Speaker 1 00:00:03 Hi, and welcome to does this make me local, a podcast about aging as gracefully as possible when you're just not ready for two 40 something year old friends will find themselves kind of straddling that really odd period of time when aging and everything that it's associated with is starting to become a much bigger part of our lives. We're definitely curious, but at the same time, rather terrified about aging. I'm Schiff. I'm a health science nerd and pop culture themes, and I'm sin and adult and waiting obsessed with finance and self-help books. We're going to be talking about the stereotypes of aging and how they affect us. And we'll also be doing some deeper dives into some interesting topics, such as what it's like to get old in the society dating when you're older and scientific advancements in anti-aging products and even evolution and scientific thinking around aging and throughout it all we chat rant, laugh about or adulting mishaps of which there are so, so, so many. So join us as we navigate our second quarter life crisis.
Speaker 0 00:01:08 Hi, welcome to this week's episode of does this make me look old? I'm Shiv. He Sam.
Speaker 1 00:01:14 Hey, and I'm SIM has it going CIF?
Speaker 0 00:01:18 Yeah, can't complain hanging out. It's a good, it's a nice day today. So I'm like enjoying, uh, wow. I I'm indoors, but I'm vicariously enjoying the nice weather on a fall day.
Speaker 1 00:01:31 This is hilarious that you should say that I had stepped out and with the humidity, it feels like 29 30 degrees Celsius. Yeah. I was like, my gosh, it's hot.
Speaker 0 00:01:48 Oh my God. So funny how our perceptions of it are so different. I'm like, yay. It's like, what? Last day of summer? The window.
Speaker 1 00:01:55 I was like, exceptable this is so hard.
Speaker 0 00:02:02 I know. I'm the crazy thing is, is I think we had a fire going, like not even one or two days ago. Yeah, no, no. Yesterday actually, even yet, even up until yesterday, I had the fire going, cause I was quote too cold and I had blankets on me and everything. And then today it's like super warm, so Hey everyone. Welcome to global warming.
Speaker 1 00:02:23 We got 20, but funny, you know, I know. Oh gosh.
Speaker 0 00:02:31 Oh my goodness. Anyway, but yeah, these like this make me feel just a little bit better about life because I'm just dreading winter. So
Speaker 1 00:02:40 I heard it's going to be a really bad winter. Yeah. But I don't know how seriously to take it because I feel like every year someone tells me, oh, do you know this is going to be the worst winter we've had in forever. It usually isn't. And it ends up being a milder winter. So I'm like, I don't know.
Speaker 0 00:03:01 I think this is coming from somebody who likes the cold because for me, every winter is the worst winter. I'm like, if there's a minus 40 degree day involved, then I'm
Speaker 1 00:03:13 No, but you know what I need though? Right? Like, do you remember like in 20, was it in 2013 or 20? Oh, the
Speaker 0 00:03:18 Polar vortex.
Speaker 1 00:03:20 The polar vortex that, yeah, it was ridiculous. Whereas like last winter we had like just a few snow days. Like it wasn't like non-stop winter, Joe.
Speaker 0 00:03:32 That's the crazy thing is that like, I feel like in Winnipeg, I have a feeling that polar vortexes were a thing. Cause like, you know, for like a week or two, there's just like really cold weather for like an extended period of time. But like when I moved to Toronto, that really wasn't a thing and oh, I'm getting Arctic chill right now. So thanks climate change.
Speaker 1 00:04:01 I wonder if I had actually grown up in Winnepeg, maybe I would actually be like you and not like winter as much.
Speaker 0 00:04:07 Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well, full on I, yeah, my I'm pretty sure that my time in Winnipeg has completely changed my outlook on winter. I don't understand people who like cold. I don't understand winter in general. And like, why would you willingly go into weather like this? That's the definition of insane? Like, unless you're into it and you have grown up with it all your life and it's part of your culture that makes sense. You have clothing and you know how to deal with this shit. Like I'm from a warm climate. This does not make sense to me. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 00:04:44 I do like overall I like winter. Um, just, you know, just nice and cool, but I mean, I don't want it to be crazy, but yeah, I do like it when it's just a little bit, you know, it's very soon.
