENCE OF AGING INFLUENCES
WHAT WE TALK ABOUT TODAY AS FAR
AS THE INITIATIVE TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE NIH ON HOW WE
THINK ABOUT AGING AND WHAT DO WE
THINK ABOUT THAT.
SO THE NATIONAL CENTER TO
REFRAME AGING IS DEDICATED TO
ENDING AGEISM BY ADVANCING AN
EQUITABLE AND COMPLETE STORY.
OUR WORK IS EVIDENCE-BASED, AND
WE SERVE AS A TRUST SOURCE FOR
COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES.
RESOURCES AND TOOLS THAT YOU CAN
USE, YOU CAN APPLY AS YOU START
TO THINK ABOUT WHAT DOES THIS
MEAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO REFRAME
AGING.
IT LED BY THE GERONTOLOGICAL
SOCIETY ON BEHALF OF 10 NATIONAL
AGING ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU'D BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH
THEM.
I'M TOO NERVOUS TO NAME ALL THEM
BECAUSE I'M POSITIVE I'LL LEAVE
ONE OUT.
BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE AGING
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ALL
INTERACT WITH, YOU WOULD
RECOGNIZE MANY OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING
FROM FOUR NATIONAL
PHILANTHROPIES TO HELP SUPPORT
US IN OUR WORK AND CONDUCT THE
RESEARCH WE'VE DONE.
THAT'S THE SCAN FOUNDATION, ARCH
STONE FOUNDATION AND RRF
FOUNDATION FOR AGING.
AND OUR RESEARCH PARTNER IS THE
FRAME WORKS INSTITUTE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF THEM,
THEY'VE DONE THIS WORK WITH US
ON AGING, WITH AGING EXPERTS AND
TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN
COMMUNICATE TO IMPROVE
UNDERSTANDING OF AGING, YET
THEY'VE ALSO DONE WORK IN EARLY
CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, IN
VACCINATION, AND IN MANY OTHER
AREAS THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU
TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE
TO SEE HOW THEY WORK WITH
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO
CONSIDER THE RESEARCH THAT'S
THERE AND HOW WE FRAME OUR
MESSAGES.
AND IT'S REALLY FUN TO FOLLOW
THE FIRST TWO PRESENTATIONS
BECAUSE THIS SORT OF COMPLEMENTS
WHAT WE'VE HEARD WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT WHY DO WE NEED THIS NEW
STORY, WHY THE NATIONAL CENTER
TO REFRAME AGING?
WHY THIS INTENSE RESEARCH IN HOW
WE COMMUNICATE ABOUT AGING?
AND I PUT A FEW JOURNAL AND LAY
PUBLIC ARTICLES UP THERE FOR YOU
TO SEE.
MOST RECENTLY, THE OCTOBER 2023
COVER OF "THE NEW YORKER," GREAT
ARTICLE ABOUT AGING IN AMERICA.
THE COVER, IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT
WHAT YOU SAY, IT'S ABOUT HOW YOU
PORTRAY AGING.
SO CERTAINLY THINGS WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT.
IT'S WHAT WE SAY, IT'S WHAT WE
HEAR, IT'S WHAT WE SEE.
AND THINKING ABOUT WHY DO WE
THINK THAT THIS IS OKAY?
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.
WE HAVE BEEN BOMBARDED WITH
THESE MESSAGES SINCE WE WERE
VERY YOUNG.
SINCE WE WERE 3 YEARS OLD.
IT'S THE JOKES THAT PEOPLE TELL,
IT'S THE TV SHOWS THAT WE WATCH,
IT'S THE BIRTHDAY CARDS THAT WE
PURCHASE, AND I WOULD PUT
FORWARD HERE, WE ARE NOT ONLY
MAKING FUN OF THESE WOMEN'S AGE,
WE HAVE A WOMAN WHO HAS A
DISABILITY, IS A PERSON WITH A
DISABILITY, AND WE'RE MAKING FUN
OF THAT, AND NOWHERE ELSE WOULD
WE SEE THAT IN THE BIRTHDAY CARD
AISLE.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO PUT FORWARD
AND SUGGEST TO YOU ALL THAT NONE
OF US WAKES UP IN THE MORNING
AND SAYS, I'M GOING TO BE AGEIST
TODAY.
THERE MIGHT BE LIKE 2% OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK ABOUT THAT.
BUT REALLY, WE ALL WAKE UP IN
THE MORNING AND SAY, WE WANT TO
DO GOOD THINGS FOR THE WORLD.
RIGHT?
OUR COMMUNICATIONS CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO A LACK OF
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT AGING.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT AS WE
MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THAT
IMPLICIT BIAS, THAT SUBCONSCIOUS
THOUGHT THAT WE HAVE, WE HEARD
IT ALREADY, I'VE GOT THIS PAIN
IN MY BACK, I'M GETTING OLDER.
RIGHT?
WHAT CAN I DO?
I'M GETTING OLDER.
THAT SELF-BIAS THAT WE PORTRAY.
THERE'S ALSO THINGS THAT WE HEAR
AND SEE OUT LOUD, BUT WE OFTEN
INTERNALIZE AGEISM, AND IT PLAYS
ON OUR THOUGHTS AND
UNDERSTANDING.
WHAT WE KNOW FROM OUR RESEARCH
IS THAT CRAFTING WELL-FRAMED
MESSAGES THAT FOLLOW WHAT WE
LEARNED IN THE RESEARCH, WE CAN
REDUCE AGEISM.
AND IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, WE
HAVE SO MUCH TIME TODAY,
HOWEVER, WE HAVE A VIDEO OF
INTERVIEWING PEOPLE ON THE
STREET.
WE ASK THEM TO GIVE US -- TALK
TO US ABOUT AGING.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN AS WE GROW
OLD?
AND YOU'LL GET THE ANSWERS THAT
YOU THINK WE WOULD GET, SOMEWHAT
LIKE WHAT WE HEARD IN THE VIDEO
WE JUST SAW.
AND THEN WE READ A WELL-FRAMED
MESSAGE AND 10 MINUTES LATER, WE
ASK THE SAME QUESTION, AND YOU
WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW PEOPLE
START TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT
AGING BECAUSE OF THE SENTENCES
THAT THEY HEARD.
IT'S TWO OR THREE SENTENCES.
