Facing Ageism: The greatest impediment to elder justice, and our future self

This ‘letter to the editor’ was submitted to—but not accepted by—The New York Times for publication.

Re “FaceApp and the Savage Shock of Aging” (nytimes.com Jul 21)

“Savage shock of aging” is one more example of ageism, which is the fundamental impediment to our future self, to elder justice, and to society’s efforts to combat elder abuse, which affects one in ten older adults.

America’s public-health triumph of the 20th century gained us almost thirty years. To benefit fully from our longevity dividend, we must explore creative solutions to engage older adults in to our social and economic fabric, more, while protecting those of us in our new old age from abuse and exploitation, a public-health epidemic of the 21st century that compromises society and the inherent potential of a seventh of our adult citizens.

Saving seniors is damage control after the fact, and insufficient. We must prevent abuse, more. Our greatest resources and first line of offense are communities with existing programs and services that protect seniors. This is what area agencies on aging achieve daily and will address next week at their national conference in New Orleans, hosted by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

Philip C. Marshall
South Dartmouth, MA
The writer is the grandson of the late Brooke Astor, New York City philanthropist and elder abuse victim.

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#Ageism is the greatest impediment to #elderjustice and fighting #abuse —#community programs and services, including those by @n4aACTION, fosters trust and capacity to help prevent abuse