Chipping Away at Ageism with a Camera

In a world infatuated with youth, older adults can sometimes become invisible. It is important to chip away at ageism. Older adults comprise a growing percentage of the U.S. population but media and advertising disproportionally feature younger people. Many older adults also have mobility changes and are not able to move about in their communities with ease.

This reality creates a sense of ageism that defies the data. According to the Population Research Bureau, “The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 (a 47% increase). Additionally, the 65-and-older age group’s share of the total population is projected to rise from 17% to 23%.

Team members look at a selection of the photos that will be included in the installation.

The problem of ageism means that as a society we often miss the benefits that older adults and their lives can bring to us.

Enter the AARP Community Grant Program and the Art Against Ageism and Forest Hills of DC partnership

The AARP Community Challenge grant program makes tangible improvements in communities. It is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative. The initiative supports projects that make communities accessible and inclusive for people of all ages.This summer, Art Against Ageism and Forest Hills of DC (FHDC) were awarded an AARP Community Challenge grant for their proposal titled, “See Me, Hear Me: The Art of Living.”

On September 28, 2024, the art was unveiled to the National Capital Region. The mural, created in partnership with Marvin Bower Photography, spans almost a city-block and was part of the Tenleytown Main Street and DC Art All Night celebrations.

Art Against Ageism and FHDC created a concept for a public art installation featuring FHDC residents and team members. The purpose of the art installation is to bring to light the often-invisible communities where older adults live and people of multiple generations work. Central to the installation are the large-scale, biodegradable murals featuring FHDC residents and team members. They are wheat-pasted onto the exterior walls of FHDC that face Connecticut Avenue, Northwest Washington, D.C, and will biodegrade naturally.

Highlighting Residents and Staff

D.C.-based photographer Marvin Bowser photographed residents and team members for the murals. The photos are on a publicly available landing page on the FHDC website, accompanied by a story for each portrait. FHDC, the longest standing senior living community in D.C., is an inclusive and not-for-profit provider of assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. FHDC is one of just three D.C.-based organizations selected from more than 3,300 applications nationwide for the AARP grant.

“We are incredibly grateful that AARP selected Forest Hills of DC for this unique community engagement initiative,” shared FHDC CEO Tina Sandri. “AARP is a nationwide leader in making communities more livable and we are honored that they see the tangible value of this project.”

A Forest Hills resident sees her photo that will be included in the installation for the first time.

“Since becoming the management agent for FHDC in May, Goodwin Living has learned of the rich life stories of FHDC residents and team members. We are very grateful for this AARP grant which brings their stories within the reach of more people,” said Rob Liebreich, Goodwin Living President & CEO. “Marvin Browser’s photography and murals are beautiful tools to chip away at ageism in our society.”

This collaboration exemplifies the powerful role that art can play in reshaping societal perceptions of older adults. As the murals of “See Me, Hear Me: The Art of Living” gradually fade into the environment, their message will remain. They remind us that older adults are not invisible and encourage us all to see, hear and appreciate the richness they bring to our world.

 

 

 

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Lindsay Hutter is the daughter of a mother and father who survived the Great Depression, World War II and the loss of family and friends. Throughout their lives, they unfailingly chose to construct rather than destruct and to leave people and places better than they found them. Lindsay strives to follow in her parents’ footsteps. Since 2017, she has served as Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer for Goodwin Living Incorporated

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