Let’s Talk About Ageism Differently – the Dr. Bill way
Dr. Bill Thomas, recognized as one of America’s top 10 innovators who are changing the future of retirement in America, is a gerontologist who doesn’t mince his words. He has long been on a mission to beat ageism, the ubiquitous prejudice with stinging and stunting negative impacts on health and wellbeing. I couldn’t resist signing up when I saw he was offering a 7-session course - Playing to
Win! Global Symposium on Aging Magnificently. What a delightful and uplifting thought! When I saw that Ashton Applewhite’s Old School would benefit, I was sold. We’re halfway through, but I don’t want to wait to share my strongest takeaways, so far.
The Antidote
His conviction is that each one of us can, at no cost, go to work immediately on eradicating ageism by consciously
building greater age literacy and being an instrument in raising literacy all around us. His message is that we can all age magnificently and the better we understand the truth of the matter, the better job we can do. Our struggle is to diffuse the toxic power of ageism and set ourselves free to live our lives fully – “through the last breath”, as our co-founder Jan Hively says.
Growth and Development - the Business of Life
Our first objective is to banish the ageism “between our ears”. Then, to recognize that the business of being alive is growth and development – it’s a built-in imperative shared by all – it has no age. It is activated by the first slap on the back for the newborn and present till it slips out with the last breath. Each stage has its
challenges. The design of the course makes it possible to enroll late. If you’re tempted to explore the path of ageing magnificently, take a look here. I will share more as we progress. Moira Allan
Co-Founder & International Coordinator
Pass It On Network |
GLOBAL 50/50 ONLINE CONVERSATION
Our August Global PIONeer 50/50 Online Conversation will encourage open discussion about the first 6 months of
2023.
Please bring along your insights, ideas, and questions you’d like to share or receive feedback on. Monday, 14 August
1pm EDT / 5pm GMT / 7pm CEST / 7pm SAST Find your local time. View Time Zone Converter here. |
If you missed our April 50/50,
check it out on
our PION YouTube Channel! Ageing with Dignity: Nigeria's Policy Innovations towards Enhanced Senior Well-Being Emem Omokaro Ph.D., Director-General of National Senior
Citizens Center (NSCC), has been traveling Africa's largest country bringing this policy to life. The objective is to have a society where senior citizens are guaranteed security, independence, participation, comprehensive care, self-fulfillment and
dignity. |
Every month Moira Allan, our co-founder and international coordinator, hosts an Open House for anyone who wants to find out more about our network. We offer a choice of two sessions to accommodate PION’s global outreach. |
Americas, Europe, Africa
Tuesday, 15 August
1pm EDT / 5pm GMT
7pm CEST / 7pm SAST | Asia,
Australasia
Wednesday, 16 August
7am CEST / 10:30am IST
1pm SGT / 3pm AEST |
Signs that Things are Moving |
OWEGA Intersessional Leading up to the 14th session in 2024 Activities fostering the UN Convention (treaty) protecting the human rights of
older persons are happening this summer and fall, says Margaret Young, chairperson of GAROP (the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People), and PIONeer from Vancouver, Canada. All of us can contribute and collectively bring about the outcome we want – a UN Convention!
The UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing in New York (OEWGA) is now seeking specific evidence of gaps in human rights promotion and protection, and recommendations on how best to
address the gaps that are identified.
Raise Our Voices
PIONeers can provide evidence on human rights promotion and protection in their countries and regions and join in the global call for a UN Convention. Activities scheduled in New York include a call for international input through a Questionnaire and Briefing Sessions.
The deadline
for submitting responses to the questionnaire is 24 November 2023. It is available here and it is not too early to start discussing it with members of your organizations to collect their input. In parallel, the UN Human Rights Council will have the human rights of older persons on its
September meeting agenda. PIONeers with ECOSOC status are needed to advocate support for the UN Convention at the Human Rights Council meeting.
In addition, GAROP (the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People) is producing tools and campaign actions to magnify the visibility of these important activities and help all of us to be more responsive. The importance of raising our collective voices cannot be over-emphasized.
PIONeers are asked to mobilize nationally and regionally to participate in the UN activities, share ideas, and leverage GAROP’s tools and campaign actions. The South African regional group is already active. Please contact Moira Allan if you have an interest, and we will get the PION planning sessions coordinated with Margaret Young. Meanwhile, this GAROP website is a mine of continuously updated information. Our Voices are Getting Louder - Organize, Speak Out! By 2050 – 17 years ahead – the number of 65+-year-olds in Great Britain will have risen to 17-million from today’s 11-million. What is the situation in your country? - Are you satisfied with how older people are represented?
- Is there a dedicated commissioner, or government department?
- Are older people
considered along with disabled people as “dependents”?
