044 Jeanette Leardi: Truths About Aging

 "Once you label me you negate me". (Soren Kiekegard)  "If you're alive, you're aging. It's as simple as that" (Jeanette Leardi) A number of recent episodes on Growing Older Living Younger have focused on  real and perceived judgments and discrimination on the basis of age, gender, ethnicity and ability, which leads me to agree somewhat with the quote from Kierkegard. As soon as we lose sight of the individual, and instead see only the wrinkles and grey hair, the cane or the wheelchair, skin color or clothing, and "label" them we negate the wholeness of that person. I discuss this with my guest today, who was inspired by her decade of experiences as the primary caregiver to both of her parents, to make her encore career goals to change perceptions about the aging process. She helps people appreciate elders' inherent dignity, wisdom, and unique value as mentors and catalysts for social change. Jeanette Leardi is a social gerontologist, community educator, writer, editor, public speaker, and aging wellness leader. She has a master's degree with honors in English from Rutgers University and a graduate certificate in gerontology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.Jeanette is passionate about older adult empowerment. She  finds special personal fulfillment helping Boomers and older generations identify and share their wisdom with others, through her publications, presentations and classes in journaling, spiritual writing, memoir writing, brain fitness, health literacy, ageism, intergenerational communication, creativity, and caregiver support to people of all ages. Her publishing experiences include positions at Newsweek, Life, People, Condé Nast Traveler, and Sesame Street magazines and The Charlotte Observer.  Our conversation leads us through her early work in creating educational materials for children to her present work in aging. We discuss similarities and differences in age discrimination from other kinds of discrimination (racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia). She shares the different workshops she has developed to promote healthy aging.  Contact Jeanette LeardiEmail: [email protected] Website: www.jeanetteleardi.com   Contact Dr. Gillian Lockitch Schedule a Living Younger Discovery call with me at https://calendly.com/askdrgill/discovery-phone-chat  Order your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably at www,gillianlockitch.com