Speaker 0 00:05:00 Yeah. I, I have doubts about whether or not your rounds.
Speaker 1 00:05:04 <inaudible>, here's the thing. I've been an outcast all my life. She just add this accepted the fact that I'm always an outcast, no matter where I go.
Speaker 0 00:05:26 Oh my God. It's too funny. I know. Well actually, no, not my mother. My mother hates the cold, but my dad like seems to like it and I'm like, I don't understand you. I'm like I get it. We moved there out of necessity. But to stay there, I am not under like, I just don't get it anyway. Yeah. It's a lovely city. I love Winnipeg. Winnipeg's a great city. The weather though. Oh my God.
Speaker 1 00:05:57 Part of me really wanted to move there.
Speaker 0 00:06:00 I wouldn't blame you. It's like, it's really nice. It's like, you know, it's in a nice,
Speaker 1 00:06:06 No actually kind of wants to go and live in the Northwest. Territory's right. Or none of it or something like I would love. Yeah. I used to, for the longest time, want to read up on like, I used to read all these blogs of people who lived there and I just loved it. It was just so fascinating. Yeah. Like, you know, the whole, I don't know. It just feels like there's a community feeling to it. Like, I don't know. It was just very nice. And I think like, as a kid, I used to really love the show Northern exposure. Oh, I love that show. And so I think in my head, I feel like life is like that quirky and fun and like, you know, like cold weather, but warm people that, you know what I mean, the science to view, but, um, that's kind of how I pictured it. So I've, I've all like a part of me really wants to go and live there. Is
Speaker 0 00:06:57 It just because you think people look like John Corbett up there? Yes.
Speaker 1 00:07:00 There is that <inaudible>.
Speaker 0 00:07:11 Oh my goodness. I loved, I loved, um, I loved the doctor's assistant. She was funny. She was just she'd always come in. She would always come in and she was like, I think she was the assistant or was she John Corbett's wife? I can't remember now. Oh, I have to go back and look at this show.
Speaker 1 00:07:27 We watch the show. Cause I don't remember the names of the characters or anything.
Speaker 0 00:07:32 Yeah, I know. I don't remember them either. I just remember. I just remember like there was like, was it Joel, Joel, something like, I think he was the doctor and then like, Yeah. And then he's like love interest and then like, yeah. And then John Corbett's radio show host guy. And then there was a guy who was married to a really young woman. I remember that.
Speaker 1 00:08:00 Shelly, Shelly. Shelly.
Speaker 0 00:08:02 Yes.
Speaker 1 00:08:04 I remember that.
Speaker 0 00:08:05 Yeah. I remember it because I was annoyed by it. Even at a young age,
Speaker 1 00:08:10 I actually realized that they were married. I thought they were father and daughter when I was kid. And then I think, no, no, no, that's fine because I know, I realize that, um, because it was a long time ago. And then I remember like, I think when I did figure it out, I was like, what is happening? Um, you know, but obviously that was really dumb of me back then, but that's
Speaker 0 00:08:41 So funny. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 00:08:44 Yeah, I have,
Speaker 0 00:08:46 Yeah, it's really funny. I, cause I, I must have been in my tweens or something when I watched that and I just remember being annoyed, even then I was annoyed. I'm like, why?
Speaker 1 00:08:59 I know
Speaker 0 00:09:02 This doesn't make sense to me. Like why? Like anyway, but maybe that was just my age is I'm at work where I was just like married to such an old man.
Speaker 1 00:09:13 Oh my goodness. That is funny.
Speaker 0 00:09:17 Yeah. I'm trying to find yeah. John Corbett. Sorry. I'm going through yeah. Lane miles. So her, her character's name was Marilyn whirlwind, but like I forget.
Speaker 1 00:09:29 Oh wait was I remember her Maryland. She had the two braids.
Speaker 0 00:09:34 Yes. Yeah, yeah. I loved her. She was hilarious. She was so funny. I know.
