Embrace aging as an adventure, expert suggests
Speaker at Sept. 29 Calgary Seniors event says `every age has its pros and cons'
The fact that every living person in the world is getting older with every breath is nothing new, but what is new is society's evolving approach to aging, says an expert in the field.
It's true that in a society that glorifies a culture of youth, misconceptions about aging still exist — and significant improvements need to occur to shatter stereotypes about older adults, says Carl Honoré.
“But I think that 10 years ago the idea of aging was more horrifying ... than it is today,” says Honoré, who will be speaking Sept. 29 at an inaugural breakfast event called One for the Ages, organized by Calgary Seniors' Resource Society.
“It (aging) is not the chambers of horror view of later life” that some people once believed, he says. “The cult of youth has its cold, icy fingers wrapped around our necks and it's a difficult thing to unwind.
But it's not impossible and I think the dial is moving.”
One only needs to look at advertising, marketing or Instagram influencers to see a growing number of older adults taking centre stage. It's important we share more stories about people of all ages — stories that are more realistic, more honest and thus more optimistic, says Honoré, whose latest book is called Bolder: Making The Most Of Our Longer Lives.
“Any age can be wonderful. Every age has its pros and cons. Every age can be marvellous, but only if you stop pining for the past and shrinking from the future,” says Honoré.
“It's about embracing the present and making the most of whatever age you are at the moment and not apologizing for it.”
That type of approach to life is increasingly important, says Lori Paine, executive director of Calgary Seniors' Resource Society, especially when one looks at population trends.
In 20 years, people older than 65 years of age will make up 25 per cent of Canada's population.
“As Canada's and Alberta's population ages, our collective attention must turn, more and more, toward the role, value and potential of older people in our businesses and our communities. That's why we collectively need to start looking at aging as an adventure and as an opportunity to take on new challenges.”
That's also why Calgary Seniors has expanded its services and reach — through its network community and 2,700-plus volunteers — to better meet client needs.
“Simply put, we are building a community where seniors no longer face barriers that are holding them back from the life they want and deserve — a world free of ageism, with housing where they always feel safe, in a community where they can thrive, (and) with support systems to live independently,” Paine says.
Tickets for the One For the Ages event — which will also include remarks from Top 7 Over 70 founder Jim Gray — are available through eventbrite.ca.