by Cathy Bollinger, Executive Director of Embracing Aging
Things we flip — pancakes, coins, light switches — often reveal a new side. That’s why this year’s Older Americans Month theme, “Flip the Script on Aging,” resonates so deeply. It calls for a shift in how we perceive and talk about aging.
When York County Community Foundation (YCCF) began its journey to build a community where all ages can thrive, one early step was recruiting older adults to help reshape the narrative around aging.
Eight volunteers led conversations, focus groups, and surveys to uncover common myths they hoped to challenge. Their top five?
- Older adults are no longer productive.
- Creativity and resourcefulness decline with age.
- Aging means being forgetful or less intelligent.
- Older adults always need care.
- All older adults have the same needs.
These myths became the foundation of YCCF’s learning session, No Age Like the Present: Embracing Age Equity at Work. It educates participants about ageism and promotes inclusive communication, relationships, and teamwork.
The group also highlighted local residents who defy aging stereotypes.
Remember the eagle’s nest at Codorus State Park in 2015? Karen Lippy, at 67, discovered it and shared her passion for birds with the world. Or Debbie Perry, who at 63 raised over $400,000 and led 1,800 volunteers to build an inclusive playground at Cousler Park. And John Walker, who fulfilled his dream of becoming a professional artist at 62 and served as President of the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society.
In addition to these inspiring stories, the group found research to support their work. A 2009 Pew Research study, Growing Old in America, showed that adults under 64 expected aging to be worse than those over 65 actually experienced.
Ageism — stereotyping and discriminating based on age — impacts where we live, work, and play. YCCF is committed to flipping the script on aging through our Age-Friendly work. We speak at public events to raise awareness about ageism in housing, transportation, and healthcare, and share strategies that create inclusive, age-friendly communities.
Together, we can ensure that flipping the script on aging becomes more than a moment — it becomes a movement.
Contact Cathy Bollinger, Executive Director of Embracing Aging for more information at cbollinger@yccf.org or at 717.848.3733.