Speaker 1 00:09:41 Well, we watched the show. I wonder if it's on any of the streaming sites should
Speaker 0 00:09:46 Yeah. If it isn't then the streaming sites are missing out on something I think.
Speaker 1 00:09:52 And you know, check this out. Cause that was a really good show and I'd love to watch.
Speaker 0 00:10:00 Yeah. Yeah. Hauling hauling was one of the characters. I remember him. Was he the older guy that oh, maybe hauling was maybe Shelly was married to hauling. Oh, I
Speaker 1 00:10:10 Don't remember. Um,
Speaker 0 00:10:13 Yeah, I was right. Rob Morrow played Dr. Joel Fleishman. Ah, so it was Joel, but yeah.
Speaker 1 00:10:20 Do we know him from,
Speaker 0 00:10:23 I only know him from Northern exposure.
Speaker 1 00:10:26 Was he also in numbers?
Speaker 0 00:10:28 Oh yeah. He was in numbers. Yeah. Okay. Okay.
Speaker 1 00:10:31 Yeah. Yeah. That name.
Speaker 0 00:10:33 Oh, he's in billions. I didn't know
Speaker 1 00:10:35 That Rob Morrows is in billions, which
Speaker 0 00:10:37 Season? Yeah. Yeah. I, it says 2016 to 2021.
Speaker 1 00:10:43 Oh my gosh. He is. I forgot. I think. Yes. Yes he, yes. Cause I'm behind on, on billions.
Speaker 0 00:10:53 Yeah. Yeah. Oh, and I remember, I think Northern exposure, wasn't the town built by like wasn't the town created by a pair of lesbians. I thought that was like so cool. I remember like they,
Speaker 1 00:11:05 This really?
Speaker 0 00:11:08 Yeah. I remember that episode cause I was just like, oh, that's such a cool story. You where it was like, you know, this like lesbian couple who like moved there and they basically created town. I thought it was a pretty cool.
Speaker 1 00:11:19 I was actually cool. Um, yeah, no, I don't actually remember any of that right now. Oh really? No. I just remember the John Corbett having, um, a radio show and he would read Shakespeare, I think.
Speaker 0 00:11:33 Oh, okay. So basically you watch the show for John Corbett,
Speaker 1 00:11:37 I guess. I mean, when did the show come out?
Speaker 0 00:11:43 1990 apparently. Oh, okay. Yeah. So I was, I was in my teens. I was like, I thought I was younger, but no I was in,
Speaker 1 00:11:53 Um,
Speaker 0 00:11:53 Yeah, so I kind of, um, don't remember much about the show. I just remember thinking it was really cool to live in a town like that, where it was so cold and wintry. Yeah. I don't know what to say. I'm like, I feel like I'm like, I, I feel like I kind of did live in a town lake and make at least to the cold part, which is why I assume left the town. I couldn't have,
Speaker 1 00:12:25 Like when I lived in Oslow, um, uh, it was just, I don't know, like I remember like the like walking home one day and it was, it had snowed and it was like four o'clock in the afternoon and it was pitch black, dark. Like it was like so dark and um, but you know, the houses were lit up and um, the snow was everywhere and he was just the most magical feeling. Cause it was like the light was reflect next to lights from the houses were reflecting on the snow. And I don't know, it was just so pretty. And I just made me very, very happy. Oh nice.
Speaker 0 00:13:04 Yeah. I, I get that. And yet having to live with that much cold for so long, it gets to you man.
Speaker 1 00:13:13 Yeah. I think it's the it's it's the duration of, of winter that, you know, it's two people know for sure. No, I totally get that. I'm not that weird. Anyways. Speaking of ageism,
Speaker 0 00:13:34 Which I clearly, which I clearly showed everyone just now, why is this young woman married to such an old man?
Speaker 1 00:13:44 So speaking of age, um, so turns out that October 1st, which was yesterday, we're recording on October 2nd here. So, um, October 1st is apparently international day of older persons. Um, but, but that's not the, that's not why I wanted to bring this up. But Australia that now started something called ageism awareness date also on October 1st and they had their first one this year, 2020.