IT'S NOT MUCH.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE
TO THINK -- TO GO FROM IT'S
REALLY HARD TO GROW OLD TO, IT'S
GOOD TO GET OLD.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK THIS
QUESTION AS SELF-REFLECTION FOR
ALL FL YOU HERE IN THE ROOM AND
FOR THOSE OF YOU ONLINE.
HAVE YOU SEEN AGEISM?
HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED AGEISM?
AN HOPEFULLY WE'VE MADE THE CASE
THAT WE'VE ALL SEEN AND
EXPERIENCED AGEISM.
THIS IS THE ONE I DON'T WANT
ANYBODY TO FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO
OWN UP TO THIS PUBLICLY, SO YOU
DON'T HAVE TO CHAT IT IN, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO RAISE YOUR HAND IN
THE ROOM, BUT HAVE YOU
PERPETUATED AGEISM?
AND NOTICE I DIDN'T ASK IF YOU
PERPETUATED AGEISM TOWARDS OTHER
PEOPLE.
I ASKED IF YOU PERPETUATED
AGEISM.
HOW MANY TIMES TO WE HEAR
OURSELVES HEARING AND SAYING
THINGS LIKE, HOW DOES A
21-YEAR-OLD GET ACCESS TO TOP
SECRET INFORMATION?
AH!
SHE'S ONLY 25.
SHE CAN'T RUN THAT PROGRAM.
SHE'S 65.
SHE CAN'T RUN THAT PROGRAM.
SO THINK ABOUT THAT, AND REALLY
WHAT I'M HOPING TO DO IN THE
NEXT FEW MINUTES IS JUST SAY,
HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN START
TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO.
AND HOW THE RESOURCES THAT WE
HAVE AT THE NATIONAL CENTER TO
REFRAME AGING, AS WELL AS THE
RESOURCES THAT OTHER COLLEAGUES
ARE PUTTING FORWARD AND THAT I
KNOW THAT DR. FLETCHER IS
WORKING ON FOR THE NIH, HOW
THOSE RESOURCES WILL HELP YOU
START TO THINK ABOUT THIS
PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY.
BECAUSE IT'S ALL ONE.
WHY DO WE WANT TO REFRAME?
WHY DO WE MAKE THIS CASE?
WHY ARE SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS
INVESTED?
WE KNOW THAT IF WE CAN CHANGE
OUR COMMUNICATION FROM OUR
RESEARCH, THAT WE COULD START TO
CHANGE THE DISCUSSION, THE
DISCOURSE.
AS THAT STARTS TO CHANGE, IT
STARTS TO CHANGE THINKING.
THE LOGICAL PROGRESSION FROM
THAT IS THAT WE WILL START TO
CHANGE BEHAVIOR AND WE WILL SEE
THE POLICY AND PRACTICE CHANGES
THAT WE KNOW WE NEED IN ORDER TO
SUPPORT ALL OF US AS WE AGE.
AND WHEN I SAY POLICY
INITIATIVES OR THE POLICY
CHANGES WE LOOK FOR, THEY'RE THE
POLICY CHANGES THAT MAY HAPPEN
IN WASHINGTON, THEY'RE THE
POLICY CHANGES THAT HAPPEN IN
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
THEY'RE ALSO THE POLICY CHANGES
THAT HAPPEN IN ORGANIZATIONS.
SO THINK ABOUT THAT.
IF AN ORGANIZATION CHANGES A
POLICY AROUND MANDATORY
RETIREMENT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
FOR A COMMUNITY?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY?
SO HERE'S SOME OF WHAT WE
LEARNED IN OUR RESEARCH.
ONE, WE KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC'S
PERCEPTION OF AGING IS IN
COMPLETE.
AND WE'RE ALL MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, WE ALSO MAY WORK IN
AGING, SOME OF YOU HERE, WORK IN
AN AGING-RELATED FIELD OR AGING
NETWORK, BUT WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE
DO NOT RECOGNIZE OUR
HETEROGENEITY.
THAT'S OUR BIG 50-CENT WORD FOR
TODAY, HETEROGENEITY.
THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE THE
HETEROGENEITY OF ALL OF US AS WE
AGE.
WE ARE SO MUCH MORE DIFFERENT AS
WE AGE.
RIGHT?
YES, SOME OF US AGE WITH
MULTIPLE CHRONIC CONDITIONS.
AND WE NEED SERVICES AND
SUPPORTS.
SOME OF US AGE HEALTHY AND AT
80, WE JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE
TO CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAY,
RIGHT?
AND, THERE ARE ALL OF THE REST
OF US IN THE MIDDLE THERE.
SO WE'RE NOT ALL GOING ON
CRUISES AND WE'RE NOT ALL
CONFINED TO A BED.
WE ALSO LEARN THAT AGEISM IS NOT
CONSIDERED A PROBLEM.
SOUNDS SURPRISING, BUT IT NOT ON
PEOPLE'S RADAR SCREEN.
HOW DO YOU WALK DOWN A BIRTHDAY
CARD AISLE AND SEE CARDS LIKE
THAT THAT CONSTANTLY MAKE FUN OF
PEOPLE'S AGE?
HOW DO WE WATCH SOME TV SHOWS
THAT MAKE FUN -- THERE'S THE
CROTCH ETY OLD GRANDPA SITTING
IN THE CORNER.
YOU JUST ASSUME THAT HE'S DEAF,
RIGHT?
SO THINK ABOUT THAT.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
AND I KNOW THAT OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT
EMPLOYMENT, SO I DON'T HAVE TO
GO INTO THAT, BUT WE DO HAVE AGE
DISCRIMINATION LAWS IN THE
WORKPLACE, AND YET WE KNOW THAT
THERE ARE STATISTICS THAT SHOW
US THAT AGE DISCRIMINATION
EXISTS.
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AND WHY WE
TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION
STRATEGIES THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT
IS OVER THESE YEARS, WE'VE
DEVELOPED THESE CULTURAL MODELS
IN OUR BRAINS.
THERE'S SPRIT-SECOND DECISIONS
WE MAKE WHEN WE HEAR, SEE, THINK
ABOUT AGING.
WHEN I SAY AGING.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE WANT TO
ACTIVATE THE PRODUCTIVE THOUGHTS
ABOUT AGING.
ONE THAT RECOGNIZES HOW MUCH
MORE DIFFERENT WE BECOME AS WE
AIRNLINGS RAGE RATHER THAN ONE T
AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMES DEATH,
DECLINE AND DISABILITY.
HERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS WE
LEARNED AS PART OF THE RESEARCH
HERE.
NOW WHAT WE DID WAS CALLED MAP
DETERRING.
SO THIS RESEARCH IS BASED ON
AMERICAN CULTURE.
ANYONE WHO'S EXPOSED TO AT LEAST
TWO TO THREE YEARS OF A STEADY
DIET OF AMERICAN CULTURE.
TELEVISION, FRIENDS, FASHION.
ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE
EXPOSED TO.
AND SO WE INTERVIEWED PEOPLE IN
THE AGING FIELD, AND WE
INTERVIEWED PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
THE PUBLIC.
NOW, WOULD YOU BE SURPRISED WHEN
I SAY TO YOU THAT HOW WE SHOULD
APPROACH AGING, THE PUBLIC SAYS
WE'RE GOING TO BATTLE AGING,
WHEN HAVE WE HEARD ANTI-AGING,
YOU SEE PEOPLE ACTUALLY PUSH
AWAY?
ANTI-AGING CREAMS, HEY, GUYS,
YOU'RE GOING TO GET THAT GREY
OUT OF YOUR BEARD, RIGHT?
I THINK YOU ALSO WOULD NOT BE
SURPRISED OR MAYBE YOU WOULD, IS
THAT AGEISM IS NOT A CONCERN IN
THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE.
IT IS IN THE AGING NETWORK.
AND IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS
YOU SAY, THEY THINK.
WE PRETEND THAT WHEN WE SAY
SOMETHING AS EXPERTS IN A FIELD
THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IT
THE WAY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.
SO WHEN WE SAY THE WORDS "THE
ELDERLY," WHAT IT CUES IS
SOMEONE WHO IS BED RI DEP, BEDR,
SOMEBODY WHO IS FAILING,
SOMEBODY WHO IS IN DECLINE.
WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO GET
ACROSS IS THAT WE ARE ALL AGING.
AND THIS MORNING AS WE WERE
GETTING READY, WE TALKED ABOUT
IT AND WE SAID, WELL, HOW MANY
OF US ARE PART OF THE AGING
POPULATION?
RAISE YOUR HAND.
VERY GOOD.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE
DEAD.
[LAUGHTER]
>> RIGHT?
WE ARE ALL PART OF THE AGING
POPULATION, FROM BIRTH, AND WE
RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A
COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY AND
BENEFIT.
AND IF I HAD LOTS OF TIME, I
WOULD GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE
THAT WE STUDIED, TRAPS TO AVOID
AND STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE, AND I
KNOW WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO
UNDERSTAND HOW WE DO THAT, BUT I
HAVE A VIDEO THAT EXPLAINS IT SO
MUCH BETTER, SO I'M GOING TO
JUST SHOW THIS TO YOU QUICKLY.
>> SOMETHING HAPPENS WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT AGING.
WE CARE DEEPLY.
WE HAVE THE FACTS.
YET OUR MESSAGE OFTEN DOESN'T
GET THROUGH.
WHY?
IT COULD BE THE WAY WE'RE
COMMUNICATING.
RESEARCH FROM THE REFRAMING
AGING INITIATIVE HAS IDENTIFIED
SOME COMMUNICATION TRAPS, COMMON
PRACTICES THAT UNDERMINE OUR
MESSAGE.
THESE TRAPS INCLUDE FATALISM,
FANTASTIC EXAMPLES, AND FALSE
STARTS.
FIRST, FATALISM.
TAKE THE SILVER TSUNAMI, AN
UNFORTUNATE METAPHOR FOR THE
GROWING NUMBER OF OLDER PEOPLE.
YES, IT'S DP DRAMATIC BUT IT ALO
CREATES AN OVERWHELMING SENSE
THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE.
INSTEAD, OFFER CONCRETE
SOLUTIONS IN YOUR MESSAGING,
EARLY AND OFTEN.
NEXT, FANTASTIC EXAMPLES,
SOMETIMES CALLED SUPER SENIORS.
YES, IT'S WONDERFUL WHEN OLDER
PEOPLE DO INCREDIBLE THINGS, BUT
FEATURING EXTRAORDINARY
INDIVIDUALS CAN BE MISLEADING.
INSTEAD, TRY TO KEEP YOUR FOCUS
ON BETTER OPPORTUNITIES AND
REALISTIC SUPPORTS FOR EVERYONE.
FINALLY, FALSE STARTS.
WE'VE ALL SEEN PRESENTATIONS
THAT START WITH A STATISTIC,
LIKE BY 2030, 1 IN 5 AMERICANS
WILL BE 65 OR OLDER.
THIS DOESN'T BEGIN TO TELL THE
WHOLE STORY OF AGING.
AND IT'S PRETTY BORING.
INSTEAD, START STRONG, WITH A
SHARED VISION, LIKE STAYING
CONNECTED TO FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF
US.
THIS IS A MORE ENGAGING WAY TO
START, AND YOU CAN BUILD YOUR
COMMUNICATION OR STORY FROM
THERE.
CHANGING THE WAY WE TALK CAN
CHANGE ATTITUDES ABOUT AGING.
FIND RESOURCES, AND GET STARTED
AT REFRAMINGAGING.ORG.
>> THE REST OF THAT IS THE
COMMERCIAL ABOUT REFRAMING AGING
THAT YOU ALREADY SEE IN THE
SLIDES AND WE'LL PROVIDE A COPY
OF THESE SLIDES.
THESE VIDEOS WE HAVE, WE HAVE
FOUR OF THEM, CALLED THE FRAME
OF MIND SERIES, EACH OF THEM IS
LESS THAN 2 MINUTES SO IF YOU
NEED TO GO INTO YOUR BOSS'
OFFICE AND SHARE WHY THIS IS SO
IMPORTANT, I WOULD HIGHLY
RECOMMEND THAT THESE COULD BE
USEFUL TOOLS TO HELP YOU.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF IS THE
TRAPS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID
ARE OUR PREDOMINANT WAY OF
THINKING.
SO IT'S RIGHT THERE, RIGHT AT
THE TOP, RIGHT AT THE TIP OF OUR
TONGUE, RIGHT AT THE TOP OF OUR
MINDS.
WHAT'S NOT THERE ARE THE
STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE AND HOW WE
CAN ADVANCE THEM.
