It is no news that the world's population is aging rapidly and our country is not far behind, since we are one of the territories with the highest number of people over 60 years old in all of Latin America.
This demographic situation has brought with it various consequences, philippine pie telegram but above all we consider that it has contributed to the visibility of this age group, which for too long was catalogued as a homogeneous and static group that shared the same needs, characteristics and interests, making us believe that old age was experienced in the same way for everyone.
These statements could not be further from the truth, but to internalize and understand it we must take into account some basic concepts and notions, which I will tell you about below.
To begin, did you know that old age and aging are not synonymous?
Indeed, aging is a progressive, irreversible and individual process of physical, psychological and social changes that occur from birth, causing different modifications throughout a person's life cycle, therefore we all age day by day. If we consider this, it means that when you started reading this blog you were younger than you are now.
Old age, on the other hand, is a socially constructed stage of life based on personal and collective expectations and norms, and as a result, all people age differently, depending on the way they have lived. Old age is thus the most heterogeneous and diverse stage of the human life cycle, and according to the World Health Organization, it begins when a person turns 60 years old.
In this sense, it is possible and very necessary to emphasize that diversity exists throughout life and at all ages, so heterogeneity is a key aspect to address future challenges related to population aging in our country and referring to the creation of more, better and adequate conditions that allow all older people to be made visible and effectively included.
Today more than ever, we must rethink the images and social representations that are commonly held regarding old age, as these have and will have a great impact on the way in which older people are integrated and valued, as well as on the way in which older people themselves perceive their own lives and, especially, on how each one of us approaches our own old age.
Let us remember that while it is very positive to have an ageing world today, as this reflects the effectiveness of health policies and the great economic, social, cultural and technological changes that have been developing over time, this does not only translate into a growing number of people aged 60 and over. It also generates multiple challenges for states, organisations, families and people themselves, focused on building a society for all ages. To do so, it will be essential to have policies, plans and programmes that consider all types of old age, ensuring healthier, more inclusive, diverse, visible and full ageing processes, promoting not only more but better years of life.
And you, do you dare to be part of this change?
You can start:
Avoiding the daily use of pejorative, infantilizing and discriminatory language towards older people and moving towards the use of more inclusive and realistic language, we will soon publish a blog on this topic.
Participating and encouraging intergenerational gatherings with your family, friends, coworkers, etc.
Providing dignified and respectful treatment to the elderly around you.
Reflecting on your personal vision and expectations regarding the stage of old age.
Stay tuned and continue reading our upcoming posts.