Rethinking Aging

Ask yourself: "Am I looking forward to aging?"  

We are living (aging) in unprecedented times, the beneficiaries of a century of medical and public health advancements that have added decades to our lives. (And those of us with positive attitudes about aging get a bonus 7.5 years!) By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be age 65+, simultaneously surpassing the number of children for the first time in history. Now is the time for us to proactively embrace this imminent demographic shift and the opportunities it can, and should, present.

Our aging society is often portrayed as an impending crisis... and if we continue to find ways to "prevent" (postpone) death while doing little to improve our health as we age, if we continue to ignore pervasive ageism (and internalized ageism) and the many ways in which it harms us, perhaps we will in fact be overwhelmed with unmet needs for care amidst a workforce shortage as people age alone en masse, with poorly managed chronic health conditions and disabilities, and probably outlive their savings, too. OR... we recognize, and begin to harness, this wealth of untapped power: we learn to ride the "age wave" rather than be drowned by a "silver tsunami." (Think surfing, vs. a natural disaster!)

We all have value, at every age and stage of our lives. When we age with purpose, when we are seen and valued, we will age better. We will not only live longer lives, but also healthier lives. We will all need care at different times throughout our lives, but much can be done to reduce the duration and extent of that need as we age, particularly if we adopt policies that allows all of us to age – and contribute – in our community of choice, not just independently but, rather, inter-dependently, with dignity, security, connection, and purpose.

I hope your answer to my opening question was a resounding "Yes!" And if not... what needs to be different about your life or the community/world you live in so that you DO look forward to aging (or at least you don't fear or dread it)? My life's purpose is to contribute towards a world where we all see longer lives as a gift. I am driven to increase my scope of influence to improve how we perceive and experience aging, and help create a world where we all benefit from the “longevity dividend.” I want to help reimagine how we – individuals, businesses, institutions, and governments at all levels – plan for these longer lives, to meaningfully contribute and take advantage of these extra years we've been given.

-- Kris Kaufmann Brown, Founder, LongevityLens.org