Bryce Van Calligan, Connor Keane, Lisbeth Lopez Cordero and Katherine Fisher, “Development of the Aging Together anti-ageism peer support program”
Mentor: Andrew Steward, Social Work, Social Welfare (Helen Bader School of)
Poster #118
Ageism is defined as any bias, prejudice, or stereotype based on age. Ageism is a relatively unfamiliar topic for many, which led us to develop a peer-led support group for older adults. The Aging Together program includes small groups of 5 to 8 participants ages 50+. Peer facilitators should have some prior experience with group facilitation and receive a 4-hour training with instruction on using a guidebook for implementation. The purpose of the Aging Together program is to provide 1) peer support in the aging journey, 2) education about ageism, and 3) to “tell your story of aging.” The program includes 90-minute sessions across ten weeks. Each session generally includes 5-10 minutes of reflection, followed by 45 minutes of education, journaling, discussion, and/or storytelling. A composite case vignette highlights how participation in the Aging Together program can help older adults feel less alone, develop awareness about ageism, and promote a sense of agency in responding to ageism. The approach of the Aging Together, peer-led intervention can be applied by practitioners in health care, education, social services, business, or leisure settings. As the Aging Together program continues, we will progressively expand to diverse cultural and geographic settings.