Speaker 0 00:14:17 Okay. Now I find it really strange that like there's this international day of older people and like I've never heard of it. It's supposed to be international.
Speaker 1 00:14:28 It is international. And it's actually not a new thing. It was started in 1990, I think 1991 maybe.
Speaker 0 00:14:39 Yeah. So for 30 years this has been like a recognized international day. And like I'm only hearing about it now. I find that very weird.
Speaker 1 00:14:48 I'm actually shocked that you didn't hear about it because you're, you, you just know always the randomest stuff. So if you haven't heard it, no, no, it's true though. Right? Like that's, that's my barometer for like, um, you know, not
Speaker 0 00:15:02 Prevalent something
Speaker 1 00:15:05 You just always know like the craziest stuff right. Yet. You've never actually come across this. That, that does surprise me.
Speaker 0 00:15:14 Yeah, no, I've never come across this. Like I've never heard it like advertised anywhere, anything that gets just so strange, like, yeah. Okay. So then I have two questions. So one, why isn't it being advertised more? And then two, is it not being discussed because of the inherent age-ism in society?
Speaker 1 00:15:34 I don't know. And that's a good question because when you, if you go to the UN page for this, the first thing you actually see is that by 2020, which means that this has already happened. The number of people age 60 and up will outnumber children younger than five years old.
Speaker 0 00:15:52 That's a lot of older people,
Speaker 1 00:15:54 The right. And over the next three decades, the number of older persons worldwide is projected to more than double reaching, more than 1.5 billion persons in 20, 50 and 80% of them will be living in low and middle income countries.
Speaker 0 00:16:12 Oh wow. It's surprising because I was always under the impression that like more developed countries had older people, like the, the lower, lower and middle income countries would have more younger people just because, um, it just like, it's not that it pays more, but like it's just more economically. I don't really know if it's really economically feasible, but like I just find that like lower income countries tend to have like the, the panels tend to have more children. Right? Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:16:44 Oh, and younger populations. Um, but going back to your question about the age of, to attitude, probably being a factor prevalence figures based on a survey of 83,000 and change people in over 57 countries found that, um, one in every two people held highly ageist attitudes.
Speaker 0 00:17:07 50%.
Speaker 1 00:17:08 Yup. One in every two. Yeah. 50%.
Speaker 0 00:17:13 That's crazy. Oh my God. Wow.
Speaker 1 00:17:18 Moderately. Sorry. I missed that part too, but still the ageist attitudes, uh, stereotypes and prejudice. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:17:25 I can get that. I get that though. It's like, it's the same thing in which I was like, cause I give you think about it. Like when you go through your days sometimes like thoughts, flit through your head. I on actually I think this, I'm wondering if I'm having a little bit of a revelation about myself, look, I'm learning something new,
Speaker 1 00:17:41 Actually the point of this whole anti-age ageism awareness day.
Speaker 0 00:17:46 There you go. Cause like, yeah. Cause like, I mean, I just, our listeners that like at 14 I was like all upset, but like hauling was married, married to Shelley and my, my, my inherent problem with it was like, why is this young person married to such an old guy? And like, and for the longest time, I think I've been thinking to myself like, oh no, it's because I'm a feminist. And I think that like, you know, it's because older men are always marrying younger women and this should be like switched, which I agree with. But then, um, but like he, on some level it's like an inherent ageism issue with myself, you know? Like where maybe I'm just like, no, like young people should be with young people. Old people should be with old people. No, it really isn't. You still
Speaker 1 00:18:28 Believe that though?
Speaker 0 00:18:29 No, no, no, no. I don't. I think it's mean, I think it is mainly a sexism situation. What, because like, I think that it's like, I just genuinely feel that like, I don't understand why it's always older men who are with younger women. Like why can't it be the other way around? And I've totally, um, for, yeah. Like I don't care really what age you are is like, I don't think that we should be shaming older women for being with younger men. Right. Or like we shouldn't be thinking that that's like out of the ordinary or weird or bizarre. Right. So really, oh, I've come back around. It really was just a sexism situation.
