Is Boston’s “Age Strong” Program going strong?
In a recent article by Julie Dobkin in Northeastern University’s paper, it mentions an“age-inclusive movement” that’s spreading across the U.S.
Boston’s Mayor Marty Walsh tweeted out a link to this article and said, “The way we look at aging says a lot about our community.”
When it comes to aging, there’s a lot of words associated with growing older; elderly, senile, frail– many of these have negative connotations. However, aging isn’t something that should be looked on as bad, only natural.
Framing is something that is important when it comes to issues like this. “Commission on Affairs of the Elderly” was the previous name of Boston’s Age Strong Commission, but it didn’t exactly resonate with residents.
Words like “experienced” and “strong,” according to Emily Shea in a recent BNN News interview, the Commissioner of Boston’s Age Strong Commission, are what residents aged 55 and up identify more by. Therefore, the commission was renamed last January in Mayor Walsh’s State of the City address last year.
However, the article by Dobkin states that the commission “hasn’t caught everyone’s attention.”
It’s provided support for many older residents and given them the tools to better control their lives, and efforts to prevent social isolation, among other things, which are detailed in a report by the city of Boston.
But what will it take for impact to be widespread and therefore more noticeable?
Boston’s residents over 65 make up 11% of the population, and 15% of Massachusetts’s total population are elderly.
Helping these residents can be done indirectly while preparing for the future. CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) are in need at many care facilities, like in Cape Cod.
Keeping those who are elderly comfortable is obviously a top priority for government agencies, however, it’s important to see how the public views older residents. Bringing a better understanding of the care people need as they grow older could change public perceptions of working in the field of elder care.
Helping to train people could help the elderly to both age stronger and safer. Providing a pathway for people to become CNAs or just making the information more accessible could benefit nursing homes. Classes, according to the Red Cross’s website, take 4–8 weeks to complete in addition to online forms and other prerequisites.
