First a word on the word Recoding. When I chose it seven years ago as part of a new tag line “Recoding a Longevity Society”, I borrowed from technology talk as way of saying it was time change the language in this dialogue. As societal constructs and systems built from the 20th century sharply faced changed, global ageing narratives were emerging in diverse societies around the world, interwoven across cultures and generations, and we needed to widen our lens.
Ever since I recoded my thinking on ageing and longevity, raised my scope and interacted with many exceptional professionals in this field, I have kept up my mind sweep of what is going on internationally; catalogued great conversations with thought leaders and practitioners, attended and/or covered an eclectic mix of events and read a vast amount of reports, papers and books to share with you.
So onward we go, for since COVID in 2020, the world continues to sharply face change on so many fronts that the narrative will surely need recoding over and over again.
Every year at this time we say the same thing – where has summer flown! To catch up, here’s a roundup of some topics on my watch over the summer and a brief look at things to come in September 2022, some of which I will cover in more detail in separate posts to follow.
Timebanking UK – 20th Anniversary
Timebanking is not that new, yet many people I meet haven’t heard much of it. With early roots as far back as the 19th century, timebanking as we know it today has become quite a refined concept; one that functions globally. Among many things it fosters inter-generational connectivity and yes, caregiving in the community. After following one organization for several years, with its well-articulated model I note that Timebanking UKcelebrated its 20th anniversary in August 2022.
Over the last two years I have sat in on several presentations and followed writings on social prescribing from The King’s Fundin the UK. Again this topic, which has gained more traction globally over the last few years, is not that new; yet as we’ve learned so much since COVID in 2020, perhaps it has found its time as we seek to recode health and social care.
It’s the 10th Anniversary of the Stanford Longevity Design Challenge with this year’s theme“Optimizing Health Span: Living Well at Every Age.” Next Monday the 12th is the start of acceptance of contest submissions from student design teams from around the world. This is my 10th year following this event and I’ve watched it evolve, and dare I say recode itself several times. The 2022/23 Challenge asks for designs that “increase the health spans of people in disadvantaged circumstances, which may include poverty, food, housing, or climate insecurity.”
Equity by Design, AARP International Webinar – Sept.20
Over the last two years AARP International’s Equity by Design series has produced some great content, my favourite so far in November 2021 featured Rose Gilroy of Future Homes Alliance in the UK who discussed how a grassroots group of residents from Newcastle created lifelong innovative housing initiatives.
Following up on the housing topic, the Sept.20, 2022 webinar is titled Cohousing Creates Community – a type of intentional community that focuses on shared spaces, shared resources, shared time and shared values. I’m registered and ready to hear some new insights.
While Arts & Aging Day is primarily focused on selected artistic work of those who livein care homes, retirement communities, seniors community centres across the country, that should not exclude the active participation in various areas of the arts by older adults in our communities at large, which would include visual art, music, dance, theatre, writing and other crafts.
