EP45:
Ashton Applewhite

QUOTES

“It’s not healthy to go through life dreading your future and feeling disconnected from the person you hope to become.” (Ashton)

“The fact is that people as we age, we grow more different from one another. Heterogeneity. Diversity increases with age.” (Ashton)

“The whole notion of retirement is obsolete.” (Ashton)

“As long as we see older people as other than us, we are feeding the denial in which ageism takes root.” (Ashton)

“We know that our years make us us, that we are the sum of all these experiences.” (Ashton)

“We live well by adapting to these changes, not by pretending they’re never going to come for us.” (Ashton)

“I used to think, gee, I hope I never get like that. And now I think maybe she’s off for a hot date. We have no idea what her life is like, but I guarantee you it’s richer than most of us think it is.” (Ashton)

“The one thing we can control is our attitudes. We change our attitudes by educating ourselves about aging.” (Ashton)

“We contain all the ages we have ever been, but we can build on what we know.” (Ashton)

NOTES

Ashton Applewhite is an author, activist and internationally recognized expert on ageism who has spent more than two decades challenging stereotypes about growing older. She is the author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, and her TED Talk, Let’s End Ageism, has reached millions of viewers worldwide.

Ashton is co-founder of Old School, a free online resource hub dedicated to raising awareness of ageism and advancing age equity. The platform brings together educational materials, research, campaigns and practical tools to help individuals and organizations recognize age-based prejudice and challenge stereotypes about aging.

Ashton also writes the Substack Things I Used to Say and maintains an archive of her long-running blog, Yo, Is This Ageist?, where she explores everyday examples of ageism and helps readers question assumptions about age.

Ageism often begins with unconscious assumptions about people based on how old we think they are. Even seemingly harmless phrases like “senior moment,” “young at heart” and “years young” can reinforce the idea that youth is inherently better than old age.

One of the most persistent myths about aging is that older people are all alike. In reality, people become increasingly different from one another as they age, making broad generational labels and age-based assumptions particularly misleading.

Thinking of ageism as prejudice against our future selves can help change our attitudes. Ashton encourages people to become “old people in training,” acknowledging that growing older is part of life and building connections with the older people they may one day become.

Our attitudes toward aging can influence our physical and cognitive health. Ashton highlighted research showing that people with more positive, accurate views of aging experience better health outcomes and may be less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, even when genetically predisposed.

The concept of “successful aging” can reinforce harmful stereotypes by suggesting that aging well means remaining youthful, physically active and independent. Ashton argues that adapting to life’s changes, including disability and declining physical abilities, is an important part of living well.

Senior living marketing can unintentionally reinforce ageism by exclusively portraying attractive, physically fit older adults enjoying active lifestyles. More authentic representation should include people with mobility aids, disabilities and different levels of physical and cognitive ability.

AI and emerging technologies have potential to address social isolation and improve older adults’ lives, but they also carry risks. Ashton cautioned that technology can perpetuate human biases and should never become a substitute for human connection, companionship and touch.

Strong social relationships are among the most important contributors to a fulfilling later life. Ashton encourages people to build friendships across generations, challenge their own biases and recognize that growing older can bring greater freedom, self-awareness and opportunities for personal growth.