Expanding the Aging Conversation

Expanding the Aging Conversation
Is 60 the new 50 or the new 20?
Presented by
Susan Wehry, M.D.
Sponsored by
The Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee of St. Clair County
April 19, 2016
Lake Huron Medical Center
Thanks for being here
And for all you do
For 30 years …
!
W
NO
G
N
I WELL
AGE
G
A
P
O
ST
What's new about being old ?
Tremendous variation
Neuronal Plasticity
Development is possible
Dementia anxiety
What’s old about getting old?
Inevitability
Changes and challenges
Ageism
Loss
family, friends, role, independence
In response
•
Develop symptoms
•
Regress
•
Maintain status quo
•
Develop further
Get Old
or
Grow Old
difference
and
choice
Turning the tables on ageism
Engaging Aging
Engaging Aging
•
“Older individuals with more positive self-perceptions of
aging outlived those with less positive self-perceptions of
aging by seven and a half years”
Jl of Personality and Social
Psychology Levy et al., 2002
Empowering ourselves and others
Inevitable
Necessary
DEVELOPMENT is LIFELONG
2015 White House
Conference on Aging
#LTSS #Financial Security #Elder Justice #Healthy Aging
http://whitehouseconferenceonaging.gov
What matters (most)
#Healthy Aging
Nutrition matters
Physical activity matters
Brain health matters
Nature Matters
Meaning matters
Stories
Core of identity and meaning
Empowerment
Nurturing Resilience
Resilience
Confident
Competent
Connected
Resilience
Deeply human
Good friends
Good for everything
Inevitable
Necessary
Aging is a lifelong affair
GROWING ….old/feeling…. VITAL
requires active participation
"Becoming Ourselves”
torn-paper-weaving, 61 x 38”
© Deidre Scherer,
2014 SEABA Gallery
Thank You
for being here
for all you do
Join me on Twitter @CommishVT12 @beingwithaging
#healthyaging #changingaging
Visit my website susanwehrymd.com