W Lawson Company

12/18/2024

Creating equity in aging isn’t just about making more inclusive spaces for all older adults and their chosen families. When laws, regulations, policies, and/or practices create and maintain barriers that prevent or hinder access to health care, support, and services for any individual, regardless of age, the system is actively denying a person's right to age into and throughout their older years.

📢 We are all aging.

😮‍💨 We have been since our first breath.

So, when institutional and systemic barriers prevent marginalized communities from accessing care—care that so many take for granted—leaders with the courage to take action must step forward to catalyze and lead change.

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The third cohort of the all-virtual Longevity + Inclusion Alliance Fellows Program starts January 9th. What are you waiting for?

📅 Reserve your spot in Gamma Cohort: https://wlawsoncompany.com/mta-gamma-cohort/

Equity in aging starts with you. Make the commitment to create impact through inclusion. Join us in this unique shared learning experience hosted by W Lawson Company.

12/18/2024

📣📣📣 Only a few spots remain for Gamma Cohort! 📣📣📣

The third cohort of the all-virtual Longevity + Inclusion Alliance Fellows Program starts January 9th!

Leaders from Goodwin Living, Lasell Village, Keswick, Carol Woods Retirement Community, and more have already committed to join us in a few weeks.

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at insights from Alpha Cohort Fellow Nathalya Ramírez, CEO of Early Intervention Systems (Techstars ‘23)!

📅 Reserve your spot in the Gamma Cohort: https://wlawsoncompany.com/mta-gamma-cohort/

Equity in aging starts with you. Make the commitment to create impact through inclusion. Join us in this unique shared learning experience hosted by W Lawson Company.

07/26/2024

Celebrating National Disability Independence Day — July 26.

Today, we commemorate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 —a landmark moment for disability rights.

Disability rights are critical for aging community members, many of whom are limited by a disability.

Here we make note of how National Disability Independence Day is so significant for the aging population, and all persons with disabilities:

🔘 Accessibility: The ADA ensures that public spaces and services are accessible to all, including older adults with mobility or sensory impairments.

🔘 Equal Rights: The ADA protects the rights of aging individuals with disabilities, ensuring they receive fair treatment and have equal opportunities in employment, healthcare, and daily life.

🔘 Quality of Life: By addressing barriers and promoting adaptive technologies, the ADA contributes to a better quality of life for older adults, allowing them to age with dignity and confidence.

Our collective responsibility is to continue to uphold these principles and work toward a more inclusive society that fosters independence for all generations.

07/24/2024

By 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over, according to the United Nations.

This demographic shift brings both challenges and opportunities that will shape societies worldwide.

Navigating the future of aging requires an approach that addresses the trends, challenges, and opportunities associated with an aging population. We explore them in this latest article.

Read it at https://wlawsoncompany.com/navigating-future-of-aging/

07/21/2024

Taking care of mental health is important, no matter our age.

While much the same, it can look different across generations.

For aging adults, incorporating these activities can serve to maintain and improve their mental well-being:

#1. Maintaining relationships with family, friends, and community members can help combat loneliness and depression.

#2. Engaging in social activities and groups can provide a sense of belonging and support.

#3. Using technology such as video calls, social media, and online communities can help older adults stay connected with loved ones and participate in social interactions from the comfort of their homes.

#4. Regular exercise can significantly improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression.

#5. Engaging in activities that challenge the mind, such as puzzles, reading, learning new skills or hobbies, and playing musical instruments, can help maintain cognitive function and reduce the risk of mental health issues.

#6. Practices like meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness can help reduce stress and improve mental clarity.

#7. Regular visits to healthcare providers can help monitor and manage physical health conditions that can impact mental health.

#8. Engaging in meaningful activities, such as volunteering, mentoring, or participating in community service, can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, which is important for mental health.

Practices such as these serve to help our aging community enjoy a higher quality of life... and good mental health.

07/14/2024

In BIPOC communities, younger and older generations often hold different cultural values and beliefs. Despite both generations being equally impacted by racism and discrimination, they encounter distinct mental health challenges based on their age.

Each age group brings unique insights and experiences to acknowledging mental health issues.

Younger BIPOC individuals may face:
> assimilation difficulties
> responsibility and expectation differences
> discrimination, especially at school and online

While older BIPOC communities may face:
> generational trauma
> medical mistreatment
> discrimination at work and financially

Sharing generational wisdom can be instrumental in overcoming these challenges.

Listening to our younger generation’s newer perspectives and our older generation’s wisdom allows BIPOC communities to develop strong and supportive communities.



