Mind:  Beyond Tokenism

“The number of people over 60 has more than doubled in the past thirty years to 1.2 billion. By 2050, another 900 million older persons will be a part of our human family. This is a profound demographic shift, with far-reaching consequences for economies, health systems and social cohesion.

We must respond with foresight and action. That means ensuring that the rights of older persons are fully respected, their dignity upheld, and their contributions recognised.

As this year’s theme reminds us, older persons are powerful agents of change. Their voices must be heard in shaping policies, ending age-discrimination, and building inclusive societies.

All communities and ages benefit from the wisdom of older persons. They have much to teach about navigating uncertainty, resolving conflict, and building solidarity across generations.

Let’s commit to listening, learning, and acting. Let’s build a world where all people – of every age – can live with respect, security and opportunity.”
– United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres

It is refreshing to hear the UN Secretary-General speak not only about the rights of older persons, but also about their capacity as agents of change. This is the balance we need. For too long, the public narrative has leaned heavily on costs and deficits. But ask yourself: how often do  we hear about the extraordinary wealth of experience, knowledge, skills and social capital that older persons carry into their communities?

From Recognition To Real Engagement

Let’s be honest. Engagement comes in layers. Some are genuine, some are symbolic, and some are downright thin.

1. Acknowledgement and celebration
   Cake, cards, and public statements on October 1. Nice to receive, appreciated to be sure. But should celebration be the conclusion, or should it be the spark for something more?
2. Invitation to the table
   Older adults are often invited to committees on “senior issues” like housing or care services. A good step, yes, but let’s ask the tough question: how often does that seat come with real authority? Without influence, participation can feel more like optics than impact.
3. Full and equal participation
   Here is the real test. When older persons help shape broad community priorities, from neighbourhood safety to crime, climate response to digital access, then everyone gains. Why? Because they live these realities every day, just like the rest of us.

Social Capital

Social capital may sound academic, but it is really about the everyday glue that holds communities together. Trust. Reciprocity. Experience. Connection. Decades of working, mentoring, volunteering, and supporting neighbours all build this reservoir of value. When older persons join in social planning, they bring this capital with them. And that changes outcomes.

What Quality Engagement Looks Like

• Authority and influence: not a seat on the sidelines, but a real say in the outcome.
• Diversity of voice: older persons are not one group. Different cultures, incomes, and life paths must be reflected.
• Clear purpose: advisory roles need scope and feedback, otherwise they risk becoming ceremonial.
• Respect for expertise: professional and lived experience should be recognized, and at times compensated. Without compensation, we limit the pool of expertise and contribution.

Learning From Others

• Singapore’s Silver Zones redesigned streets with older residents’ advice, adding longer crossing times, benches, and traffic calming. Safer for older adults, yes, but also for families and children walking to school. (https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Get-Involved/Plan-Our-Future-SG/Innovative-Urban-Solutions/Age-friendly-city)
• United Kingdom Age-Friendly Councils appointed “Older People’s Champions” to advocate for older residents in decisions about housing, transport, and health. In places like Sefton and Sutton, new approaches helped reach voices often excluded from traditional town halls. (https://ageing-better.org.uk/blogs/what-we-learnt-our-age-friendly-councillors-roundtable).
• Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has legal authority to review laws, challenge discrimination, and act on broad issues such as poverty and rural service access, all while consulting directly with older persons .(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Older_People%27s_Commissioner_for_Wales).

Why These Examples Matter

They are written into structures, not dependent on goodwill. They broaden participation to mainstream issues. And they deliver outcomes people can see and feel, like safer crossings and stronger protections.

Tips For Our Communities

• Form advisory groups with clear mandates.
• Broaden the scope of topics beyond “senior issues”.
• Support participation with resources and recognition.
• Report back so older adults know their input shaped the outcome.

The International Day of Older Persons should not be a polite round of applause. As the Secretary General directs, it is an invitation to action. Moving beyond tokenism honours the rights, respects the dignity, and harnesses the social capital of older adults for the benefit of all.

With respect,
Rhonda Latreille, M.A., CPCA®
Founder & CEO
Age-Friendly Business®

p.s. Since 2003, Age-Friendly Business® has trained thousands of professionals and businesses committed to learning how to elevate the quality of the client, customer, and community experience. They are called Certified Professional Consultants on Aging (CPCAs)® and Age-Friendly Businesses®. They have earned the right to ask for your business.

Body:  Inclusion & Health

Equal participation benefits both community and individual health. Research shows that engagement reduces depression, improves life satisfaction, and supports cognitive health (PubMed). Having a voice fosters belonging, which is a protective factor across the lifespan.

By contrast, exclusion and isolation damage health. The effect has even been compared to smoking. A seat at the planning table is not symbolic. It is part of a prescription for healthier, more connected communities.

Spirit:  Getting Older Brings It All

“The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.”
– Madeleine L’Engle

 Research support provided in part by ChatGPT, a language model created by OpenAI. Original content authored by Rhonda Latreille, MBA, CPCA®.