AND THERE IS WORK AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
WE ARE WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES,
WE ARE WORKING NATIONALLY WITH
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, WE ARE
WORKING WITH STATES INCLUDING
MARYLAND AND THE LONGEVITY-READY
PROJECT, THE MULTI-SECTOR PLAN,
TO BE SURE THAT THE MESSAGE, HOW
WE TALK ABOUT THAT, IS WELL
FRAMED.
THAT WE'RE USING LANGUAGE TO
ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF AGING.
THIS PART IS CHALLENGING.
THIS PART IS HARD.
YOU NOTICE ON MY FIRST SLIDE, WE
TALKED ABOUT A GENERATION'S
WORK.
THIS WILL TAKE TIME, THIS WILL
TAKE A GENERATION FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS.
BUT IF WE DON'T START NOW, WHEN
WILL WE START?
WE KNOW THAT WHEN A FRAMEWORK
WORKS, WE CAN SHIFT, IMPROVE
KNOWLEDGE, IMPROVE ATTITUDE, AND
POLICY GROWTH SUPPORT.
ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL
CENTER, WE HAVE RESOURCES THAT
YOU CAN START WITH.
RIGHT HERE ON THE END IS A QUICK
START GUIDE, AND ALL THESE
LINKS, WE'LL SHARE WITH
DR. FLETCHER AND SHE WILL SHARE
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A COMMUNICATION STYLE
GUIDE FOR OW YOU CAN S -- FOR HN
START TO APPLY THIS.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WHY AND
HOW TO START IN THE QUICK START
GUIDE, OUR COMMUNICATIONS GUIDE
GIVES YOU THE WHY.
WE HAVE A LEARNING MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM, A LEARNING MANAGEMENT
HUB THAT PROVIDES YOU WITH
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND TOOLS,
LIKE AGEISM FIRST AID, RIGHT?
WE ALL GET THE IDEA WE NEED TO,
YOU KNOW, FOR EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS FIRST AID, HOW DO
WE GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND
AGEISM?
HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT ELDERSPEAK, OH,
SWEETIE, HONEY, YOU DON'T LOOK A
DAY OVER 60, IS REALLY NOT
ADVANCING THE WORK WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND AGING.
AND BECAUSE I'M HERE AT THE NIH,
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO MENTION
THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK
WITH THE AMERICAN MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION AND
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TO CHANGE
HOW INFORMATION AGE-INCLUSIVE
LANGUAGE IN STYLE GUIDES, IN
MANUALS OF STYLE.
THIS IS STYLE-AGNOSTIC.
THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE TALK ABOUT
PEOPLE AS WE AGE.
SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO ASK
YOU ALL TO START TO THINK ABOUT
HOW YOU FRAME YOUR MESSAGES, AND
THINK ABOUT HOW THESE PRODUCTIVE
PERCEPTIONS OF AGING ARE
PRICELESS.
NEFTION ON HOW TO SEE AND FOLLOW
US, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AGE DISCRIMINATION IS ILLEGAL
AT ANY STAGE OF EMPLOYMENT.
INCLUDING DURING HIRING,
PROMOTIONS, RAISES, AND LAYOFFS.
IN AARP'S RESEARCH, AGE
DISCRIMINATION IS A PREVALENT
ISSUE IN THE WORKPLACE,
AFFECTING 78% OF WORKERS, MAKING
IT AN ESSENTIAL TOPIC.
OUR SPEAKER IS A TRAILBLAZING
RESEARCHER WHO TACKLED HOW AGE
DISCRIMINATION HACKL TACKLES EQ.
THE ACT OF 2021, THE U.S. SENATE
IS CONSIDERING PASSING TO
CONSIDER AGE IN THEIR DIVERSITY,
EQUITY AND INCLUSION STRATEGIES.
OUR SPEAKER HOLDS A PH.D. IN
ECONOMICS AND FINANCE, AN M.A.
IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS AND A
B.A. IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
FROM THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF
AMERICA IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
ADDITIONALLY, SHE HOLDS AN
EXECUTIVE CERTIFICATE IN
FINANCIAL PLANNING FROM
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, AND IS A
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
PROFESSIONAL.
SHE COMPLETED THE DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AT
THE ILR SCHOOL OF CORNELL
UNIVERSITY, AND IS A
CORNELL-CERTIFIED DIVERSITY
PRACTITIONER.
PLEASE WELCOME THE DIRECTOR OF
FINANCE AND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE
AARP PUBLIC POLICY, WHO IS ALSO
A PROFESSIONAL STAND-UP
COMPLEEDIAN, DR. LORI A.
TRAWINSKI.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE HER SHARE
HER INSIGHTS WITH US TODAY.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
I GUESS SINCE I'M THE LAST
SPEAKER OF THE MORNING OR
AFTERNOON, THAT MAKES ME THE
HEADLINER, AND SO I'M VERY
EXCITED TO BE HERE.
SO THANK YOU.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO BEGIN MY TALKS
WITH A GRATITUDE PAUSE.
I NEED TO THANK EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOU WHO WORK AT NIH FOR
THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO KEEP
OUR COUNTRY SAFE, TO FIGHT
DISEASE, AND IN PARTICULAR,
COVID-19 AND THE GROUNDBREAKING
WORK THAT YOU DID ON THAT.
I HAVE TO PAUSE NOW AND THANK
YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
[APPLAUSE]
AND I ALSO WANT TO PAUSE AND
THANK MR. WILLIAMS AND
DR. FLETCHER FOR SEEING THE
IMPORTANCE OF INCLUDING AGE IN
YOUR EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION STRATEGY.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IN THIS DAY
AND AGE, IT IS THE MOST
OVERLOOKED DIMENSION WITHIN EDI
PROGRAMS.
AND I ALWAYS FIND THAT WILL
WEIRD BECAUSE IT'S THE ONE
DIMENSION OF DIVERSITY THAT
INCLUDES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
US.
AND WHAT ALSO MAKES IT UNIQUE IS
THAT IT'S THE ONE DIMENSION THAT
CHANGES OVER TIME.
SO WE START OUT IN THE
WORKPLACE, WE ARE A YOUNGER
WORKER, WE ARE NEW, WE ARE
LEARNING, WE ADVANCE HOPEFULLY,
WE CONTINUE TO LEARN, AND THEN
ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HIT THAT
MAGIC AGE OF 40, AND IN THE
UNITED STATES, YOU ARE NOW AN
OLDER WORKER.
