AgeAlive, IMPART Alliance host public forum on ageism

Several faculty researchers and experts from around the state joined together in mid-April to share resources and knowledge at a forum called “Shattering Ageism: Creating Communities that Embrace All Ages.”

Ageism is a prejudice against an age group, usually older people, but can also affect younger people too. Some common myths include older people being seen as grumpy, slow or senile. There are negative attitudes toward older adults and a stereotype that they are a burden.

As part of the forum’s “gems” section, William Chopik, Ph.D – a professor in the Michigan State University Department of Psychology – discussed whether older adults should approach aging as “gracefully” or “grudgingly.”

“I enjoy the aging experience because a lot of things come with it,” Chopik said. “Wisdom, emotion regulation, you don’t freak out about as many things. The idea is that you grow into the person you were meant to be.”

Zhenmei Zhang, Ph.D, presented “Social Relationships in Later Life” to discuss research findings in regards to whether marital status impacts older adults’ relationships. Zhang is a professor at the MSU Department of Sociology. In one example, Zhang found that first-married older adults are more likely to have closer relationships with their children. Another example found that men’s relationship with children were hurt more by remarriage or divorce than women. This could likely be due to a mother’s tendency to be closer with her children. Ultimately, Zhang concluded that the remarried had disadvantages in several dimensions of social relationships compared to the first-married.

A third presenter, Paul Freddolino, Ph.D, a professor in the MSU School of Social Work, discussed digital literacy and “hard to reach” older adults. He explained that older adults have lower levels of digital literacy than other age groups. One area Freddolino pointed to was how technology can help address loneliness, which is seen as a predictor of functional decline and death. Namely, Freddolino said, “given the benefits of technology,” the digital gap is an area that must be addressed.

The forum’s keynote speaker, Clare Luz, Ph.D, is the director of AgeAlive and IMPART Alliance. She also serves as an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Family and Community Medicine.

“If we want to shatter elder abuse,” Luz said at the forum. “We need to attack ageism.”

Luz argued that there are several reasons for ageism. “One of these is fear of death,” she said.

“How many people are looking forward to growing old?” Luz asked the audience on Wednesday. A few people raised their hands as a chuckle lifted across the room. “Most of us are afraid of aging. It’s a sign that we are on a physical decline... We don’t want to age, and we don’t want to age either, so therein lies the conflict.”

The other reason for ageism, Luz said, is a capitalistic society that does not view older adults as economically productive.

Some ways to “shatter” ageism is to be mindful about the language you use, encourage others to promote age-inclusive policies, and to promote media that portrays older adults in a more realistic way.

Kayla Smith, a chair at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, spoke about Michigan’s age-friendly action plan. This plan includes fostering an age-friendly state with walkable neighborhoods and public transit, along with supporting affordable housing options.

“People of all ages benefit from the adoption from these policies,” Smith said.

Director of Auburn Hills Recreation and Senior Services Karen Adcock explained how she fostered an age-friendly community in Auburn Hills, Michigan. She discussed being mindful of making every area inclusive to all ages.

“City council has made this process, age friendly and livable communities, part of their city goals,” Adcock said. “It’s in the budget.”

Also present was Christi Demitz, the health educator at MSU Extension. She discussed MSU Extension, which provides many programs such as diabetes prevention and management, fall prevention, and stress reduction.

Several attendees had gotten involved. One of these attendees is Mary Anne Larzelere and her husband John. They’ve been involved with AgeAlive for several years thanks to a neighbor. Mary Anne plays the french horn in a New Horizon band for individuals 55 years of age and older at Michigan State University.

“We have very few facilities in this community to help people who are suffering from memory loss,” Mary Anne said. “If you have a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s or whatever it is, you probably have to go to (University of Michigan Health). We used to go to a senior provider. Sparrow Hospital had a senior health center… They closed. So, we are all having to find new doctors. People are very unhappy about that.”

The forum was presented at the Farm Lane branch of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union and streamed remotely for viewing at the Ishpeming Multi-Purpose Senior Center. AgeAlive’s next event is a Town & Gown town hall with Tony Doblas-Madrid, Ph.D, an associate professor of economics at MSU. The event will take place on April 23. Registration is currently open.