Rethinking What It Means to Grow Older
August 21 is National Senior Citizens Day, a day to recognize older Americans for all they have built and continue to contribute. Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) joins communities across Pennsylvania in honoring the older adults who shape our neighborhoods, families, and local institutions every day.
It’s a good moment to talk honestly about ageism and the outdated assumptions that follow older adults: growing older means slowing down, becoming forgetful, or stepping aside. In reality, older Pennsylvanians are running businesses, raising grandchildren, mentoring young professionals, volunteering in their communities, serving in local government, and so much more.
Where Ageism Shows Up
Ageism doesn’t always look like blatant hostility. More often, it shows up in quieter ways: being talked over instead of talked to or assumptions made about the ability to not make their own decisions or an older adult needs to be cared for rather than consulted. It can come from strangers, loved ones, institutions, and sometimes from the words older adults use about themselves.
One of the clearest places ageism shows up is in conversations about where and how older adults should live. Too often, the assumption is that aging means giving up independence and autonomy. The reality is the opposite.
Aging at Home: A Triple Win
Aging at home isn’t just a personal preference; it’s one of the clearest counterpoints to the ageist assumption that older adults are better off stepping back from their own lives and decisions. It’s a triple win for older adults, caregivers, and taxpayers alike:
● It honors an older adult’s right to choose. Most older adults want to remain in the homes they love, maintaining their independence and identity.
● It’s cost-effective. In-home support stretches limited local and state resources further than institutional care, which costs far more.
● It strengthens families and communities. Caregivers find purpose, and older adults stay connected, reducing social isolation and the health risks that come with it.
Every Voice, Every Contribution
At Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA), we see the reality behind the stereotype every day. From volunteering at food banks to caring for grandchildren, older adults bring decades of lived experience and perspective that our communities depend on.
As your local Area Agency on Aging, part of our work is making sure older adults are seen for who they are, not the stereotype. That means connecting residents to resources, like benefits counseling, transportation, and health promotion programs, allowing them to stay active, engaged, and in control of their own lives. It also means pushing back, publicly and consistently, on the falsehood that aging means slowing down or stepping aside.
How We Can All Push Back on Ageism
Combating ageism starts with small, everyday choices:
● Speak up when you hear an ageist joke or comment.
● Ask older adults for their opinions and expertise, not just their memories.
● Support policies and workplaces that value experience at every age.
● Recognize the older adults in your own life, not just on August 21, but all year long.
Celebrating Older Pennsylvanians
This National Senior Citizens Day, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) invites our community to join us in celebrating the older adults who help make Philadelphia the community it is. Take the time to thank an older adult in your life, whether it’s a parent, neighbor, coworker, or mentor, for everything they’ve given and everything they continue to give.
Pennsylvania’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging serve all 67 counties, connecting older adults to the services and support that make independence possible at every stage of life. Aging is not something to overcome. It’s something to honor.
For more information about AAAs in your area, visit https://p4a.org/aaas/ or https://www.pcacares.org/.
