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A cool video showing how staying active is the secret to staying young.

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Can Old People Skateboard? (69 Years Old)

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A great article about the secret to aging and staying young is staying active. There is even a cool picture in the article of an older lady trying to ride a skateboard!

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The Secret to Healthy Aging
by Jennifer Maurer
Have you been searching for the Fountain of Youth?

Before you answer that question, you might answer these:

Do you take a daily vitamin or health supplement? (or a handful of them?)

Are you constantly trying to find that perfect workout or exercise regimen?

Do any of your face creams or lotions claim to be "age-defying" or "anti-aging"?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may indeed be searching for that fountain-or at least more energy, enthusiasm and well-being.

There is nothing wrong with popping vitamins, exercising and taking care of our skin. There may, however, be a more powerful and enjoyable way to reclaim our youthful spirit and all the benefits that come with it.

Finding Your Groove (at any age)

I'd like to introduce you to Paddy Jones, a British salsa dancer who was a finalist in Britain's Got Talent in 2014. At 81 years of age, Paddy is currently the oldest acrobatic salsa dancer in the world.

Here, see for yourself (be sure to watch for at least 2 minutes):

Yes, that just happened.

It's okay, you can watch it again. I'll wait...

Even if you've already seen this viral video, you may not realize Paddy had only been dancing for 10 years after a nearly 50-year hiatus while raising children and focusing on her family. Paddy decided to take salsa lessons "to learn to have fun again" and to combat loneliness after the death of her husband of 47 years.

That's right. At the sprightly young age of 69, she took her first salsa lesson. Ten years later, she shocked Simon and the world with her display of courage, beauty, rhythm, athleticism and youthfulness.

Apparently, Paddy hadn't just discovered the Fountain of Youth, she had immersed herself in it and become a world-class swimmer.

Aging Playfully

George Bernard Shaw has been quoted as saying,

"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing."

Play researcher and National Institute of Play founder Stuart Brown, MD, puts it a little more starkly, "When we stop playing, we start dying."

Sound a little overdramatic?

According to two large-scale studies, engaging in challenging play provides powerful protection against cognitive decline, dementia and even Alzheimer's disease.

A 21-year longitudinal study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that seniors who engaged in the highest levels of cognitive leisure activities like reading, board games, puzzles and playing musical instruments had a 63 percent lower risk of dementia.
Dancing also lowered this risk.

A recent study of nearly 1,500 seniors published in The Journals of Gerontology found that regularly engaging mental, physical or social play helped seniors maintain cognitive function. Regularly participating in two or more of these activities improved cognition. Activities included sewing, playing cards and games, gardening, and socializing with friends and family.

Numerous studies have shown that aging playfully offers a whole host of other health benefits including improved memory, mood, immune functioning, heart health, physical strength, stress reduction, and social connection. Playful and creative stimulation can also reduce anxiety, depression, isolation and even the need for medication and doctor's visits.

Your Daily Dose of Fun

So just how much play do we need to achieve a therapeutic dose?

Fortunately, we don't have to train for 10 years, have good dancing genes (or jeans), or move to England to compete in Britain's Got Talent.

We just have to make a commitment to playing, even a little, every day. When we commit to giving ourselves a daily dose of fun, even 5 or 15 minutes of play can help us discover our own personal Fountain of Youth.

Of course, longer periods of playfulness help us step into flow, an optimal state of being that is timeless and free of limitations, judgment and worry. Flow is where the fountain gets deeper and we can dive headlong into joy and, I believe, our primary reason for being here-to remind each other that life is a gift.

Consider yourself reminded.

You know what to do next... (and if you don't, we can help!)

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The Fun Conspiracy | The Secret to Healthy Aging

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by Jennifer Maurer Have you been searching for the Fountain of Youth? Before you answer that question, you might answer these: Do you take a daily vitamin or health supplement? (or a handful of them?) Are you constantly trying to find that perfect workout or exercise regimen?

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An article about how certain advertising, although humorous can also be degrading.

