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Dr. Leanne Clark-Shirley, President and CEO of the American Society on Aging, the organization that sponsors the national Ageism Awareness Day, provided opening remarks, stressing that our society's views on aging shape our community priorities and government policies.
“Limited, unrealistic views of aging hinder our ability to collaborate and build solutions that serve us all,” she said. “Ageism Awareness Day challenges us to recognize that aging is a rich, varied experience that unites us and offers an opportunity to build a society that works for everyone.”
Today’s Ageism Awareness Day event was co-hosted by the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence, Age-Friendly Howard County, Art Against Ageism, and Link Generations, showing how working together across sectors, a key component of Longevity Ready Maryland, can have a powerful impact at the state and local levels. In addition to announcing the proclamation, participants were provided with practical resources and best practices in reframing aging to create momentum for community-driven action through a coalition of dedicated peers.
"Howard County is proud to partner with the Maryland Department of Aging for this landmark announcement,” said Administrator of the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence Ofelia Ross Ott. “Our commitment to being an age-friendly community means listening to the voices of older adults and taking meaningful action to combat age discrimination. Today’s event represents an important step forward in building a community where residents of all ages can live, work, and thrive.”
Ageism—the stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against individuals based on their age—can have profound negative effects on the health, well-being, and economic security of older adults. To read the full proclamation and learn about the impact of age-related bias and strategies you can implement to prevent age discrimination, visit aging.maryland.gov.
About the American Society on Aging: The American Society on Aging is a nonprofit professional association of diverse individuals bound by a common goal: to support the commitment and enhance the knowledge and skills of those who seek to improve the quality of life of older adults and their families. For over 70 years, ASA has been the go-to source for education, training, and resources for professionals in the field of aging. Visit asaging.org for more information.
About the Maryland Department of Aging: The mission of the Maryland Department of Aging is to prepare for the state's growing population of older adults by developing innovative approaches to aging, advancing multisector collaborations, and providing equitable access to resources. Guided by a vision to transform systems so all older adults can lead healthy, financially secure, socially connected, and purposeful lives, the Department works to modernize infrastructure, protect the rights of older adults, and reframe the narrative around aging. Visit aging.maryland.gov to learn more.
About Longevity Ready Maryland: Longevity Ready Maryland is the state's ten-year strategic multisector plan for preparing for the opportunities and challenges of a growing older population. It also serves as Maryland’s approved national Older Americans Act four-year plan for aging. Guided by four epic goals—Build a Longevity Ecosystem, Promote Economic Opportunity, Prepare Marylanders to Afford Longevity, and Optimize Health, Wellness, and Mobility—the plan fosters collaboration across public and private sectors to ensure Maryland is a supportive and inclusive place for residents to thrive at every age. Learn more at LRM.Maryland.gov.
Pictured above from left to right: Link Generations Executive Director Lori Marks, Howard County Office on Aging and Independence Livable Communities Program Manager Morgan Spliedt, Maryland Department of Aging Assistant Secretary of Planning Liz Woodward, Art Against Ageism Co-Founder Jordan Evans, Art Against Ageism Co-Founder Meg LaPorte, and Howard County Office on Aging and Independence Director Ofelia Ross Ott.
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