The Future of Aging and Longevity - Flipbook - Page 35
Shi昀琀
Rebuilding systems and inves琀椀ng resources are
necessary but insu昀케cient to create a longevity society
in which everyone can 昀氀ourish. We must also shi昀琀 the
assump琀椀ons, narra琀椀ves, and norms that shape how we
think about aging and older adulthood.
That means ques琀椀oning outdated assump琀椀ons about what older
adults want and need across the domains of housing, health,
educa琀椀on, work, and 昀椀nances. It means shi昀琀ing educa琀椀on from
a front-loaded experience to one that supports learning across a
life琀椀me. It requires trea琀椀ng prepara琀椀on for longer lives as a shared
ins琀椀tu琀椀onal responsibility and not simply an individual savings
challenge. It means shi昀琀ing our focus from extending lifespan to
improving healthspan and recognizing that our added years must
be imbued with cogni琀椀ve vitality as well as physical well-being.
And ul琀椀mately, this shi昀琀 demands moving from an individualized
approach to aging toward one built on collec琀椀ve responsibility
across genera琀椀ons.
A D ECA D E O F P RO GRE S S , A D ECA D E TO ACT 31
