A live & interactive discussion with the author of AGEISM UNMASKED a bold account of the history and present-day realities of ageism.
Dr. Tracey Gendron A nationally recognized gerontologist and speaker uncovers ageism’s roots, impact, and how each of us can create a new reality of elderhood”
Questions Asked
Chat Transcript
12:09:46 From Sherry Shultz : Excited to hear Tracey! She is an amazing leader in this industry. Sherry Shultz, DwellAssured
12:09:57 From Sharon Parver to Hosts and panelists : Hi Steve and Tracey: So glad you are talking about ageism.
12:10:10 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Sharon Parver to All Panelists 12:09 PM
Hi Steve and Tracey: So glad you are talking about ageism.
12:10:20 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : From Audra Backaitis to All Panelists 12:07 PM
So glad to see VCU represented here.
12:11:10 From Ann Heizer to Hosts and panelists : Changing the Paradigm of Aging happens when one actually ages :)
12:12:14 From Meg LaPorte : Agreed Steve! Ageism is something that we all have the potential to experience.
12:12:25 From Mariann Aalda to Hosts and panelists : Ordered the book on Amazon. It came yesterday and I can’t put it down!!!
12:13:07 From mary busse : If we are lucky, we get old?!?
12:13:28 From Sharon Parver : Please to share resources from LeadingAge, where Tracey has worked as a partner on ageism education.
12:13:34 From Sharon Parver : https://leadingage.org/knowledge-center/ageism
12:16:09 From Edwin Smith : One of my favorite comments to make when the topic of ageism comes up is to remind others that ageism is discrimination against our future self
12:16:11 From Ann Heizer : We CAN Change The Way We Age! At any age
12:16:29 From Arlene Polangin : I think women experience "ageism" more and earlier than men !
12:17:29 From Adriane Berg : Ageism causes constant negative thinking around ageing and fear of aging that can be changed with replacing those thoughts with an awareness of the joy of aging
12:17:36 From Jose Ramos : Ageism is irrational. "It is the manifestation of our prejudice to our futre selves." TG
12:17:42 From Mariann Aalda to Hosts and panelists : Hate the term “ageless.” I am ageFULL. I want credit for all my years.
12:17:43 From Rick Banas : Given that our cultural is so focused on youth - "It's All about the Children" - do we need a Move Too Movement for older adults?
12:17:52 From veda vazquez : i have been 33 for at least 7 years
12:18:15 From Howard Marks : Ageism is a serious problem faced in the hiring process. Regardless of how well-qualified they are, seniors are discriminated against by human resources departments and hiring authorities. This is not tolerated for other protected classes--why aren't the organizations who claim to protect seniors won't speak out on their behalf? What needs to be done?
12:18:36 From ellen Sirkis to Hosts and panelists : Please let Dr. Gendron speak and share her knowledge with us.
12:19:09 From Adriane Berg : How do you see the cosmetics industry etc that is now trying to see elders are beautiful...do you think it will work as well as Black is Beautiful..Can ads change our thinking about ageing
12:19:38 From Matt Thornhill : Perhaps another question to pose to audiences is “who here wants to live a long life? Everyone who raises their hand therefore needs to become a champion for growing older.
12:19:49 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook to ellen Sirkis and all panelists : got it
12:19:57 From Ann Heizer : “Forked us” that’s for sure!
12:20:31 From Ann Heizer : Living long and living a QUALITY of life are very different
12:21:19 From Adriane Berg : The new TAME trial is seeking how Metformin might add healthy years to all our lives...but the FDA may require ageing to be categorized as a disease...how shall we balance better health with such labels?
12:21:29 From Ann Heizer : Elder care is very cultural though ~ in Africa, the elderly are treated very differently
12:22:21 From Adriane Berg : Yes Ann..I am on the UN NGO on Ageing Commiittee and ageism is very cultural
12:22:27 From Meg LaPorte : Do you believe the industry should address and confront ageism in their work?
12:22:37 From Adriane Berg : what do you think of the over 55 community?
12:23:01 From Meg LaPorte : Segregating older people by age and ability is both ageism and ableism IMO.
