Language and imagery shape how aging is perceived, influencing public opinion, policies, and community support. In this episode of This Is Getting Old: Moving Toward an Age-Friendly World, Dr. Melissa Batchelor and Hannah Albers from the National Center to Reframe Aging discuss research-backed strategies to communicate about aging in ways that reduce ageism and highlight older adults' contributions.

The discussion covers the gap between expert and public perceptions of aging, communication traps to avoid, and practical strategies that have been applied successfully in real-world settings. Topics include emphasizing aging as a process of growth, framing supports for meaningful lives, addressing frailty without paternalism, presenting ageism as a solvable problem, and using imagery that reflects older adults as active and engaged members of the community.

By 2030, adults over 65 will outnumber children in the U.S., yet only one percent of homes meet basic accessibility standards. What does that mean for the future of aging in our communities? In this episode, AARP's Shannon Guzman explains why most neighborhoods weren't built with aging in mind and how we can change that.

We explore the AARP Livability Index, a tool that measures how communities support aging well through housing, transportation, health, and more. From policy shifts to everyday improvements, this conversation offers a roadmap for building communities where people of all ages can thrive.

By the end of this decade, one in five Americans will be over 65—and for the first time in U.S. history, older adults will outnumber children. In this episode of This Is Getting Old, futurist and author Bradley Schurman explains why ageism is bad for business and how ignoring demographic change could quietly undermine success.

We explore how businesses and communities can benefit by embracing older adults as workers, leaders, and consumers. Age-diverse teams perform better, inclusive businesses grow stronger, and recognizing the economic power of aging populations is key to building a sustainable future.