Speaker 1 00:19:06 I like the F you know, the tone of relief in your voice. You're like, Nope, Nope, Nope. It's not English. I'm just speaking out against sexism as long as it's a woman and a younger man and that's normalized. I'm okay. With older women, older men and younger women too. No, you're right though. Like, there's, this is weird because international day of older persons started 30 years ago. But not just that apparently different countries also have, um, versions of this for like specific to their countries. Like Japan has a day that's called respecting agent or something like that. Yeah. And then China has something called a double nine stay. And I'm not exactly sure what it is,
Speaker 0 00:19:56 But it talks about like respecting,
Speaker 1 00:19:58 But it is about, you know, um, building that, uh, oh, respect for the HD is held on the third, Monday of September in, in, um, in Japan. And it's it's to honor elderly citizens, which I think is lovely. Um, and then you have other countries that do something similar.
Speaker 0 00:20:21 Huh? Do we have one in Canada? I don't think I've actually ever
Speaker 1 00:20:27 Yeah. Love to see you when days. So
Speaker 0 00:20:30 Yeah. Yeah. I know. I feel like we don't have one in Canada and the question is, is like, then why don't we like, if everybody, like, if Australia has one in Japan has one, like, why can't yeah. Why don't we have one?
Speaker 1 00:20:42 So Australia started this, which I loved it. Their hashtag was every each counts. Uh that's nice. So it's really cool. And in fact, that's the website to every age counts.org.edu. Yeah. And it's, you know, uh, it's an intended to sort of create awareness and draw attention to the existence, existence and impacts of ageism in Australia. Oh, that's great. Which is a critical step to changing community attitudes. I love that.
Speaker 0 00:21:11 Yeah. Okay. I'm going to play devil's advocate. Okay. Not that I really believe in this, but I'm just going to, you know, say it just to, you know, just so that the conversation around it can go a little bit further, but like, um, so yeah, so like to the people who think that we're getting too woke. Cause I, I mean, cause you know, like a lot of people think that ageism is like the next barrier. Like we're, you know, there are a lot of things that there are a lot of people that we may discriminate against, you know, based on like religion or sexual orientation or um, gender identity, et cetera. And then like, and so, you know, like a lot of people think that like ageism is one of these barriers that like, we, we should be trying to tackle. But then like what would you say to people who think that like we're getting quote too woke, you know, like where everything is suddenly becoming this like new, new, like social justice.
Speaker 1 00:22:08 I tell them to stop it.
Speaker 0 00:22:12 Um, yeah. I mean, no, I agree. But like at the same time, like I think you do need an argument against them because they, I think the art that is, that could be an argument for them. It's just like, oh, suddenly like everything is like a new, new, like discriminatory policy against
Speaker 1 00:22:27 First of all, ages, them is not new. It's built into this whole legislature for a reason and it's been there. So if you're still thinking that anything related to do with ageism is being to walk then F you, you know, just because like us and don't get me wrong, like you, and I didn't know about this international, deaf, older persons ourselves. Right. But we know that every time you apply for a job, you cannot be discriminated or she, you should not be discriminated based on age. We know about the age of attitudes. Um, cause people have been talking about it clearly, this issue itself as international day to create awareness and respect and, um, focus on initiatives and programs for, um, the aging population started 30 years ago. So it's been a thing. People have been talking about it. So if you suddenly use this particular one as being too woke, then I'm going to say fuck off.
Speaker 1 00:23:22 And you know, like, fuck you, you're an idiot. You know, I do understand this whole two woke argument being used, but I think it comes down to how people bring up and discuss these topics. Right? Like I feel like there's almost a division in a lot of these on a, on a lot of issues where people it's good to take a stance and it's good to take, um, you know, a stance that is for people and, and does good, um, rather than, you know, uh, discriminate against them. But I think that sometimes people can be very unkind to other people, uh, while they're defending their principles. And, and that probably is the part that I would, um, try and minimize from my part, right. Like where I'm not going to try and shame someone else into anything I keyword being try.
