Art of Aging: The Lightbulb Moment: When People Finally ‘Get’ Reframing Aging

This week on the Art of Aging, Rev. Beth Long-Higgins talks with Hannah Albers, Director of Program Development at the National Center to Reframe Aging, about how language shapes our understanding of aging and drives policy, programs, and everyday interactions. Hannah shares her journey into aging services, the impact of mentors and age-diverse teams, and her own experiences with internalized ageism and “owning” her age. They trace how the reframing aging movement has evolved since 2015, moving from marketing and communications into direct practice and cross-sector work, and discuss the tension between using common search terms like “senior citizen” and striving to change the broader culture. Key takeaways include the power of small shifts in language, the importance of inviting people into the work rather than calling them out, the need to engage sectors beyond traditional aging services, and the value of personal reflection in confronting ageism at every stage of life. Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Welcome to Today’s Episode with Janice Hannah Albers (0:26) What the National Center to Reframe Aging Is and What It Does (2:35) Learning Patience in Systems Change (4:29) Working on Age Diverse Teams and Confronting Internalized Ageism (7:18) How Reframing Aging Research and Language Have Evolved Since 2015 (11:39) Balancing Culture Change With SEO and Public Messaging on Aging (15:40) Moving Beyond Aging Services to Engage Age Adjacent Sectors (19:23) Light Bulb Moments, Personal Reflection, and Small Shifts With Big Impact (24:00) Hope for the Future of Aging, Longer Lives, and Practical First Steps (32:47) Hannah’s Personal Reflections on Her Own Aging and Inspiring Role Models (36:50) How to Access Reframing Aging Resources and Stay Connected (39:23) Abundant Aging is a podcast series presented by United Church Homes. These shows offer ideas, information, and inspiration on how to improve our lives as we grow older. To learn more and to subscribe to the show, visit abundantagingpodcast.com.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.