An older woman smiles at an older man while both chop vegetables in a kitchen.

Celebrating the roles older people play in our communities

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Older people play a vital role in strengthening our communities: as workers, carers, volunteers, activists, community organisers and more. But negative stereotypes associated with ageing lead to these contributions being overlooked – and even stop people from making them.

This year on International Day of Older People on 1st October, join us in challenging stereotypes and celebrating the important ways older people make our communities better places to be.

What is the International Day of Older People?

Each year on 1st October, people across the world mark the United Nations International Day of Older People to raise awareness of opportunities and challenges faced by ageing populations, and to mobilise the wider community to address difficulties faced by older people.

This year’s UK theme is: “The part we play”: Celebrating the integral role of older people in our communities.

How is ageism relevant?

The important roles older people play in communities are often overlooked or limited by ageism and other societal barriers.

Despite older people being the most likely group in society to vote, provide unpaid care and volunteer, 1 in 3 people in the UK associate ageing with frailty, dependency and vulnerability. And the things we see and hear every day – in the media, in adverts and in casual conversations – reinforce these negative ideas and attitudes.

As we age, stereotypes and assumptions lead to many of us being made to feel invisible, having our capacity to be active members of our communities second-guessed, self-internalising ideas about the things we think we are capable of, and having our positive impacts on the places and people where we live being ignored.

This International Day of Older People, we can challenge ageist assumptions by celebrating the diverse experiences, interests and contributions made by older people in communities across the UK. 

How can I join in?

By marking the International Day of Older People, you can help to change the narrative about ageing. You could:

  • Have a chat with family and friends about the roles older people play in communities and the assumptions we make about ageing. Our conversation guide is a handy place to start.
  • Host an event with friends, family, neighbours, community groups or at your workplace to spark conversations about age and ageism. Find event inspiration here.
  • Join an event or activity hosted by your local age-friendly community. Learn more about getting involved with Age-friendly Communities this October and explore the UK map here.
  • Share our messages on social media! Help to spread the word about the integral roles older people play by sharing our posts on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Learn more about International Day of Older People here.