Celebrating the integral role of older people in our communities

Although we always say much of the Good Practice Mentor’s role is all age advice – most of it has the role and status of older people in their community at its heart. Leeds’ Time to Shine programme, which I was a part of, was co-produced with older people who were very clear that a less ageist society, where older people felt valued and included, was one where older people would thrive. As International Day of Older People (IDOP) comes around, this year’s  theme – ‘celebrating the integral role of older people in our communities’-  goes straight to the heart of the matter. If older people are recognised as integral to their communities then they will be valued and counted in, not seen as a ‘burden’. 

It feels particularly pertinent to me at the moment, as I have just hit 60. A colleague asked me at work last week what it felt like to be 60. (It’s the sort of discussion we have, working for an older people’s organisation). I had a bit of a think before replying. Truth be told I feel the same as I felt yesterday, but a day older, and I’m guessing tomorrow will feel the same, with another extra day. I had a pretty similar conversation with friends last summer as the first of us hit 60, and we wondered how it had happened to us all (we met in our 20s, in our first work and volunteering roles) and we realised it’s just a day at a time.

I mean, I have got older (according to my left knee and a missing tooth), and although I can say I feel the same as I did when I was 20, I really don’t. I am braver, and (I hope) wiser, and I know my strengths a bit better, and I am panicking a bit at realising I’m definitely past half way. I have also realised that it’s still going to be one day at a time, and I suspect and hope I won’t really feel any different for a long-ish while… and that is why we need to celebrate the integral role of older people. 

We are celebrating our future selves. We will still be people, and most of us will still be doing stuff we are now – that’s useful, or makes people happy, or improves the state of the world. We know not everyone is able to enjoy a long, healthy retirement but for those of us lucky enough to be able to retire, many of us will continue to do these things by volunteering, formally and informally, or caring for friends and relatives. Some of us will stay at work as well. We might not all be as physically active, but maybe what we lack in strength we’ll make up for in cunning. I like to hope those people not still playing an integral part in society will actually be few. But that’s only going to be the case if we carry on working to make society less ageist, and make spaces where people are welcomed in, and are able to contribute in whatever way they can. Remember the Camerados guidance: ‘If someone is struggling ask them to help you’.

As many of us who took part in the Ageing Better programme discovered, it was apparent that a sense of purpose was necessary for people’s wellbeing. Projects rooted in ABCD work recognised very quickly that if someone needed help, you could ask them to help you. They got the help they needed and they paid it forward. Stuff happened and everyone felt better as a result of being valued. 

This is why it’s so important IDOP 2024 celebrates the integral role of older people. If we celebrate it and recognise its value then we are asking older people to engage in society. If we can build an age-friendly society where everyone is able to chip in, whether that is digging a hole to plant a tree, doing some shopping for a neighbour or just listening when someone needs to talk, then that’s going to be better for all of us. We’ll still need stuff to happen and we’ll all feel a lot better for doing some of it ourselves.

If you would like to understand this in a more formal context, then I  recommend this article, by Dr John Ratcliffe, which arrived at my inbox last week – Men’s loneliness is misunderstood and the solution isn’t just about social contact. I firmly believe it applies to women as well as men, so have a read.

Everything the Good Practice Mentors advocate and support organisations to implement goes towards  ensuring older people are integral. From co production, ageism training, finding and including older people who have become excluded from society and recognising older people as volunteers, we can help you on that journey. We would love you to take the first step by looking through the IDOP toolkit ,which we have produced with the Centre for Ageing Better. It will help you to find those older people who don’t engage with you at the moment, and offer them a warm welcome.  

The Good Practice Mentors support organisations who are working with older people to help reduce loneliness and social isolation. Find out about our training and our bespoke support.
GPM@syha.co.uk
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Jessica Duffy
Good Practice Mentor

Age Friendly Leeds is hosting a creative showcase for International Day of Older People embracing the theme of “the part we play”: Celebrating the integral role of older people in our communities. The event aims to highlight the fantastic contributions of older people in Leeds, as well as providing new opportunities. See flyer for details.