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Curator's Note

Guided by a perspective that advertisements are not just about selling products, brand names, and services, I am studying the content and social effects, of images of different social groups (e.g., gender and cultural groups), perpetuated by media ads and their potential influence on viewers/readers' perceptions and attitudes towards these social groups. As the older generation has come to the attention of the advertising business we can find more age related ads and commercials. Some of them, however, reflect problematic stereotypes about older age. Especially older women are often depicted negatively. Especially in context of modern technology (e.g. cell phones or the internet) we can find commercials, which use older protagonists to humor their audiences by depicting the older person as either not competent or - in the case of this video - overly competent. The video was produced by the German Train Company (Deutsche Bahn), advertising the simplicity of their online booking system. The older women - the mother of the younger woman and the mother-in-law of the male protagonist - knows how to handle the online booking and thus succeeds in accompanying her daughter and son in law on a train trip - not to the delight of her son-in-law. This commercial plays with various stereotypes, the main message being "our online booking is so simple even older people can handle it". Images and stereotypes of the older generation have an important impact on society and on the way we see and treat older individuals. It is therefore important to recognize and analyse them and, consequently, try to work against those negative images. As the internet has changed the world and online communication skills are one of the central new competences, which enable people of all ages to participate in society, media literacy is an important issue for young and old. This video uses the stereotype about the asumed "media illiteracy" of the older generation to amuse the audience.Negative stereotypes about older adults' internet skills have to be regarded as especially critical in the context of stereotypes of old age in the media.

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Advertising and the Older Generation: Humerous or Degrading?

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Guided by a perspective that advertisements are not just about selling products, brand names, and services, I am studying the content and social effects, of images of different social groups (e.g., gender and cultural groups), perpetuated by media ads and their potential influence on viewers/readers' perceptions and attitudes towards these social groups.

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This article is about how the media has exaggerated the stereotype of the older population in a negative way.

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With movies like '' and M. Night Shyamalan's '' hitting the big screen, it's easy to feel like popular media is becoming increasingly age friendly.

But today's films and TV shows are still filled with ageist stereotypes that are often harmful and demeaning.

From being computer illiterate to making light of memory loss, we round up some of the most annoying stereotypes around.

Hashtag? What's a hashtag?

Reports have shown that the older generation are becoming increasingly tech savvy. 36 per cent of retirees regularly use YouTube, 24 per cent use Skype, and a further 54 per cent are using Facebook regularly.

15 per cent use to download music, and one in ten opt for as their messaging platform of choice to stay in contact with friends and family.

Over half of all retirees say they get their daily news intake from an electronical device and more and more are turning to online dating as opposed to more traditional methods of meeting people.

It seems each week a new study or survey is revealed that shows the older generation are just as competent as the younger ones when it comes to technology.

So maybe it's time for Hollywood to admit the "old guy doesn't know what a computer is" punchline is getting old?

Mr/Mrs. I Have No Filter

It seems like just about every TV show has a character like this.

Whether it be Golden Girls' Sophia Petrillo, who was blunt and tactless, Boston Legal's Denny Crane, who was egotistical, sexist and mildly racist on top of being blunt and tactless, or even our very own , who has developed a particularly strong streak of bluntness since regenerating into Peter Capaldi, you don't have to look far to find this stereotype in the media.

More often than not, these characters are allowed to utter rude, and often offensive, statements without any kind of repercussion and, while this trope can be humorous, when it's used so regularly it begins to wear a little thin.

These characters seem to acts as if the expectations of society, and just plain politeness, stop applying to them once they reach as certain age and, as we all know, that's just not true.

What's your name again?

While there are numerous conditions that can lead to memory loss in later life (Alzheimer's, , trauma, and more) it is, more often than not, played for laughs.

The older character will often forget the names of their loved ones, or, like Abe Simpson above, do something ridiculous like confuse an iron with a phone.

Not only are the serious conditions not taking seriously, they're also often grossly exaggerated and can sometimes be demeaning. In a review in the British Medical Journal, neuropsychologist Sallie Baxendale said that "cinematic depictions of amnesia are consistently inaccurate and usually bear no relation whatsoever to any authentic neurological or psychiatric condition."