Beatrice Sithole, our PIONeer country lead in Zimbabwe, was instrumental in getting a similar umbrella body started. |
Switched On Seniors Love their iPads
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Ten years ago, Sheena Edwards, a PIONeer in Perth, Australia, received an iPad for a present and set out to find someone to teach her how to use it! She landed up not only teaching herself, but founding Switched on Seniors to help others learn. Today her work is recognized throughout Western Australia and she’s taught hundreds of seniors and trained hundreds of volunteers to enable seniors to navigate in the digital world. Her Club’s work was honored by the local television in their feature on people and organizations making their communities better places for all. India - Agewell Foundation’s Research Findings from the World’s Most Populous Nation As New Delhi’s flooding Yamuna River forces thousands to evacuate their homes, our thoughts focus on the Agewell Foundation, a not-for-profit organization based in New Delhi and much admired by the Pass It On Network for its unrelenting work for the welfare and empowerment of older persons of India since
1999. Through its nationwide network, Agewell interacts with over 25,000 older persons on a daily basis. Recognizing the work being done by the Agewell Foundation, ECOSOC has granted it special status. The Agewell Foundation is currently associated with the Working Group on Awareness and Capacity Building for Senior Citizens, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, the Sub-Group on Elderly Care, under the Standing Committee and Committee of Experts on “impact of COVID-19 pandemic on
human rights and future response”, and the National Human Rights Commission. The foundation conducts regular research on issues confronting older people. See these excerpts from the organization's latest research papers: |
Sleep
Disorders
Emerging Health
Issues
in Old Age | Right to Health and Access to Health Services in Old Age With Special Focus on
Social
Inclusion
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PION Click-Ons to Pass-On |
SINGAPORE - Odds for ageing independently go up by 18% when you step up your exercise and food diet. Those who pursue a healthier lifestyle by exercising regularly and having a plant-based diet, for instance, can raise their chances of living independently in old age, with no
cognitive impairment and without severe chronic diseases like cancer. Read more. The Charter for Compassion was started through the determination of Dr Karen Armstrong, a respected scholar considering the connective tissue between religions. Today, more than 440
cities and communities in 54 countries have signed up to develop and promote compassionate initiatives. The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated. |
You’ll enjoy Dori Mintzer’s radio interview with Dr. Ruth Nemzoff, author of Don't Bite Your Tongue: How to Foster Rewarding Relationships with Your Adult Children and Don't Roll Your Eyes: Making In-Laws into Family and is a resident scholar at Brandeis Women's Studies Research
Center. She is also the mother of four adults and speaks from experience. Listen in here. |
** STUDY TOUR POSTPONED ** 15-24 0ctober - International Study Tour on Active Ageing
It
is with great regret that we announce the postponement of the planned study tour to South Korea and Singapore due to an insufficient number of registrants at the cut-off date. Sincere apologies to those who did register and grateful thanks to those in South Korea and in Singapore who are standing by with stimulating programs. We will keep you informed of future dates. ACAP Webinar - Active Aging in JapanIf you’re interested in how ageing is impacting the labor market, don’t miss this in-depth view of what’s already happening in Japan, the world’s oldest nation. Join us for ACAP's July 2023 webinar on Active Aging in Japan. Our PIONeer leader, Cullen Hayashida, has developed a report with recommendations on 11 strategies for countries with a shrinking population of workers due to low birthrates,
and a high proportion of older adults who are “ageing out” of the workforce and claiming pensions. Register here. The 8th Golden Age Expo and Summit (GAES 2023) An in-person event, initiated by Rebecca Choy’s Golden Age Foundation takes place at Hall 5G, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Register online
here. 23-24 August
Johannesburg, South Africa. Afrolongevity Summit on Improving Geroprotective Policy and Technology. 3-6 September
Israel, EURAG Council on Financial Security in Later Years 18-19 September SilverEco & Ageing Well International Festival in Cannes September is a great time to visit Cannes in France and participate in the dynamic two-day Silver Eco Ageing Well International Festival. Enjoy the buzz of world innovators in the field of ageing, the Expo
forum, and the International Awards Gala Ceremony. There will be a rich program with panel discussions, sand conferences, business networking and the SilverEco Study Tour. Send in your candidate’s form now for the international trophy for innovation and get your free B2B access pass from Liliane Carvalho here. 1 October
IDOP (International Day of Older People) PLAN AHEAD
Theme: Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World
Almost 700 million people are now over the age of 60. By 2050, 2
billion people, over 20% of the world’s population, will be 60 or older. The greatest and the most rapid growth will be in the developing world, with Asia as the region with the largest number of older persons, and Africa facing the largest proportionate growth. |
Advocating for the Rights of Older People
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