Speaker 1 00:24:29 No, but you know what I mean? Like, I don't want to be mean or rude, just do uphold my principles, but it is important for me to uphold them. So the question is what can I do to be respectfully as respectfully as possible, or at least calmly explain and, and promote, uh, you know, a discussion on the topic, you know? Yeah. So I think that's where I would, I would try and land and then I will come and bitch to you and I'd be like that mother fricking jumper is an idiot, but to their face, I would be like, oh, okay, well I disagree respectfully agreed that pre,
Speaker 0 00:25:14 Oh my God. Too funny. Yeah. I mean, yeah, no, I mean, I agree. Like, I feel that like, age-ism, I mean, we've talked about this before, like how age-ism can sometimes be even built into your language. Right? Like you say things without really thinking about them. And then, um, or because that they've been always been said, and then not realizing that there's inherent, like discrimination baked right in. And I think that it's good that these days exist just so that like you can reflect on them and, you know, at least bring some awareness to the community about topics like this, because I think that's where it starts is that the community needs to understand that, Hey, wait a minute, we are being discriminatory against, you know, older people. And then because it has downstream effects, right? Like it, it has downstream effects on, um, attitudes at work.
Speaker 0 00:26:05 It has downstream effects on attitudes around health and, um, uh, you know, and like, yeah, like that, our entire discussion on nursing homes and long-term care. Like I think like that's a, that's a big thing. Right. And like, I think if you have, if the society has ageist attitudes around, uh, or heck has ageist attitudes, then you know, it, it gets reflected in terms of like the care that you provide for older people or, um, solutions that you try to find for them or whatever. Right. So I think that it's important to actually, um, yeah. Discuss this like, and, uh, yeah. And with this podcast, like, that's partly what we're doing, at least trying to discuss issues around this I'm yeah. Like I'm, it's kind of bothering me a little that like, I didn't know about it. And the fact that I don't know that like our own country doesn't have a date,
Speaker 1 00:27:00 So there is, but I don't know how I feel about this. So there is, it says here on Wikipedia that, you know, the international day of older persons is to raise awareness about issues affecting the elderly, et cetera. Right. And it is also a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make the society. But listen to the next line. It says this holiday is similar to national grandparents day in the U S and Canada. Yeah. I know. That's the time where I'm like really 'cause, that's, uh, uh, I don't know. Relational role.
Speaker 0 00:27:41 Yeah, exactly. And I'm sorry, but like not all older people are grandparents. Yeah. Like, so what, like, if you're older and not a grandparent than you don't count, like that's
Speaker 1 00:27:54 Yeah. That's my reaction too. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:27:57 I don't, I don't like that at all. Like, I mean, and the thing is, is like, there's a lot of issues around even mother's and father's day now, you know, because like, cause it assumes everybody had a mother, it assumes everybody had a father. And I mean like, yes, biologically that's true. But then like in terms of family relationships, it might not be, it brings up like a lot of, like, it can bring up a lot of issues around people who lost their parents and things like that. Like, it's, it's kind of problematic.
Speaker 1 00:28:23 I just saw that recently and I didn't know, this was a thing. Um, and this was like, I think it was on Instagram or tick-tock I can't remember, but there's they just had a national daughters day and a national sons day. Well, what if you have a transgender child?
Speaker 0 00:28:39 Yeah, exactly. That's the other thing is just like, everything ends up being,
Speaker 1 00:28:44 This is just another societal way of like, I don't know. Like, I feel like they're entrenching these things of, you know, like where they're subconsciously promoting this whole thing. Like, oh, look, I have a son or I have a daughter and it's like for a kid who's still trying to figure out stuff or, you know, whatever there, and I'm not having sexual orientation. I'm literally yeah. Gender, right. Gender equity. But even there, it's kind of like, well, I mean,
Speaker 0 00:29:13 It can be very othering, right? Like, so this is where language is othering. And I think that like, yeah, and yeah, for all those people who think like we're being too woke, like fine, you can think that. But like, I feel like we shouldn't, we should beat, we should try to be as inclusive as possible and like, and use our language to reflect that. Right. And I think the other thing that bothers me about like this grandparent's day, it's even just the, not all people are grandparents' idea, but the thing is, is that like, so the value of an older person only matters if they're a grandparent and like, and it's kind of like, it's so Tweed, you know, like happy grandparents' day. Like it's kind of like, I mean, there's so many facets to a person, like why, why is, I don't know, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not articulating myself very well.
