Spotlight on: “The Later Daters”
Michelle Obama’s new docuseries follows six older adults, ages 56 to 71, as they wade back into the dating pool. Helping them stay afloat are their children, close friends, and a relationship expert. Does dating get easier as one ages? No, but there can be some unexpected rewards. Streaming now on Netflix.
You Know “the talk” You’re Dreading? It’s Time.
According to a study by VITAS Healthcare, only 22% of the U.S. population has an end-of-life plan in place. While American culture treats death as a taboo subject, it’s an inevitability for all of us. Discussing and documenting decisions around dying can strengthen familial relationships, and is a gift to loved ones. Read about how to take the first steps in initiating this important talk.
Inside Ted Danson’s New Netflix Series
Cheers to Danson & Co. for creating a show that doesn't shy away from the topic of aging. “A Man on the Inside” is a comedy, but one that also highlights some weighty themes, including the fact that life doesn’t stop just because you get older. Streaming now.
Words Matter
Attendees at the annual Gerontological Society of America (GSA) conference took a deep dive into how words can propagate ageism and bolster negative stereotypes of older adults. Actions included analyzing 62 million social media posts on the platform X for ageist terminology, and examining how older characters are described in children’s books. One notable, concrete effort was petitioning two of the world’s most respected dictionaries—Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam Webster—to update their definitions of ageism to encompass a broader description of who is impacted. Results TBD.
What We’re Reading this Week: “The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond”
Author Debra Whitman, an economist and aging expert, offers a roadmap for living a healthier and more meaningful second half of life. Two key insights:
Mind Over Matter – Yes, healthy habits are critical to longevity, but mindset has a significant impact as well. Researchers found that those with positive attitudes of aging can live more than seven years longer than cohorts with negative outlooks.
Older Workers Are a Force – More older Americans are working than ever before, and contrary to what many believe, studies show they are a benefit to the economy and to their employers, activating both productivity and innovation.
The Keys to Aging Well? Self Care and Attitude
In a recent survey by the New York Times, more than 3,100 participants shared how their form of self care has evolved as they’ve aged. Focusing on six older Americans and their lifestyles, the Times delves into how aging impacts individual views on aging and staying vibrant.
Rebranding the Senior Center
Think senior centers are all about bingo, bland food, and boring TV? Well, think again. Galvanized by a demographic evolution—specifically, a large swath of adults living longer, more active lives, today’s senior centers are dropping the word “senior” from their names, and offering pickleball, tech labs, speed dating, and more.
Getting a Leg up on Aging
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
It’s Not Just the Quantity, It’s the Quality
A recent study reveals that while life expectancy has increased–thanks in large part to medical advances–it is reaching its limit. Researchers suggest shifting the focus from lifespan to healthspan, with a sharper focus on the biology of aging.
Caring About Caregiving
Health care providers, and other field professionals, recommend five books on caregiving—for the many who find themselves caring for family members, yet have no medical training or experience.
Take a Vacation from Aging? Not Really.
According to new research, travel can provide numerous health benefits, including alleviating chronic stress, and boosting physical exertion and mental engagement. And we’re not talking about time travel! Experts posit that engaging both mind and body is critical to healthy aging and, potentially, delaying age-related decline.
Advance Planning Is Critical in the Path to Aging Well
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Ben Franklin
According to the New York Times article, “Going Solo: How to Plan for Retirement When You’re on Your Own,” about 60 percent of solo agers— older people without dependable assistance from adult children or other family—have not developed a plan for addressing financial, medical, and estate issues should their health falter. While it can be difficult and emotionally fraught, it is critical to outline a detailed roadmap for decision-making and handling affairs, for so many reasons, including peace of mind. And, this is true for all older folks, not just those living alone. As another quotable icon (Winston Churchill) said, “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.”
Better Living Through Chemistry
Can a magic pill render age and aging irrelevant? The New York Times reports that Rapamycin, prescribed to organ transplant patients to suppress their immune systems, is now being explored by a much broader group for the purpose of extending healthy years and delaying age-related diseases. Health advocate and anti-aging influencer Dr. Peter Attia is one of the champions for the substance being hailed as the “gold standard” for extending life.
The ABCs of DNRs
What Does DNR Stand For? In theory, DNR means Do Not Resuscitate, and is a medical order stating that CPR, and other resuscitative measures, should not be performed. But in reality, it is not that simple. When it comes to end-of-life decisions, there are gray areas, family dynamics, and medical miscalculations.
The Wrinkle in How We Discuss Aging
We wholeheartedly agree the term “anti-aging” has outlived its merit, exacerbating our culture’s unhealthy and unacceptable embrace of ageism. One wrinkle: we also support— conceptually and literally— the beauty industry. Read Next Avenue’s article to better understand the multiple issues, viewpoints, and contradictions inherent in wanting to improve one’s appearance, while not appearing ageist.
The Complexity and Empowerment of Deciding When It’s Time to Go
Finding peace in controlling your own destiny can be powerful. But when it comes to choosing when and how to die, not everyone has the privilege of making those choices . In his short documentary for the New York Times, Guillermo F. Flórez focuses on an 86-year-old woman in Spain who is ready to leave, while those around her struggle to understand.
Are Aging Bursts the New Growth Spurts?
Everyone is familiar with the concept of growth spurts – short periods of rapid physical growth among maturing children and adolescents. Interestingly, Stanford University recently identified another kind of swift corporeal change common to humans – the aging burst. Research found that aging is not, in fact, a gradual process. Rather, older adults experience accelerated maturation cycles at two distinct times, typically occurring at 44 and 60 years of age.
Negotiator in Chief Lands Lower Costs for Senior Drugs
In addition to successfully negotiating the recent release of hostages unlawfully held in Russia, the Biden administration completed an unprecedented agreement to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. NPR reports that the first tranche of negotiated medications include crucial diabetes, cancer, blood clot, and arthritis treatments. The expected savings to taxpayers and Medicare will total billions.
A Horror Movie About Ageism in the Workplace–And No, It’s Not a Documentary
A new movie focused on ageism in the workplace melds sci-fi and horror as protagonist Demi Moore pursues cloning science to create a younger and more perfect version of herself. Covered by The Hollywood Reporter, the film also stars Randy Quaid and is directed by Cannes Award-winner Coralie Fargeat.
With Age Comes Wisdom–For Real
A lot has been said about age in the past few months with a harsh spotlight cast on President Biden. The prevailing theme is that assumed age-related decline is worse than assumed criminal record.
However, studies show that aging and cognitive decline are not necessarily synonymous. In fact, mature adults tend to gain greater leadership qualities. Spotlighting several studies, Fortune reports on key advantages older people have over those years younger, including broadened and more reasoned perspective and even resiliency. Case in point: One study of 1,000 people aged 18–76, revealed that during the early days of the pandemic, older adults reported more resilience than younger people.