EP: 230 - The Words That Can Change How America Thinks About Aging

Language and imagery shape how aging is perceived, influencing public opinion, policies, and community support. In this episode of This Is Getting Old: Moving Toward an Age-Friendly World, Dr. Melissa Batchelor and Hannah Albers from the National Center to Reframe Aging discuss research-backed strategies to communicate about aging in ways that reduce ageism and highlight older adults' contributions. The discussion covers the gap between expert and public perceptions of aging, communication traps to avoid, and practical strategies that have been applied successfully in real-world settings. Topics include emphasizing aging as a process of growth, framing supports for meaningful lives, addressing frailty without paternalism, presenting ageism as a solvable problem, and using imagery that reflects older adults as active and engaged members of the community.