Pique’s “Nothing but a number” cover story on Sept. 8 was very timely, with National Seniors Day to celebrate on Oct. 1.
Accompanying David Buzzard’s usual wonderful photos was writer Brandon Barrett’s judicious use of language to describe those like me who have roamed the Earth past the hallowed (venerated?!) 60-year mark.
Before highlighting the Mature Action Community’s (MAC) terrific advocacy towards Whistler being officially recognized as an “Age-Friendly B.C. Community,” he referred to the “resort’s seniors” in their “golden years” as an “aging community” … “wanting to age gracefully in place.”
Brandon’s apt choice of descriptors for us had me ruminating about the monikers often used for those my age and older. After all, if civil society is measured by how we treat our least fortunate, that test could be extended to how it respects its older members, too.
How can anyone aged 60 be “middle-aged” with so few 120-year-olds around? Would anyone under 30 respond positively to being part of the “juniors” crowd? Being called “elderly” might imply fragility and forgetfulness, while “old” often conjures up obsolescence and senility. But what about the idea of getting better and wiser with “full maturity”?
An extensive poll a few years ago in the U.S. questioned whether a 65-year-old would be considered “old.” While only 16 per cent of those polled over the age of 60 thought that to be true, 60 per cent of adults under 30 who were polled responded in the affirmative. (Not canvassed was whether there was any appetite for the only alternative to not getting older…)
With longevity comes the ability to fit more into one’s life, as so poignantly and succinctly represented by that dash mark between the dates of birth and death.
The aging process is only somewhat connected with one’s age in years… Those wonderful folks in Pique’s cover story are shining examples of local, active living, in stark contrast, I would argue, to the multi-billion-dollar anti-aging cosmetics industry. The biological aging process can indeed be positively impacted by a healthy lifestyle, through physical and mental activities, often in conjunction with like-minded souls.
Kudos to MAC and the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) for how they are visioning the importance of “aging in place” in Whistler. Their collaboration in prioritizing housing and care needs as we age here is vitally important. Our sibling corridor communities are no doubt thinking the same.
Their actions are representative of what must occur globally. The United Nations is reporting that the world population over age 65 has tripled in the last 40 years, and predicts a doubling in the next 20, with those over 80 years of age expected to triple in number.
Celebrated since 2010 in Canada, National Seniors Day coincides with the U.N. International Day of Older Persons launched more than 30 years ago. It is a great opportunity to appreciate, celebrate and recognize older adults, many of whom have made and continue to make significant contributions to Canadian society.
Oct. 1 is a day to do something special for the older members of your family, community or workplace. How you celebrate it is up to you. It could be as simple as messaging a grandparent (but how about actually calling?!). Or better still, take them out, whether for a meal or a walk, and preferably for both. You never know, there is a fair chance that you will be more winded than us after the uphill portion…
You can call us what you want, but for those of us who have relished many years and even decades in our fabulous local communities, why not celebrate our multitude of seasons spent on the mountain slopes, or on the trails or lakes and rivers, using the most appropriate epithet I can think of… “Seasoned”?
Happy Seniors Day to all you Seasoned Ones!
