The following is a recap from Varsity’s Roundtable, a weekly virtual gathering of senior living marketers and leaders from across the nation. For updates about future weekly Roundtable gatherings, submit your name and email address here.
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Art has the power to do something facts and statistics often can’t: change the way people see one another. In senior living, where outdated stereotypes about aging still influence everything from marketing to everyday interactions, creativity can become a powerful tool for reshaping perceptions and celebrating the richness of later life.
That’s exactly the focus of Meg LaPorte and Jordan Evans, co-founders of Art Against Ageism, who joined Varsity’s weekly Roundtable to share how storytelling, public art and interactive experiences are helping challenge ageism and inspire more authentic conversations about aging. Below are a few Fresh Perspectives from their discussion.
AGEISM IS OFTEN INVISIBLE UNTIL YOU LOOK FOR IT
Age bias often appears in subtle ways, from marketing imagery to everyday language. Regularly auditing communications and customer experiences can uncover hidden stereotypes.
PUBLIC ART CAN STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Murals and interactive installations invite engagement, generate conversation and help position senior living as an active part of the local community.
AUTHENTICITY BUILDS TRUST
Showing real residents, real experiences and everyday life creates more credible storytelling and helps families connect before they ever visit.
SMALL EXPERIENCES CAN CHANGE BIG BELIEFS
Interactive activations don’t have to be elaborate. Simple, thoughtful experiences can spark conversations that reshape perceptions of aging.
STORIES BRING PEOPLE TO LIFE
Portraits capture attention, but personal stories create emotional connection and help audiences see people instead of stereotypes.
FIGHTING AGEISM TAKES AN ORGANIZATION-WIDE EFFORT
Marketing matters, but lasting change also comes from staff, partnerships and everyday interactions that celebrate aging with dignity.