Critics of the "forgetful old person" trope feel it occurs too often in popular media, especially considering memory loss problems affect around 40 per cent of people over 65 and for only 15 per cent does this develop into dementia.

Grumpy Old Man

Also known as "Mr/Mrs. Back in my day...", this character spends an inordinate amount of time complaining about how the world is going to pot and how today's youth show no respect and how everything was so much better when they were young.

This character is a killjoy, depressing, boring, and paints the older generation in a negative light.

Research has founds that negative stereotypes, such as portraying them as bitter and cantankerous, can have an adverse effect on older people.

Earlier this year, a study in the American Psychological Association's journal found that older adults are negatively affected in situations that remind them of, and reinforce, negative age stereotypes.

Did I ever tell you about the time I...zzzzzz

Chances are, when an older character appears on your TV screen, they're snoring - or mid conversation and about to fall asleep.

This phenomenon of older people falling asleep halfway through a conversation or when something important is about to happen could be linked to narcolepsy, but most of the time, it's just played for laughs.

Like with the 'Grumpy Old Man' trope, having older characters fall asleep all the time helps to reinforce negative stereotypes and besides, research shows that the over 50s are more fitter and active than ever, so it's really not even that accurate.

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We're tired of these stereotypes of older people in the media

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With movies like '' and M. Night Shyamalan's '' hitting the big screen, it's easy to feel like popular media is becoming increasingly age friendly . But today's films and TV shows are still filled with ageist stereotypes that are often harmful and demeaning.

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This article is about how the mindset of ageism is costing billions by making people think that when people grow old they become fragile and decrepit, which psychologically affects their health and recovery.

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SALT LAKE CITY - The facts about older Americans are often at odds with how they are visually portrayed in the media.

Those age 50 and older make up a third of America's work force, with nearly half of the 110 million employed. They contribute vast sums to the economy: AARP's Longevity Economy 2016 report said people 50 and older generate $7.6 trillion in annual economic activity - and by 2032 they will be responsible for at least half of America's gross domestic product.

So for those looking to sell goods and services, older Americans are a robust consumer market.

Yet media portray older adults very differently, more often as patients in medical settings or sitting alone on park benches staring into space than engaged in jobs, using technology or vigorously interacting with people and surroundings. The New York Times this week described America's post-50 demographic as "shunned and caricatured" instead of embraced as engaged and skillful people with financial resources.

Negative portrayal based on age is ageism. AARP and the World Health Organization are among the organizations decrying ageism as costly and harmful, the wreckage measured in billions of dollars as well as lost joy and productivity. How older people are portrayed affects how people treat them, what they expect of them and how seniors see themselves, with ramifications to their health, quality of life and even affluence.

This week, AARP released a report on ageism and announced a partnership with Getty Images to change the picture - the actual picture. Getty enlisted photographers to shoot older Americans in ways that show what the two organizations call a more accurate view of aging. They've amassed 1,400 stock photographs of older adults who work, play and generally live with gusto.

Getty's copyrighted Disrupt Aging Collection was introduced Monday at Advertising Week New York, said an announcement from AARP.

"This stereotype-shattering collection reflects the reality of what aging looks like today. The collection shows the 50-plus in the workplace, traveling, entertaining and living active, healthy lives," Martha Boudreau, AARP head of marketing and communications, told media. "It's definitely time for the creative industries to update their mindset about the 50-plus demographic. This age group drives our economy and makes new demands on product development and marketing in virtually every industry sector."

Some seniors need to update their views, as well.
Faulty exposure
A poor depiction of older Americans is nothing new. It's been nearly 20 years since The American Psychological Association called age an "important element of diversity" and adopted an anti-ageism resolution.

The AARP and Getty collaboration began after AARP analyzed more than 1,000 images selected by popular media and product brands to depict older Americans. Often, older adults were left out of the picture entirely. Though they make up nearly half the population in the United States, they were shown in just 15% of photos.