12:23:29 From Ann Heizer : I believe early education on PREVENTION (who knew?) can help the generation understand the impact on their choices from an early age
12:24:05 From Edwin Smith : 55+ communities contribute to ageism
12:24:21 From Jacke Schroeder : Good Afternoon. Jacke Schroeder, Director of Elder Abuse Awareness at CHANA in Baltimore. jschroeder@associated.org
12:24:32 From Beverly Allen : Ageism occurs all the time in the work place -especially when applying for a position where a younger Recruiter is reviewing your resume
12:24:47 From Howard Marks : If President Biden runs for reelection in 2026
12:25:47 From Ann Heizer : Definitely!
12:26:23 From Meg LaPorte : Yes! That’s so true, Tracy!
12:26:42 From Beverly Allen : I agree also
12:29:10 From Ann Heizer : THIS needs to be in the school curriculum
12:29:42 From Howard Marks : If President Biden runs for reelection in 2024, he will be near 82 and serves a second term he would be 86. Is this a good thing or a bad thing for seniors as every time he mentally stumbles the know nothings will blame his forgetfulness on his age.
12:31:02 From Adriane Berg : I do use successful aging and my talk helps people define success anew
12:31:11 From Audra Backaitis to Hosts and panelists : There's ageism within these communities, too
12:31:26 From Edwin Smith : Keep in mind, everyone, that ageism doesn't just apply to older adults. It is also ageism when we discriminate against young people though, admittedly, it doesn't occur as often or have the same impact
12:31:28 From bob hoffman to Hosts and panelists : This is why AARP dropped the word RETIREMENT from theirr name - and now is just called AARP
12:32:45 From Earnestine Thomas : What are your thoughts on Age Friendly communicates?
12:33:22 From bob hoffman to Hosts and panelists : Do you think the Advocacy work of AARP in fighting for elder rights a form of ageism
12:33:51 From Ann Heizer : YES!!!
12:34:48 From Gail Crockett : One of the benefits of Covid has been I have a ton of friends who grew their hair and let the grey showed and have decided to live with it proudly.
12:36:53 From Meg LaPorte : Wow! Hadn’t thought about how AI can get that way. That makes sense, sadly.
12:37:25 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : The era of blind faith in big data must end | Cathy O'Neil https://youtu.be/_2u_eHHzRto
12:37:36 From Karen Lekashman to Hosts and panelists : Where is your book sold – I am only finding an audible version of Amazon.
12:37:57 From Arlene Polangin : One of the reasons the tech industry wants to hire younger people is that they can pay them less. My 40 years old son experienced this. He won't accept $30,000 whereas a 22 year old might.
12:38:54 From Beverly Allen : Hi Arlene, Great post. I believe this occurs across all platforms.
12:39:17 From mary busse : it would be interesting to know how many "old" people use Zoom.
12:40:28 From Edwin Smith : Yep. I was let go because my company could hire 2 young project managers for what I was being paid after 20 years of annual raises
12:41:01 From Audra Backaitis to Hosts and panelists : And those workers don't get paid anywhere near what docs do!
12:41:08 From Beverly Allen : Hi Edwin. So sorry to hear this....but it happens and there is no recourse.
12:42:00 From Arlene Polangin : Yes, it's so sad when it happens. Hard for you and hard for me as parent … what do I say. I listen and hope....
12:42:03 From Ann Heizer : The Rest of our years can be the BEST of our years!
12:42:24 From Jacke Schroeder : I think elderhood is THE Prime of Life!
12:42:35 From N Lederman : Hello, remember when Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick asked older adults to let themselves die as opposed being treat for COVID to "save" younger people? And he is 71?
12:42:35 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook to Karen Lekashman and all panelists : https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/700435/ageism-unmasked-by-tracey-gendron/
12:42:55 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Book from the publishers website https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/700435/ageism-unmasked-by-tracey-gendron/
12:43:25 From Ann Heizer : YES ~ Age is not a choice, however WISOM is!!
