Shorter weeks and more flexible living as gender roles, lifestyle and expectations have come under scrutiny. A knowledge based worker in a post modern world, interacting differently with technology, requires a different way of doing and being, both in and outside work.
What is ‘old’? What does it mean today? How can 65 now be the cut off point when an 80 year old can expect to live another 10 years? Structural ageism will need to be challenged as we enter the 100 year life. This is when people will have to recreate themselves and undertake different roles and jobs throughout their life to adapt to change and work for linger. Ageism restricts our thinking still about age as we have seen the variation between centenarians like Tom Moore, soon to be knighted, and those more frail who maybe 30 years their junior.
People age differently and are affected by different factors. Chronological age is not the only thing that makes us vulnerable to Covid 19. Healthy ageing has come of age. We can all influence this. We need both education and a cultural shift to get there. We cannot suddenly become like the Scandinavians but we can make darn sure that we play a part at challenging the status quo. Getting outside our comfort zone, knowing that it’s never too late to start.
We can change the way health conditions rise with age by looking after ourselves and investing in a healthier lifestyle including diet, exercise and finding the sense of purpose that makes us move towards greatness and human flourishing. Involving young people in this debate is fundamental to overcoming generational misunderstandings; realising more about the life course and importance of intergenerational understanding and learning. The life map includes us all and we should all be interested in each other along the way. It’s not about ‘us vs them’ .
Covid-19 is revealing who and what we value - we must hang onto this discussion and not let it pass us by. It is a time to seize opportunity and ensure that people working in care, both paid and unpaid are seen as assets and leaders who feel their job is worthwhile, that they have enough time to to it well, they are properly equipped and are valued by their peers, those they work for and also their managers.