AND FOR MANY PEOPLE, THAT IS
NEWS.
MANY PEOPLE DO NOT RECOGNIZE
THAT 40 IS THE AGE AT WHICH YOU
BECOME A PROTECTED CLASS.
SO I'M GLAD TO BE HERE AND
CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THIS
ISSUE.
SO WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK
ABOUT IT IN THE WORKPLACE IS --
AND SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS
HAVE MENTIONED IT, WE NOW HAVE
UP TO FIVE, EVEN SIX GENERATIONS
IN THE WORKPLACE WORKING SIDE BY
SIDE.
NOW I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS AN
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T VIEW IT THAT
WAY, HOWEVER, AND THEY THINK
THIS IS A TERRIBLE CHALLENGE.
SO THE RIGHT ANSWER IS, THERE
ARE SO MANY THINGS WE CAN BE
DOING WITHIN OUR WORKPLACES TO
MAKE THINGS BETTER.
SO I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S AN
OPPORTUNITY.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OTHER
SPEAKERS HAVE SAID, THAT IS
PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER, MANY
CHOOSE TO STAY IN THE WORKPLACE
LONGER.
NOW, SOME OF THAT CHOICE IS DUE
TO THE NEED TO WORK, BECAUSE WE
NEED MONEY, AND IT'S REALLY
DIFFICULT TO RETIRE AT THE AGE
OF 60 OR 65 AND LIVE ANOTHER 30
YEARS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE ONLY
DEPENDENT ON SOMETHING LIKE
SOCIAL SECURITY.
IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO
SURVIVE ONLY ON THAT.
SO PEOPLE WANT TO WORK LONGER,
THEY WANT TO ACCUMULATE SAVINGS
LONGER.
NOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT
CHOICE.
THE OTHER REASON PEOPLE LIKE TO
STAY IN THE WORKPLACE IS ANOTHER
REASON WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED ALREADY
THIS MORNING, AND THAT IS TO
KEEP THE SOCIAL CONNECTION.
TO STAY IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE,
TO HAVE THAT HUMAN TOUCH, THE
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATING WITH
PEOPLE.
AND ALSO TO HAVE A SENSE OF
PURPOSE.
MANY PEOPLE GET THEIR SENSE OF
PURPOSE AND SELF-IDENTITY FROM
THE WORK THEY DO, AND WHAT A SAD
THING IT IS TO REACH A CERTAIN
AGE AND FIND OUT YOU'RE NO
LONGER ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT.
SO AT AARP, OUR GOAL IS TO HELP
PEOPLE LIVE AS THEY CHOOSE AS
THEY AGE.
AND PART OF LIVING AS YOU CHOOSE
IS WORKING AS LONG AS YOU WANT
TO.
SO I JUST WANT TO ASK THE
AUDIENCE A QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE FIRST WORD YOU THINK
OF WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD AGING?
ANYONE, JUST YELL IT OUT.
>> DISCRIMINATION.
>> DISCRIMINATION, OKAY.
>> MATURITY.
>> OKAY.
>> OLD.
>> OLD?
EXPERIENCE, OKAY.
SO NOT EVERYTHING I HEARD WAS
NEGATIVE.
SOME WAS NEGATIVE, AND SOME WAS
POSITIVE.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO NOW IS ROLL
THE FIRST VIDEO.
PLEASE.
>> HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
YOU CAN STAND RIGHT THERE,
THAT'S YOUR MARK.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> I'M GREAT.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> GREAT.
>> JUST TELL US YOUR FIRST NAME
AND YOUR AGE.
>> MY REAL AGE?
>> MY NAME IS PABLO.
I'M 25 YEARS OLD.
>> MY NAME IS DANIELA, AND I'M
19.
>> 24.
>> 35.
31.
33.
>> WHAT AGE DO YOU CONSIDER TO
BE OLD?
>> LATE 40s.
>> MAYBE WI 50.
>> UM --
>> I FEEL LIKE 30 IS THE NEW 20
SO I'D SAY LIKE 40 IS OLD.
>> I'D PROBABLY SAY 50s.
>> I'D LIKE YOU TO SHOW ME HOW
AN OLD PERSON WOULD CROSS THE
STREET.
>> SHOW ME HOW AN OLD PERSON
WOULD SEND A TEXT MESSAGE.
HOW MIGHT AN OLD PERSON DO A
PUSHUP?
[COUGHING]
>> WHAT ABOUT JUMPING JACKS?
>> OKAY, HEA HANG ON.
THERE'S SOMEONE I WANT YOU TO
MEET.
>> HELLO, I'M BIRCH.
I'M 66.
>> I'M DAPHNE, AND I'M 68.
>> I'M DEE AND I'M 55.
>> 75.
>> I'M 70.
>> NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GIVE BUT TWO
MINUTES TO TEACH EACH OTHER
SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE GOOD AT.
>> I CAN TEACH YOU A JUMP THAT I
DO.
>> PLEASE.
>> BOTH OF YOUR LEGS GO UP AND
YOUR ARM GOES UP AND YOUR LEFT
ARM GOES -- READY?
ONE, TWO, THREE, LIFT, ONE, TWO,
THREE.
AND BRING TO YOUR HEART.
AND BRING TO YOUR HEAR.
ADD THE HEAD IN, YEAH.
TRY TO GET YOUR BALANCE.
NOW BRING YOUR FEET UP.
IT HARD, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
>> ONE, TWO, THREE.
FIVE, SIX, SEVEN.
SO WHEN YOU COME OUT OF A TURN,
EITHER WAY, YOU GO BACK TO THAT
PLACE.
>> OVER, NOW FORWARD.
OVER -- YEAH.
>> LIKE THIS, AND HOOK, HOOK.
JAB, CROSS, HOOK, AND THEN WE'LL
GO LIKE THIS, RIGHT?
>> ONE, TWO, THREE.
HEE-YA!
>> NOW WHAT AGE MIGHT YOU
CONSIDER TO BE OLD?
>> PROBABLY 80 OR 90.
>> IF YOU COULD JUST DO
EVERYTHING THAT I TOLD HIM TO
DO.
>> AN AGE THAT I CONSIDER TO BE
OLD NOW MIGHT BE A HUNDRED.
[LAUGHTER]
>> DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU
SAID?
>> YEAH, YEAH, I SAID IN THE
50s, I THOUGHT WOULD BE OLD.
WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT IT --
>> WAIT A MINUTE.
>> IT REALLY CHANGED MY THINKING
OF WHAT OLD IS.
YOU'VE TAUGHT ME SOMETHING
TODAY.
CLEARLY, THERE'S NO WAY SHE'S
OLD, YOU KNOW?
>> I DON'T LOOK AT AGE.
>> AT MY AGE, I FEEL LIKE I DID
WHEN I WAS IN MY 20s.
>> THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT I
STILL WANT TO DO, THERE'S SO
MANY THINGS THAT I CAN DO.
AS LONG AS I'M GROWING AND
LEARNING, THEN AGE DOESN'T
MATTER.
>> WHEN PEOPLE START STOP,
THAT'S WHEN THEY START GETTING
OLD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, IT WAS GREAT
MEETING YOU.
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING
THIS?
IS THIS A NEW SKILL?
>> 40 YEARS.
>> WOW!
[APPLAUSE]
>> SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK
EVERYBODY, WHAT DID YOU THINK?
WERE YOU AFFECTED BY THIS VIDEO?
DID YOU FEEL SOMETHING?
SO I WANT TO JUST MAKE AN
ACKNOWLEDGMENT HERE THAT IN SOME
AUDIENCE, IT HAS BEEN POINTED
OUT TO ME THAT THIS IS ONE WAY
TO DEMONSTRATE AGING.
IT WAS VERY PHYSICALLY BASED,
AND IN A CERTAIN SENSE IT MAY BE
CONSIDERED SOMEWHAT FANTASTIC,
AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
I THINK WHAT COULD HAVE MADE
THIS VIDEO BETTER IS TO HAVE
OTHER EXAMPLES OF OLDER PEOPLE
SHOWING YOUNGER PEOPLE SOMETHING
AND VICE VERSA THAT WERE MORE,
PERHAPS, INTELLECTUALLY BASED OR
SKILLS-BASED OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT, SO THIS IS ONLY ONE ASPECT
OF THE AGING CONTINUUM.
BUT I WILL AGREE WITH YOU THAT
EVERYBODY DOES NOT EXPERIENCE
EXCELLENT PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND
SHAPE AS THEY AGE.
I WILL TELL YOU, THOUGH, THAT
UNFORTUNATELY I LEFT MY
BALANCING BLOCK IN THE CAR, AND
OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT
DEMO FOR YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
IT'S ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO
BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT VIDEO, IS
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE
ON THE BLOCK.
SO MY APOLOGIES FOR LEAVING IT
IN THE CAR.
IT'S PROBABLY DUE TO THE FACT
THAT I GOT LOST CIRCLING THE
CAMPUS HERE.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT ME AS I
CIRCLED REPEATEDLY.
SO APOLOGIES FOR THAT.
BUT I DO WANT TO KEEP TALKING A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS VIDEO IN
THE SENSE THAT IT HIGHLIGHTS A
LOT OF MYTHS AND STEREOTYPES
THAT WE BRING WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT AGE.
WE HEARD FROM THE YOUNGER PEOPLE
THAT WHAT AGE THEY THOUGHT WAS
OLD, AND BEING ABLE TO SEE AN
OLDER PERSON DO CERTAIN THINGS
WAS REALLY SURPRISING TO THEM.
BUT HOW MANY OF US DO THAT IN
OUR WORKPLACE EVERY DAY?
AND MAYBE IT'S NOT ABOUT
PHYSICAL STRENGTH OR GREAT
ACTIVITIES, BUT MAYBE WE SEE AN
OLDER PERSON AND WE SAY OH,
THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN
LEARNING ANYTHING NEW.
OR THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.
WHAT YOU MAY FORGET IS THAT WE
MAY HAVE INVENTED THE TECHNOLOGY
THAT YOU'RE USING.
SO YOU KNOW, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, YOU KNOW, OLDER PEOPLE CAN
LEARN FROM YOUNGER PEOPLE.
IT'S CALLED REVERSE MENTORING.
MANY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE FORMAL
PROGRAMS TO FACILITATE THAT KIND
OF KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER.
SO I JUST LIKE TO SHARE THOSE
THOUGHTS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT.
THE OTHER THING I OFTEN THINK
ABOUT WITH AGE IS WHERE DO WE
FORM OUR IDEAS ABOUT AGE?
NOW WE'VE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S
CHILDHOOD, IT'S WHAT YOU
EXPERIENCE GROWING UP IN YOUR
FAMILY.
BUT IT'S ALSO THE EXAMPLES THAT
YOU SEE OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
SO AN EXAMPLE FOR ME IS, MY
MOTHER HAD FRIENDS OF OLDER
GENERATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WAS LIKE
THAT, I DON'T KNOW REALLY HOW IT
HAPPENED, BUT WHEN MY MOTHER WAS
IN HER 20s AND 30s, MANY OF
HER FRIENDS WERE IN THEIR 50s
AND 60s.
AND I BENEFITED FROM THIS
GREATLY.
WHEN I WAS 17, AND WANTED TO GET
A BETTER PART-TIME JOB, HER BEST
FRIEND WORKED AT J.C. PENNEY AND
GOT ME A JOB.
SO I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WORKING
WITH WOMEN WHO WERE IN THEIR
60s, AND IT DIDN'T FAZE ME A
BIT.
WHEN I HAD A POOL PARTY TO
CELEBRATE GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE,
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO
MY PARTY.
AND I DIDN'T BLINK AN EYE.
IT WAS JUST NORMAL FOR ME.
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT I
WAS FRIENDS WITH OLDER WOMEN.
SO AGAIN, YOUR ENVIRONMENT CAN
SHAPE WHERE YOU GET THESE IDEAS.
NOW, ABOUT THE WORKPLACE.
THERE IS AN ASPECT THAT WE
REALLY -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE
ALLUDED TO, WE HAVEN'T
MENTIONED.
I WANT TO SHARE ONE MORE QUICK
VIDEO WITH YOU TO DEMONSTRATE
THIS ASPECT OF AGE IN THE
WORKPLACE.
SO LET'S ROLL THE SECOND VIDEO,
PLEASE.
>> HI!
>> JUST ONE QUESTION REALLY
QUICK.
YOU'RE NOT OVER 40, ARE YOU?
>> NO.
>> PER FORECAST.
GREAT.
PER FORECAST.
>> I'M OVER 40.
>> WE ARE NOT SERVING ANYBODY
OVER 40 TODAY.
WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE A LITTLE
BIT YOUNGER VIBE TODAY.
YOU ARE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING FOR.
IF YOU'RE UNDER 40, I'M ACTUALLY
NOT GOING TO TAKE YOUR ORDER,
SIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
INTEREST.
>> WE'RE JUST TRYING SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
>> YOU'RE JUST NOT EXACTLY WHAT
WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
>> EVERY DAY, AGE DISCRIMINATION
HAPPENS IN THE WORKPLACE BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS.
AND WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT IT
WOULD LOOK LIKE OUT IN THE OPEN.
SO WE HID CAMERAS IN A FOOD
TRUCK AND REFUSED TO SERVE
ANYONE OVER 40.
>> ARE YOU UNDER 40?
>> NO.
THIS IS FOR MY DAUGHTER, NOT FOR
ME.
>> OH, IT'S FOR YOUR DAUGHTER.
AS LONG AS YOU DON'T EAT THEM.
OKAY.
DO YOU PROMISE THAT YOU WON'T
EAT THEM?
>> I PROMISE.
>> OKAY, OKAY.
>> ACTUALLY IF YOU COULD JUST
STEP AWAY FROM THE FOOD TRUCK
SINCE YOU'RE NOT UNDER 40?
AND I'LL BRING YOU THE -- I
DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU THE WRONG
IMPRESSION IF YOU'RE STANDING
OVER HERE.
YOU GUYS ARE UNDER 40, RIGHT?
OKAY, GREAT.
I CAN TAKE YOUR ORDER.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
HAPPENING.
>> THIS IS A STUPID THING,
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET REALLY
P -- THIS IS STUPID.
>> ARE YOU FOR REAL?
>> WALKING AWAY I FELT REALLY
UPSET.
I ALMOST STARTED CRYING.
I WAS UPDATING MY RESUME
RECENTLY AND I WANTED TO SOUND
EXPERIENCED WITHOUT SOUNDING TOO
OLD.
I HAVE TO SOUND YOUNG AND
RELEVANT.
>> OLDER PEOPLE JUST DON'T
REALLY FIT INTO OUR CULTURE.
>> THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
>> WE ACTUALLY DON'T THINK THIS
TRUCK IS A GOOD FIT FOR YOU.
>> I'M SORRY.
>> I WAS OUTRAGED.
THIS STUNT MAKES ME WANT TO TAKE
ACTION TO HELP OTHERS WHO MIGHT
BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE
OF THEIR AGE.
>> SO HAVE ANY OF YOU
EXPERIENCED AGE DISCRIMINATION?
HAVE YOU SEEN IT?
>> YES.
>> YOU HAVE?
OKAY.
SO I LIKE TO SHARE THAT VIDEO
BECAUSE IT'S A RIDICULOUS
EXAMPLE OF DISCRIMINATION, BUT
THINK ABOUT THE WORKPLACE WHEN A
JOB APPLICATION COMES ACROSS
YOUR DESK, OR YOU'RE IN A HIRING
TEAM AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT
PEOPLE'S CREDENTIALS AND YOU'RE
LIKE, OH, THIS PERSON HAS A LOT
OF EXPERIENCE, OH, THEY'RE
OVERQUALIFIED, WE DON'T WANT TO
CONSIDER THEM.
HOW MANY TIMES DOES SOMETHING
LIKE THAT HAPPEN?
IT'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN
TELLING SOMEBODY AT A FOOD
TRUCK, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SERVE
YOU.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THESE
ISSUES IN YOUR WORKPLACE, HOW
YOU'RE DOING YOUR HIRING, HOW
YOU'RE PROMOTING, HOW YOU'RE
CHOOSING WHO YOU'RE GOING TO
RETAIN.
I HAVE A FEW TIPS ABOUT WORKING
ACROSS AGE GROUPS, RECOGNIZING
THAT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES HAVE
VALUE, WORK STYLES, WORK
PREFERENCES, COMMUNICATIONS
MATTER, AND SO THINK ABOUT HOW
YOU'RE COMMUNICATING WITH ONE
ANOTHER.
FOCUS ON WHAT'S COMMON AMONG US
INSTEAD OF WHAT MAKES US
DIFFERENT.
IF YOU CAN DEVELOPED A MIXED AGE
TEAM, CONSIDER DOING THAT.
YOU WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM
THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, AND
I ALREADY TALKED A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT REVERSE MENTORING, BUT
MENTORING PROGRAMS ARE ALSO A
GREAT WAY TO DO IT.
FINALLY, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE
A COUPLE OF RESOURCES.
AARP HAS AN EMPLOYER PLEDGE
PROGRAM, WHERE WE WORK WITH
EMPLOYERS AND ASK THEM TO SHARE
INFORMATION, AND WE SHARE
INFORMATION WITH THEM BUT THEY
BASICALLY PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE
THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE, AND
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE 50-PLUS HAVE
A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE ANOTHER
LEARNING COLLABORATIVE.
IT'S CALLED THE LIVING, LEARNING
AND EARNING LONGER
COLLABORATIVE.
IT IS MADE UP OF PARTNERS WHO
WANT TO SHARE THEIR LEARNINGS
ABOUT HOW TO WORK WITH THE
MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE, SO
IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT IT, THE WEBSITE IS THERE.
IT'S A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AND THE
OECD AND AARP, AND I JUST WANT
TO SAY THANKS SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WOW, WE WANT TO THANK ALL OUR
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS FOR A
WONDERFUL PRESENTATION, AND
BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST OF TIME,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO INTO THE
FIRESIDE CHAT.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE
CAN ANSWER, ANY ONE QUESTION OR
TWO?
THANK YOU.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THIS INCREDIBLE
PRESENTATION.
WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT COMMENTS
ABOUT THE CONTENT THAT WAS
SHARED.
THERE ARE A FEW QUESTIONS, SO IN
THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL PICK
A FEW THAT -- OR MAYBE I'LL JUST
DO TWO.
SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS,
KEVIN WILLIAMS MENTIONED THAT
77% OF THE NIH WORKFORCE IS 40
OR OLDER.
HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO THE
AVERAGE WORKFORCE, AND THEN DO
YOU PERCEIVE THAT THIS GROUP
CHOOSING TO STAY IN THE
WORKFORCE INSTEAD OF RETIRING
WHEN THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO BE A
BARRIER FOR THE YOUNGER
GENERATION TO ENTER THE
WORKFORCE?
>> DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT?
WE'LL JUST DO ONE QUESTION.
>> OKAY.
SO I THINK THAT IT IS NOT
CORRECT TO ASSUME EMPLOYMENT IS
A ZERO SUM GAME.
OKAY?
SO THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR
YOUNGER WORKERS AND OLDER
WORKERS IN THE WORKFORCE.
ODDS ARE THAT A YOUNGER WORKER
IS NOT GOING TO BE COMING IN TO
SEEK A POSITION THAT IS AT THE
SAME LEVEL AS SOMEONE WHO MAY BE
MORE EXPERIENCED, SO I THINK
THOSE ARE POTENTIALLY TWO
DIFFERENT ISSUES.
ONE THING TO THINK ABOUT IN
TODAY'S WORKFORCES IS WE SHOULD
BE ENGAGING IN SKILLS-BASED
HIRING.
SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR, AGE IS
NOT A CREDENTIAL.
BUT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S
NOT A CREDENTIAL, IT'S ALSO NOT
A BARRIER.
SO IT IS THE SKILLS AND WHAT THE
JOB REQUIRES THAT SHOULD BE
DETERMINING WHO GETS THE JOB.
ASSUMING YOU CAN ELIMINATE
DISCRIMINATION IN YOUR HIRING
PROCESS.
SO THAT MEANS NOT USING A.I. TO
SCREEN OUT PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE
TOO MUCH EXPERIENCE, BUT IT ALSO
MEANS SCREENING OUT WHERE PEOPLE
WENT TO SCHOOL, GENDER, NAMES,
YOU KNOW, IT'S TRYING TO MAKE
THE HIRING PROCESS BASED ON THE
PERSON'S EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
AND ABILITY TO DO THE JOB THAT
YOU'RE HIRING FOR.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> DO WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE
OR WE'RE GOOD?
>> JUST QUICKLY, THERE USED TO
BE A TIME IN OUR HISTORY WHERE
PEOPLE WANTED TO GET A GOOD
GOVERNMENT JOB.
THE REALITY OF IT IS, THE
YOUNGER PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE EARLY IN THEIR CAREERS, DO
NOT LOOK AT GOVERNMENT SERVICE
IN THE SAME WAY THAT OLDER
GENERATIONS DID.
AND SO THIS IS NOT JUST AN NIH
ISSUE.
IT'S ACROSS GOVERNMENT.
AND WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB
OF TELLING ABOUT OUR STORY AND
WHY PUBLIC SERVICE IS SUCH A
GREAT COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE EARLY IN THEIR CAREERS.
>> ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE?
WITH A QUESTION?
>> SO ANOTHER QUESTION --
>> THIS WILL BE OUR LAST
QUESTION.
>> OKAY.
ANOTHER QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED,
FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE
CAREGIVERS OR SEE CAREGIVING AS
A PART OF OUR FUTURE, WHAT
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP
BALANCE CAREGIVING IN ADDITION
TO YOUR EVERYDAY OBLIGATIONS?
>> I'M BACK.
SO I CAN RECOMMEND RESOURCES
FROM AARP.
WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST SITE ABOUT
CAREGIVING AND RESOURCES TO
ASSIST CAREGIVERS.
WE'VE DONE RESEARCH ON
CAREGIVING.
WE CAN TELL YOU THAT 25 -- I
THINK IT WAS LIKE 25% OF
MILLENNIALS ARE ACTUALLY
CAREGIVERS FOR AN OLDER ADULT IN
THEIR HOUSEHOLD.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF CAREGIVING
GOING ON.
IT'S NOT REALLY BASED ON HOW OLD
YOU ARE, IT'S AFFECTING PEOPLE
OF ALL AGES.
ONE THING THAT WE HAVE AT AARP
IS CAREGIVING LEAVE, WHERE
EMPLOYEES GET TWO WEEKS OF PAID
LEAVE TO TAKE CARE OF CAREGIVING
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THEIR
FAMILY.
I DON'T THINK THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS THAT AS A
BENEFIT.
YET.
BUT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT
COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THE
FUTURE.
BUT ANYWAY, CHECK OUT OUR
WEBSITE.
>> I CAN ALSO JUST ADD FROM THE
STATE UNIT ON AGING THAT WE HAVE
19 AAAs, AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING ACROSS MARYLAND.
EVERY STATE HAS AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING, AND THERE ARE NATIONAL
FAMILY CAREGIVER PROGRAMS THAT
PROVIDE SUPPORT AS WELL AS
PROGRAMS THAT OFFER RESPITE, AND
THERE ARE ALSO EVIDENCE-BASED
PROGRAMS THROUGH THE AAA NETWORK
THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT TO HELP
STRENGTHEN THE CAREGIVER AND TO
REALLY ENHANCE THAT EXPERIENCE.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
SO AS YOU SEE, THIS IS AN
INTERESTING TOPIC THAT WE COULD
SPEND ALL DAY, I'M A
GERONTOLOGIST SO I COULD SPEND
ALL DAY TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT WE
WON'T.
AND WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO
IS DEVELOP PROGRAMS AS NEEDED,
AS THOSE QUESTIONS COME IN,
WE'LL DETERMINE WHAT PROGRAMS WE
NEED.
OUR PANELISTS, WE WILL SHARE
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT NOW IN
REFRAMING HOW WE THINK ABOUT
AGING IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
AND IT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT, AND
I'M SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF
NIH'S PLATFORM IN DOING THIS, SO
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
[APPLAUSE]
AND SO CAN YOU GIVE AN APPLAUSE
TO OUR DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS
TODAY FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT
AND COMING TO JOIN US AS WE
START THIS INITIATIVE?
I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY, AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU AND THE AUDIENCE AND
EVERYBODY ONLINE FOR JOINING US.
PLEASE FOLLOW EDI ON NIH'S
WEBSITE AND YOU WILL FIND MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
DOING, YOU'LL SEE PLATFORMS
ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND JOIN
US.
WE WOULD LIKE TO COLLABORATE
WITH YOUR CENTER OR INSTITUTION,
WE'D LOVE TO BRING TRAINING
ABOUT AGEISM TO THAT.
WE'LL BE DOING BROWN BAG LUNCHES
SOON.
SO WE WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF
THAT.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US, AND WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME.
[APPLAUSE]