Just 4% of those younger than 50 were presented negatively, compared to 28% of those over 50. Negative images included those evoking isolation or dependence. Older adults were shown alone, with a partner or with a health care provider in 70% of pictures, rather than working or being active and engaged like the under-50 crowd. Those over 50 often looked like they were being cared for by younger, more hale companions, the report said.

Despite the fact that those 50 and older are projected to spend more than $84 billion on technology by 2030, they were shown with technology just 5% of the time. Those images often featured a helpful younger person demonstrating how to use the technology or simply doing it for the older adult.

And though data shows adults 50 and older overall have greater net worth than younger demographics, that wasn't the message in the images.

Oxford Economics did a state-by-state analysis for AARP in 2017, comparing percentages of people in different age groups with their contribution to state GDPs. While people over 50 make up 35% of the U.S. population, they contribute 43% of the total U.S. GDP. The pattern holds true in the vast majority of states, including Utah, which has a younger population than most. While one-fourth of Utahns are at least 50, that group accounts for 37% of state GDP.
Changing the picture
In 2016, the World Health Organization announced the first stage of its own global anti-ageism campaign and invested a half-million dollars in research on ageism. The global health group will publish the results at the end of this year, looking especially at the health costs, said a New York Times report.

The World Health Organization said ageism can reduce an older person's social interactions, harm their health and reduce their lifespan. And ageism may become self-directed, with an older person adopting a dim view of aging. Those with negative attitudes about aging recover more slowly when injured or disabled, live an average of 7.5 fewer years than those who embrace aging and are more likely to be isolated and lonely. Yale researchers who reviewed existing studies on ageism for the World Health Organization said older people with a negative view start questioning their abilities. They may stop trying.

"As we get older, we experience ageism from others, but also from ourselves, because of the unconscious internalization of society's negative attitudes and stereotypes towards older people," the World Health Organization said. "This helps to explain why older people often try to stay young, feel shame about getting older and limit what they think they can do, instead of taking pride in the accomplishment of aging."

The review of studies showed those with positive views of aging are more likely to take care of themselves by eating well and exercising. They are less prone to depression or anxiety than people with a negative view.

Negative thinking can have devastating results, Dr. Becca Levy, a social psychologist who led the review, told the Times. "With negative stereotypes, older people have a higher risk of dementia. They have greater accumulations of plaques and tangles in the brain, the biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease."

Levy's own ageism research in The Gerontologist in 2018 set the one-year cost of ageism at $63 billion, or $1 of every $7 spent on eight of the most expensive health conditions Americans 60 and older often get. That research said ageism led to more than 17 million cases of those conditions, including cardiovascular disease, chronic lung problems, musculoskeletal disease, diabetes and injuries, among others.
A lived experience
As ageism contributes to ill health, it also creates barriers to good health policy. Ageist attitudes shape the framing of problems, then shape or discourage solutions. The World Health Organization said age is used to justify unequal treatment that limits an older person's opportunities.

Older workers feel the impact. In an AARP survey last year, 61% of older workers said they had seen or experienced age discrimination at work. Three-fourths of those surveyed who were unemployed said they'd encountered age discrimination. Bias in employment hit women more often than men.

Ricardo Imagen/Getty Images

Ageism is being battled on multiple fronts and some 700 companies have now joined AARP's Employer Pledge Program. Participants promise to recruit employees from all age groups and consider applicants equally, without bias.

A large part of overcoming ageism involves changing the mental picture that people have of older adults. Rebecca Swift, who heads creative insights at Getty Images, told Fast Company that great care was taken to include a range of subject matter, as well as ages of those being photographed, including people clear into their 90s and 100s.

"We then made sure we covered leisure, business, family, education and travel," she said. "But we also took steps to ensure that we pulled out images that are all at once less expected and more active."

The collection of images is brand new, even if efforts to combat ageism aren't. If it works, we can all expect to see images of older Americans engaged in a broader and perhaps brighter range of activities. That will be, according to AARP, a more complete vision of what it means to grow older in America.

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Ageism is costing this country billions. Here's how

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SALT LAKE CITY - The facts about older Americans are often at odds with how they are visually portrayed in the media. Those age 50 and older make up a third of America's work force, with nearly half of the 110 million employed.