Speaker 0 00:30:07 Like, and the thing is, is that like grandparents day doesn't necessarily allow you to fight for rights of older people. No, it's not like a, it's not a cause that you can build around, you know, just like, and it's kind of like a throwaway and it's not even a holiday. Like for one thing, it's not a holiday in Canada. I'm sorry. I've never celebrated national grandparents day. I don't even know what it is. And then like, and, um, and the other thing is, is that like, um, yeah, like just, it gets almost like it's, it's almost like lip service. They go here, we've just thrown you like a, a random date that you could like celebrate being a grandparents. Like it's just so I don't know. That bothers me.
Speaker 1 00:30:51 'cause I'm like, yep. No, I totally agree with you. So
Speaker 0 00:30:54 Yeah. Yeah. Sorry, listeners. I haven't actually like collected my thoughts to, to articulate myself very well, but these are just, these are just reactions that I'm having to finding out that Canada does not actually have like a like national aged persons day.
Speaker 1 00:31:12 I mean, but if you were to think that, okay. You know, as part of a global society, we're adopting the UN's recommended day of international day of older persons, but point I haven't and like even you work in the healthcare industry. Right. And so you would think that at least there you would come across some kind of promotional materials around the
Speaker 0 00:31:35 Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And I, I have not. Yeah. I have not come across it at all. Or like if they have, they haven't promoted it very well. Like I've never seen it in the hospital. Like anything like, uh, yeah. It's very, it's very, yeah. It's a bit concerning, especially. Yeah. You would think that, especially in healthcare where like the, most of like the bulk of the work that I do in adult healthcare is around like it's for older people. Like you would think that at least then you would say, oh, look, today is like international, you know, like it's the international day for elderly for like, not the elderly, like for older persons. Right. Like, it's just, I dunno, it's just, it's kind of worrisome and like, and then like, I mean, great for Australia, because I think that like on the one hand, yes, it's a day.
Speaker 0 00:32:22 Like people might think it's just lip service, but then like on the other hand, at least it is a day of recognition and it makes people like, if you at least bring it to people's attention, then they can, they can think about it. Um, and like, you know, it, it can like lead to downstream change eventually. Right? Like, I mean, even just like, even, just now, like, you know, um, with like regard to like, um, our national day of like truth and reconciliation that we like just brought into effect like this year. Like I think that like on the one hand, yeah. Some people might say like, oh, look, it's just another day. Like you're just paying lip service to like the indigenous peoples in Canada. But on the other hand, like if you really take it to heart, it can be used as like a date to think about like ways you can be an ally ways that, you know, like the country has failed, like our indigenous peoples, like that type of thing. Right. It really depends. Like, I guess it's kind of on the one hand. Yeah. It's like, it's kind of thrown some responsibility back to the individual, but I think it's a start. I feel like it's a start.
Speaker 1 00:33:25 It is a start. Definitely. Um, but you're, that actually brings me to this other thing, like about how much we rely on individuals to, to always do the right things with giving the, giving them the institutional support that is needed to do.
Speaker 0 00:33:41 Yeah, no, I mean, I I'm always, like, I think that's also one of my rants, but like, I feel like there, yes, as individuals, we should all do our best, but there's only so far the individual can go. Right. Like I really think that like, yeah. And I think the, the one big thing that we can do as individuals is to like really push the people in power, whether or not it's corporations, whether or not it's like the government, whatever, but like that we should use our, our power to push them to do the right thing. Right. Like, because at the end of the day, there's only so much that one individual can do
Speaker 1 00:34:18 That is true. Um, but the, the premise of this international deaf, older persons, as well as the age-ism awareness day, the whole thing is so international. Um, you know, overall of course it's about creating, um, awareness and, and, um, programming, but yeah, the UN actually every year pick, they pick a theme
Speaker 0 00:34:41 Oh, um, around aging,
Speaker 1 00:34:44 Around aging. So, um, past examples include aging in the new millennium, older person in, in an intergenerational society, um, addressing challenges and opportunities of aging, uh, in 2008, they focused on rights of older people. 2012 was longevity shaping the future. 2014 was leaving no one behind that's interesting. And this year it's digital equity.
