UN International Day of Older Persons
Published on 01 October 2013 01:00 PM
1 October is UN International Day of Older Persons, a day Age Cymru believes should be acknowledged and celebrated by all.
Wales is getting older - the 2011 Census estimated that there are 11,700 centenarians living in England and Wales compared to 7,080 in 2002.
Indeed, a recent study has found that perception of middle age has increased from 41 to 53 highlighting a culture shift in our understanding of getting older.
With all this insight into later life, isn't it about time we stopped ‘fighting the signs of ageing' or thinking in terms of ‘anti-ageing' and ‘age-defying'.
All too often, ageing is discussed in the negative.
How about ‘embracing the signs of ageing' or talking about ‘positive-ageing' or ‘age-loving'?
Yes, being older can be challenging for many reasons.
The 10,000 calls we receive every year to our advice line are testament to that fact.
But lots of people across Wales are enjoying the positives that being older can bring - opportunities to volunteer, the joy of new grandchildren, freedom to travel and explore the world, and the confidence and contentment to live life to the full.
It's time to start listening properly to the voice of older people and understanding their experiences.
What better way to celebrate UN International Day of Older Persons than to start seeing age and ageing through the eyes of an age ambassador rather than an age objector?