12:43:48 From Ann Heizer : When you stop PLAYING!! :)
12:44:08 From Jacke Schroeder : Two great books: Connie Zweig: The Inner Work of Age; Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, z"l: From Aging to Sage-ing
12:44:30 From Arlene Polangin : Steve: read back from when I retired and was asked what I was going to do. She might enjoy what I answered: there's a whole world out there to experience and I'm looking forward to do whatever I want/
12:44:43 From Howard Marks : Seniors are being terrorized by e-scooters on America's sidewalks. Many seniors have been injured with local units of governments unwilling to protect seniors. Why are seniors so devalued?
12:45:11 From Matt Thornhill : We need to stop being ashamed of our age. Do you willing tell people how old you are? We did when we were younger, but at some point we’re embarrassed to admit our age.
12:45:14 From Rick Banas : What do you think about AARP classifying older adults as individuals 50+?
12:45:42 From Christy MacCormack : Thank you Tracey, I am going to order your book today. My 92 year old Father always tells people when we are out and about 65 years ago I was wearing a Chicago Bears uniform. Do I just smile at that or do you recommend saying you are just as wonderful and valuable today as you were 65 years ago?
12:46:11 From Amber Sultane : I am there now! I so look forward to my elderhood and I am ready to give up the house and live in a lovely “retirement” community. I see no harm in going back to “college” living.
12:47:17 From Ann Heizer : All you need to do is watch TV to see how socially conditioned we are...
12:47:36 From Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Link to Becca Levy https://ysph.yale.edu/profile/becca_levy/
12:48:24 From Matt Thornhill : We also need to eliminate the expression “…for her age” as a way we describe older adults.
12:49:08 From Sharon Parver : How do we respond to outright ageism: dress up like a 100 year old in schools, ageist greeting cards, pharmacy anti-ageism and all of the daily insults that older adults are subjected to on a regular basis?
12:50:11 From Ann Heizer : ????
12:50:22 From bob hoffman to Hosts and panelists : Love the book - I worry that illness and body degradation are UNDERESTIMATED. When you do not feel well or very vulnerable due to “normal” aging. It is a great psychological hurdle that often prevents healthy elderhood.
12:50:40 From Meg LaPorte : Hear hear!
12:50:55 From Ann Heizer : Busting the Paradigms of Aging!!
12:51:14 From Adriane Berg : how just I am 51...and leave it at that.
12:51:20 From Arlene Polangin : I've never hidden the real age I am!!
12:51:21 From Matt Thornhill : Check out https://openlygray.org for one organization focusing on the positive side of the equation.
12:51:40 From Kathleen Winters to Hosts and panelists : The term “senior” is used to describe so many communities, centers, etc. and connotes for many a negative term. Is there a more inclusive, positive term?
12:52:32 From Adriane Berg : yes in my talks we cover terror management and move fear to joy...but with ageist messages bombarding us we have to be strong to be fearless
12:52:49 From David Slupe : I've heard it said that old-age is like a foreign country, you do not know what it is like until you have visited it. Is it really that foreign to our society? Are there cultural differences between the generations?
12:54:59 From Mariann Aalda to Hosts and panelists : Reclaiming OLD like the body positivity movement has claimed and reframed FAT.
12:56:00 From Arlene Polangin : My PCP started with me 20 years ago. I'm not her oldest patient. She's great!
12:56:35 From Amber Sultane to Hosts and panelists : Hi Steve! Excellent talk! Thank you so much for this program! I have to go to another mtg. Keep up the great work! I so appreciate all you do!
12:56:38 From Christy MacCormack to Hosts and panelists : Thank you!!!
12:57:55 From Ann Heizer : Yes @David! You only know when you get there :)
12:58:07 From Elva Roy : I think over-diagnosis, over treatment, over medicalization, over prescribing is ageist.
12:58:15 From Audra Backaitis to Hosts and panelists : We have to combat ageismiamong older people themselves
12:59:30 From Beverly Allen : Hi Elva, some physicians may underdiagnose - that blame it on age and may feel certain types of support is not required - due to age.
13:00:41 From Beverly Allen : Excellent discussion!
13:00:44 From Jacke Schroeder : Thanks very much! Excellent presentation!!
13:00:52 From Audra Backaitis to Hosts and panelists : Thanks so much!
13:01:04 From Gail Crockett : Thank You excellent discussion. Much appreciate.
13:01:07 From David Slupe : Great topic, I will check out the book!
13:01:09 From Elissa Clark : Thank you!
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