The Directory 2023-2024

L ear n

Taking care of those who cared for us

Expert analysis DebTaylor Chief Executive Of fi cer

Senior Community Services

W e are getting older. Not just individually, but as a population. We’re in the midst of a demographic shift that will see the number of older people (age 65+) in the U.S. grow larger than the number of children (under 18) for the fi rst time in our nation’s history by the year 2030. Although, you could never tell this shift is happening just by looking at the ways our society spends its public and philanthropic dollars. Even as the aging population grows, we continue to see a decline in funding dedicated to meet the needs of this growing group. In Minnesota, less than 1 percent of philanthropic dollars go to aging services. So where does this inverse relationship between the number of seniors and the support for them come from? As a nonpro fi t focused on helping people safely remain in and keep their own homes, we’ve confronted our fair share of justi fi cations. Out of sight, out of mind Th e reality is most of us have an issue with the fact that we’re growing older. Th e negative ways we talk to each other and ourselves about aging is laced with deep-seated ageism that suggests simply the act of growing older is synonymous with becoming less useful, less desirable, and less healthy. And so, we do our best to ignore it. But often, an unintentional byproduct of viewing our own aging so negatively is projecting those same feelings onto others. As a result, we

Do we challenge the way we talk about aging to ourselves and one another?

We must reframe what it means to age and challenge the way we talk about it to ourselves and one another.

end up ignoring the unique needs of the older adults around us. Th ere is no easy solution here. Securing services tailored for aging adults is a start, but all the funding in the world won’t undo cultural programming.

Taking care of those who cared for us continues on page 31 >

Senior Outreach & Caregiver Support Technology Access, Support & Coaching Household & Outdoor Maintenance (HOME) Community Services, Tommy continues to live in his Minneapolis home of nearly 60 years. With non-medical wraparound support from Senior

952-541-1019 seniorcommunity.org/con

Serving adults age 60+ in Hennepin, Sherburne & Wright Counties. Some Senior Outreach and Caregiver Services also available in Carver & Scott Counties.

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