Show #480 Airing Sunday, 5/24/09
Seems like just a minute ago, I was fairly young and capable. I know life goes by fast, but today I’m experiencing “extreme aging!” What does that mean? Vicki Rosebrook is here to tell us. Vicki is with the Macklin Intergenerational Institute.
Question: How - and why - have you aged me?
Answer: I’ve wrapped your knuckles/put gloves on your hands to help you experience diminished use of your hands, which many older seniors experience due to arthritis.
And I’ve given you glasses that let you see what it’s like to have diminished vision related to aging.
I’ve done this so you can experience what it is like to be an older American.
So, now I’d like you to pretend you are at the doctor’s office and I am the receptionist.
“Mr. Budish, I need your insurance card.”
(Armond tries to remove his insurance card from the Xtreme Aging wallet while Vicki “encourages” him, using disparaging language, such as: “Can you hurry Sweetie, people are waiting. Now Honey, you need to try, you can do it.”)
Question: That was very frustrating!
Answer: And that’s one of the things we want people to take away from our classes in “Xtreme Aging.” This shows them how it feels to live with these kinds of challenges – and, hopefully, gives them empathy for what the aging population is going through.
Question: Tell us more about the class.
Answer: The goal of the class is acceptance.
We divide it up into three sections: “what,” “so what” and “now what.”
“What” is where we look at the demographics of our population.
We discover that we have an “aging tsunami” coming towards us.
“So, what” is where we focus on the fact that none of us – business, industry and individuals – are prepared for this tsunami.
And this is where we also look at the myths and truths about aging.
Finally we have “now what?” where we ask ourselves – what are we going to do about it? And how are we going to be accepting of folks – and ourselves – as we all reach the ages of 80-85?
Question: Who should take the class?
Answer: Anyone who interacts with the elderly, either personally or professionally. And you have to remember – you – and those who take the class – have the choice of aging; you can go back to your real life. For those who truly are elderly, this is their reality, their life.
Question: How accurate are the simulations you have people experience?
Answer: Very accurate. In addition to the physical challenges we present, we also include the losses the elderly experience: the loss of friends and family, the loss of their car, their family home, and their freedom, etc. We ask participants to put people, privileges, and possessions on post it notes and, at various times throughout the class, the participants have to choose something or someone to lose. But, of course, in real life, we don’t get to choose our losses.
Question: And these classes are offered by the Macklin Intergenerational Institute in Findlay, Ohio. Can you tell us - very briefly about the institute?
Answer: It is a not-for-profit agency that works to diminish ageism. It is not about sensitivity training – it is about acceptance. And we start with those six weeks old! There are programs for babies, children and adults to intermingle with the elderly on a daily basis.
Question: Is it a one day workshop? Number of hours?
Answer: It’s a three-hour training
Question: Do you hold it on site, or off-site, too, for businesses?
Answer: We train both on and off site for business, industry, long-term care, hospitals, travel and tourism. You name it and we’ve trained them.
Question: Can individuals sign up? Cost? Minimum number of people?
Answer: Individuals may register for an existing training or request that Macklin trainers come on site. A minimum of 10 people is required and the cost is $99.00 per person which can be negotiated for large groups.
Xtreme Aging – I can tell you from personal experience that this extreme makeover was extremely eye-opening! To find out more, contact the Macklin Institute. The information is next. My “extreme” thanks to Vicki Rosebrook.
