In the African, Caribbean, and Indigenous communities, Elders hold high esteem, importance, are knowledge keepers of cultural beliefs, language, and are revered. Often, Elders will share sayings that are informative, and even hilarious with improvisation and theatrics with serious messages about life for interpretation. In their role, they pass on information and knowledge from one generation to the next (Dei, 2020). This information is often not recorded, and one must ask how come? and, why not? Stories and teachings by elders are grounded in heritage, hardships, sacrifices to ensure the well-being of their families and communities. Presently societies emphasize “youthfulness” as a mark of achievement while “old” is a marker for anti-aging creams, seniors discount and blame for health challenges in the health industry. Western societies such as Canada tend to be a source of constant reminders of ageism and marginalization of a cohort who could contribute to the development of any society. How do we begin to critically examine some of the myths and assumptions about Elders? Stories of Elders shape the world and inspire people to grow. As the world continues to experience rapid changes in the digital world more needs to be done to highlight and ensure that the stories become a repository for the next generation. The focus of the presentation is to explore the impact of the narrative used to discuss the roles and functions of older adults from a structural to an empowerment position.

Authors:
Marva J Ferguson, Mount Royal University, Canada

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Posted by James Alexander Gordon

Last updated: 2023-02-23 23:45:00

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