Engaging with Ageing

Rationale 

Engaging with ageing is an early-stage project that is intended to reframe how we think of and react to ageing.  This means our own ageing, societal response to ageing and the effects of ageing particularly in the older stages of the life course.  It is intended to promote radical change in terms of long-term outcome and impacts in line with the principles and objectives. 

1.      Active ageing should be inclusive of everyone irrespective of chronological age, race, gender, disability and should not exclude anyone due to their personal circumstances or social and economic status. 

2.      Every age counts but when there is widespread negative perceptions, endemic stereotyping, and exclusion in policy development as well as failures in service provision which older people often experience, special targeted actions are necessary. 

3.      Intragenerational solidarity should be a central component of active ageing. 

4.      The concept of ageing should be enshrined on a rights based approach that is enforced by a human rights framework and legislation. 

5.      Only transformation and whole system collaboration when addressing the whole concept of ageing will achieve change needed. 

Objectives for Engaging with Ageing: 

·        Raise consciousness of why and how everyone should engage with ageing along their life course; 

·        Disrupt negative / homogenous language and approaches in relation to ageing and older people; 

·        Radically transform policy and provision with regard to ageing; 

·        Establish a Movement to achieve the above objectives in the long term. 

Why is this project needed? 

·        The project has arisen from our own experiences and the experiences of people who are older; 

·        The group has conducted a series of informal conversations with a range of people from different age groups and backgrounds on their views and experiences of ageing; 

·        We have accessed a wide range of literature that promotes and supports the concept of ageing better and the need to break down prejudices and stereotypes against the ageing population; 

·        The pandemic has put into stark relief the vulnerabilities of older people.  

Who will benefit? 

The project is about starting a Movement that will help society across all generations to imagine a future we want, not a future we fear.  Engaging with ageing is an evolutionary process.  If objectives are achieved as outlined it is intended to benefit everyone especially those at the older stages of their life course. 

Members of the core Engaging with Ageing group are: 

 
 Mary Scally  [email protected]
 Donna Tedstone [email protected]
Adele McKinney [email protected]
Sobhan Coulter [email protected]
Matthew Manktelow [email protected]