TITLE:
Aging Education: A Worldwide Imperative
AUTHORS:
Sandra L. McGuire
KEYWORDS:
Aging, Aging Education, Ageism, Attitudes about Aging, Children’s Literature and Aging, Intergenerational Connections
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.8 No.12,
September
27,
2017
ABSTRACT: Life expectancy is increasing worldwide. Unfortunately, people are generally not prepared for this long life ahead and have ageist attitudes that inhibit maximizing the “longevity dividend” they have been given. Aging education can prepare people for life’s later years and combat ageism. It can reimage aging as a time of continued growth, developmentandfulfillment. Unfortunately, aging education is not a common occurrence. This education needs to begin with children and continue throughout life. This article discusses why we need to teach about agingandaging education content, suggests a conceptual framework for aging education, and presents aging education resources. The concept of ageism is discussed and suggestions for combating ageism are proposed.