Anne Huggins
A new report has exposed an endemic stigma towards ageing and older people
The study, commissioned by Retirement Villages Group (RVG), has shown that ageism is rife in UK popular culture with the media constantly representing older people in a negative way.
The study assessed the language and images used to describe and depict older people in a sample of more than 40 newspapers, lifestyle magazines, adverts and popular soaps.
It found themes of ill health, vulnerability and frailty dominated, with 43 per cent of newspapers describing older people as “vulnerable” and 24 per cent using the terms “frail,” “vulnerable” or ill”.
Yet, there is clear appetite for change, with 67 per cent of UK adults surveyed wanting more positive stories published about older people.
The fact is that older people are expecting more from their later years.
RVG has launched the Thrive Living collection – a transformative model for the future of retirement living that has been designed in consultation with people over 65 about what they want from later life.
Thrive Living communities will be built in or near town centres and will have shared outdoor space for use by those who live locally, as well as a range of independent restaurants, retailers and wellness centres including leisure facilities which will bring both the resident retirement and local communities together.
Meet some of RVG’s happy owners who are living life to the full and smashing the stigma about ageing.
James and Angela
James Cassidy, who is nearly 90, married Angela De Winter in 2021 who he met at Castle Village in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
They even had their wedding reception at the village.
James is a keen tango dancer and has travelled all over, seeing and performing in shows.
Angela, who is in her mid-80s, loves travelling and is a huge foodie.
She travels with James and with friends, and the couple have recently returned from a trip to Tokyo.
Anne Huggins baulks at wearing frumpy outfits. she prefers to wear bright colours and dye her hair purple, which gets a lot of compliments.
She is 76 and moved into Charters Village in West Sussex in December 2020.
Joan Harrison
She notes that there is a stigma that you are old/finished with when you move into a retirement community, but says that that stereotype is completely pulled apart once you move.
Joan Harrison is 75 years young and very active – in fact, she walks several miles every day.
She moved to Park Place village, Lincolnshire, last year after her husband passed away.
She doesn’t class herself as a pensioner and totally disagrees with the stereotypical way the media portrays older people. She sees age as just a number and isn’t fearful about getting older.
RVG declares that its Thrive Living collection is for people who want to stay connected, sociable, and active as they get older showing that living incredible and active lives doesn’t need to stop once you retire.
Find out more about the new collection here.
