Undeniably, elderly relatives, friends, acquaintances and even older strangers you may pass on the street, should receive just as much respect, care and due attention as anyone else, arguably even more. However, it would be remiss to claim that, historically, older adults are treated with the utmost respect they truly deserve.
Fortunately, in 2021, finally things are beginning to change so here, to help restore your faith in humanity, are six modern changes that show that elderly people are beginning to receive the attention and respect they so richly deserve.
1. There are now significantly more residential options for older adults who can no longer live in their own home
Gone are the day when, unless you were swimming in thousands of dollars, the only option to ensure your elderly loved one was safe, secure and properly respected and cared for was to move them into your own home.
Assisted living communities, independent living facilities, memory care units and at-home care services are all available to older adults who, for whatever reason are finding it increasingly difficult to cope living on their own or in their own homes.
Thankfully, in 2021 there is a wide plethora of senior living options, all with their different specialties and focuses. Established, professional and experienced senior living facilities, such as Atlanta Memory Care Community, promote a social, welcoming and altogether community spirited atmosphere that affords aging adults the respect love and care that they truly deserve.
2. The representation of the elderly on television has substantially improved
Sadly, it wasn’t too long ago when the only elderly character on a national soap opera or award-winning television drama was confined to being the butt of the jokes or simply a lost and confused extra.
These days, older people are represented much more accurately, fairly and with greater respect to minutia than before and, overall, the representation of older people on the small screen has substantially improved. Additionally, the average age of influential politicians and other job roles firmly centered in the public eye has increased, which has done brilliant things for encouraging ordinary, older citizens to speak up and stand up for themselves and what they want to happen in their country.
3. Older people have a voice and they are not afraid to use it
Whatever your personal views on recent political wins and democratic, and the country-wide decisions made by the citizens of the United States, the media recently has been saturated with reports that the older ‘end’ of the population has been responsible for swinging the vote to one way of thinking.
Unlike teenagers and young adults, older people have lived through a diverse range of changes within the country and, moreover, the world as a whole and are therefore more centrally positioned and essentially more experienced in seeing the responsibility to future generations.
Additionally, the media in general is paying much more attention to the thoughts, feelings and predictions of older people and you will have noticed on television and in films more due care and attention is being afforded to interviewing and including older adults’ points of view.
4. International attitudes to the elderly are filtering into Western culture
In Greece, the older members of the family are central to the social and emotional bonds between relatives and general respect for the elders is wholly and entirely central to the family unit. With more Hollywood filmmakers shining their proverbial flashlight onto different cultures and nationalities, this affection and love for older people has begun to permeate through into western families too.
In a plethora of Native American tribal communities, older adults are respected, endeared and idolized for their advanced knowledge, wisdom and general life experiences and it is tradition for the elderly to officially ‘pass down’ their wisdom to the younger generations. In China, it is not just accepted but positively expected of children to care for their parents once they reach old age and in Indian communities, grandmas and grandads essentially run the day-to-day goings on of individual family members’ lives.
The more that Western cultures learn about and are exposed to international attitudes to elderly people, the more openly respectful and empathetic that they become.
5. Community theatre is thriving across the country
In the past 10 years or so, paused and stunted only by the lockdown that resulted from the worldwide coronavirus pandemic of 2020, there has been a boom in community theatre companies springing up across the length and breadth of the United States.
Community theatre is absolutely wonderful, in that it not only brings together budding performers, artists, directors and technicians from literally all walks of life, but it also provides an active, entertaining an engaging social life and community spirit for the members. Perhaps the best-selling point of community theatre is, however, the way older people are not only actively encouraged to become involved but are often the main focus and subject of the plays and performances devised.
6. Today’s younger generation are generally more responsible
Thankfully and undeniably, not before time, today’s younger people are generally more caring and aware of their actions and subsequently more respectful and careful of how what they do will affect not just the planet physically, but the individual.
The term ‘woke’ has been coined only in the last year or so and actually refers solely to a general heightened awareness of social injustice to different groups of people. Now, it is frowned upon in the colleges across the country if young people do not consider themselves to be ‘woke’ and, wonderfully, this awakened attitude has had a multitude of positive influences on the general attitude towards elderly people.
Although, sadly, this does by no means apply to every young American, this newly awakened reminder that every single person, regardless of age, nationality, culture and gender has helped increase the overall level of respect, care and concern shown from younger people to older adults.
