The Area 1 Agency on Aging and the American Society on Aging will celebrate Ageism Awareness Day on Saturday, October 7. Modeled after the United Nation’s International Day of Older Persons (Oct. 1), Ageism Awareness Day provides an opportunity to draw attention to the existence and impact of ageism in today’s society.

“We live in an aging society, which is a wonderful, remarkable thing,” said American Society on Aging’s Interim President and CEO Leanne Clark-Shirley. “But too many of us view aging with fear, denial and even hostility. We are all growing older. We can’t afford to limit ourselves and other people with such negative and harmful views, and why would we want to? Let’s lean into the opportunities, diversity and full range of experiences that come with aging.”

In conjunction with Ageism Awareness Day, the  Humboldt Senior Resource Center will present Ashton Applewhite’s TED Talk, “Let’s End Ageism,” on Friday, October 6,  at noon and again at 12:30 p.m. at the Eureka Heritage Café located at 1910 California St.

“Area 1 Agency on Aging joins the American Society on Aging to help raise awareness about ageism and its harms,” said Maggie Kraft, executive director at A1AA, “so we can each take steps to change how we feel and act about aging.”

Area 1 Agency on Aging has been providing leadership and services to support and promote healthy aging in Humboldt and Del Norte counties since 1980. For information about A1AA, visit www.a1aa.org.  The American Society on Aging unites, empowers, and champions everyone working in aging. For information about the American Society on Aging, visit www.asaging.org.