Speaker 0 00:35:13 Oh, that's kind of interesting. Yeah. I didn't like, I mean, I think that there is kind of, I'm starting to feel that there is this societal push about like taking care of older people and, um, and also just like, you know, even understanding aging and like, just like just determining ways of like improving, um, our lives and increasing longevity. Cause like, I think like even the scientific side, like I'm like, I'm noticing that there's like a big push to understanding the mechanisms of aging. Cause I like, yeah, like definitely on the scientific side, like they're starting to think that like aging is a disease and like I was just looking at conferences that I could go to. And like one of the conferences that I was looking at was actually looking at aging in the context of like blood disorders. So I was just like, oh, this is fascinating. Like I think that, I think, I think that we're starting to build momentum around age and aging and um, you know, and it's starting to like affect like many different facets of life. So on the one hand that's a great thing. Um, one actually, no, it is a great thing. It's just interesting that it just, it feels like it's just taken so long, but maybe it's just always been there and I've just, you know, I'm only just starting to become
Speaker 1 00:36:31 Aware of it now.
Speaker 0 00:36:33 Yeah. Because we're older,
Speaker 1 00:36:35 All of a sudden history we're relevant and you're like, there better be options for us. Yeah,
Speaker 0 00:36:42 Exactly.
Speaker 1 00:36:44 No, I agree. Um, but anyway, that was actually what I wanted to talk about today because I was like, just so surprised. Yeah. And so I wanted, I'm like, you know, what if I don't know about it, maybe shift doesn't know about it, but actually no, that's a lie. I thought I don't know about it, but she probably knows about it. And she's going to tell me all about it today,
Speaker 0 00:37:04 But I did not, I did not
Speaker 1 00:37:08 A part of me is flabbergasted and a part of this, like, wow. Like, you know, they, they really need to do a better job promoting this UN do you think like, Yeah, we need to talk to them and say, you know what, um, if we didn't hear about it, you're clearly not doing a good enough job exactly. To find out about ridiculous things.
Speaker 0 00:37:39 I know. And I don't even consider myself that on the cutting edge of anything if I don't know about it, like, I'm pretty sure like, yeah. I'm usually not the first to know.
Speaker 1 00:37:50 Yeah. But not the last to know. So there was something to be said about, about getting this promoted better, but you know, but on that note, we should probably call this an episode.
Speaker 0 00:38:03 I think so, but yeah. Thanks so much for like, for, for like finding out about that. I think it's, I think it's a really good, I think it's, I, I'm not saying it's like the be all and end all. It's definitely not the be all and end all I find these days are never the be all and end all. It's kind of like the starting point to like continue
Speaker 1 00:38:23 And there's 365 days, and I'm sure that each day probably represents at least 400 different causes or issues, but that is the world we live in and, you know, but I think that anything can move the dialogue on, um, you know, uh, thinking about getting people to think about doing good or actually doing good, anything that we can do, like, you know, however we engage people. I think that's a good thing
Speaker 0 00:38:51 For sure. I totally agree. Yeah. But yeah. So, uh, yeah. Thanks for joining us on this week's episode of, does this make me look old? Um, yeah. Follow us on social. You can find our handles on, does this make me look old.com and yeah. Feel free to email us as well. We love hearing from you. So yeah.
Speaker 1 00:39:10 So here's the thing though. I will say that Shiv is the better person when it comes to emails and she does respond to all of them.
Speaker 0 00:39:21 So
Speaker 1 00:39:21 I try to rely on the summary version,
Speaker 0 00:39:26 But yeah. So email, email us still does this make it look
[email protected] and uh, yeah. Oh yeah. And yeah. Follow us on Insta for sure. SIM will SIM will respond, respond there. Yeah, exactly. But yeah, we will see you next week. Bye. Bye.
