I've encountered situations that leave me frustrated and heartbroken about how some well-meaning professionals inadvertently foster disability among older adults. Here are a few examples:
🚫 An activities director in a senior community insisted all residents sit for exercise, even those who walk independently to class.
🚫 A senior center staff member deemed kettlebells "too dangerous" for their members
🚫 Another senior center where the heaviest weights available were two 10 pound dumbbells.
🚫 A trainer who wanted to coach older adults online but dismissed their ability to handle Zoom technology.
Each of these decisions was based on assumptions—a form of ageism—that older adults were not capable. Instead of providing access to beneficial equipment, programs, and experiences, these environments limit them.
What surprises me most? These are people who could truly empower older adults to stay strong, independent, and resilient. But their risk assessment leans towards protecting against unlikely hazards rather than promoting the life-changing rewards of strength and mobility.
Older adults deserve better than limiting assumptions. They deserve the chance to thrive.