The NSW mid-north coast city of Newcastle, have come together to recognise the value of elderly people in their community, 50 years after the term ‘ageism’ was coined.
Older people often feel isolated and lonely so the Newcastle community is proud to stand tall with its elderly and challenge the outdated, ageist attitudes that prevent them from not making the most of their later years.
The Elders Council, a forum set up to give older people a voice about changes and issues aims to keep them informed through their quarterly magazine, radio station, Facebook page and monthly coffee mornings, all under the banner ‘Ageing with Style’.
Barbara Douglas, executive officer at Elders Council said: “We are hoping to challenge the negative attitudes towards the older generation — we’re a big burden, we’re taking resources. We want people to see we can ‘age with style’ and be a huge asset to our communities.”
Barbara says, “This month we are determined to show the positives of our contribution to society.”