[Source: https://mhanational.org/bipoc-generational-wisdom]

07/10/2024

July is Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month.

From "Recognizing BIPOC Mental Health Month" by the Health Forward Foundation... "Millions of individuals in the BIPOC community struggle with their mental health, but they are less likely to seek out or engage in mental health services than their white counterparts. Stigma is one of the underlying reasons for this. While the BIPOC community is incredibly resilient, that resilient mindset can make it difficult to reach out for help when needed. But knowing your limits is a sign of strength, not weakness."

Read this full article to understand the unique stressors and barriers of the BIPOC community which impact their access to mental health services.
Source: https://healthforward.org/story/recognizing-bipoc-mental-health-month/

Additionally...

Mental Health America offers a toolkit with many ways your organization or business can advocate for the mental wellness of your BIPOC workforce and community.
Source:https://mhanational.org/sites/default/files/BIPOC/MHM-2024/2024-BIPOC-MH-Toolkit.pdf

06/26/2024

Marvell Adams Jr's chapter on creating equity in aging in Triumph in the Trenches addresses the disparities in elder care, making evident a system that struggles to provide equitable access and care for all who need it.

Triumph in the Trenches: Navigating Success for Black Professionals can be purchased at https://wlawsoncompany.com/book/

06/21/2024

Is there a place in the world that you feel most represents who you are?

06/19/2024

"While age-based discrimination is prohibited in equal-employment opportunity laws (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2023), ageism often is seen as an issue of ageist attitudes, held by specific individuals, that can be addressed with training, lists of “dos and don’ts,” and elders’ self-empowerment."

This passage from "What Ageism and Ableism Means for LGBTQ+ Elders" explores the compounded challenges faced by LGBTQ+ elders due to ageism and ableism and highlights how societal biases and systemic discrimination in healthcare and social services disproportionately impact these individuals.

The piece emphasizes the need for inclusive policies and practices to support the unique needs of LGBTQ+ older adults, advocating for increased awareness and targeted interventions to address the intersecting issues of ageism, ableism, and LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Read it now at:
https://generations.asaging.org/what-ageism-and-ableism-means-lgbtq-elders

06/14/2024

Did you know that donating blood not only saves lives but also offers incredible benefits, especially for our older adults?

🩸 How Older Adults Benefit by Donating Blood

1. Maintains Healthy Hematocrit Levels: Regular blood donation can help keep your blood thickness in check, reducing risks of blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.

2. Boosts Cardiovascular Health: Donating blood can improve heart health by reducing blood viscosity, and lowering the risk of heart disease.

🩸 How Older Adults Benefit from Blood Donors

1. Blood is Critical for Surgeries: Blood donations ensure a steady supply for surgeries and medical treatments that elderly adults often need, such as joint replacements and cardiovascular procedures.

2. It Helps Others Manage Chronic Conditions: A reliable blood supply is crucial for managing chronic conditions like anemia and cancer, improving the quality of life for older adults.

On this World Blood Donor Day, consider donating to help save and improve lives and be part of a community of care and support. 🌍❤️



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Sources:
- [American Red Cross](https://www.redcrossblood.org)
- [Healthline: Benefits of Donating Blood](https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-donating-blood -health)
- [Mayo Clinic: Blood Donation](https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blood-donation/about/pac-20385144)

06/11/2024

A host of different biases can have negative effects on our ability to make good decisions, (which can derail our success).

🟪 Gender bias... is giving preferential treatment or discriminatory actions against individuals based on their gender.

🟪 Self-serving bias... is making decisions that benefit you, despite not being optimal for others, the team, or the organization.

🟪 Confirmation bias... is seeking out views, data, and information that support your opinions rather than challenge them, leading to an incomplete review of key information. (Similarly, overconfidence bias is thinking so highly of your ideas that they worsen.)

🟪 Authority bias... is favoring the input of someone with more power, even if their opinion isn’t the most informed or relevant to the issue.

🟪 Positivity bias... is focusing on what is potentially good rather than bad, hampering critical review of options.

🟪 Anchoring bias... is being most influenced by the first idea to come forward.

🟪 Availability bias... is being most influenced by what’s most salient in your memory.

Dispelling these biases starts with awareness and self-evaluation to see if we may have been subject to one. Unfortunately, we are often not the best judges of this. A second strategy is to ask others for feedback on a decision — or bring in a partner — and invite them to be critical.

Finally, recognize that biases emerge more when we’re under great time pressure. Manage your workload and calendar to maximize thought given to critical decisions.

[From Dr. Steven Rogelberg, Chancellor’s professor at UNC Charlotte and author of Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings.]