Brain Health Expert: Patricia Faust
Today we talk: overcoming ageism through the award-winning Netflix series, Grace and Frankie (just in case you missed it).
7 Lessons About Overcoming Ageism:
The plot centered around two women getting divorced in their late seventies. The comedy starts with a tale of companionship, to one of advocacy against beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes that devalue older adults and distort their dignity. Throughout the plots and twists of Grace and Frankie’s lives, we learned these seven lessons about ageism:
“Like Grace and Frankie depict older adults wanting to be involved.“
1. Older Adults Do Not Need To Be Patronized:
Soon as she turns 80, Grace becomes invisible to her colleagues at work. When she tries to talk about eco-conscious products, she is offered a comfortable chair and referred to as “this old girl”. Not only do they patronize her, but when another colleague mentions eco-consciousness, everyone behaves like this was the first time they heard the term!
2. Older Adults Do Not Want To Withdraw:
Grace and Frankie depict older adults wanting to be involved. Grace, who remains active in her own company and saves it from bankruptcy, shows despite her age, that older adults still want to contribute, guide others by their own experiences, and be active and included. This should not be denied to them!
3. Older Adults Can Be Independent:
Independence was a recurring theme in the fifth season of Grace and Frankie, with their children forcing them to get a home aid, and eventually even sending them to a residential facility. Grace and Frankie attack the imposition of dependence onto older adults just because their kids decide so! Cheers for them for teaching their kids they do not need anyone to live their lives fully!
4. Older Adults Still Have Sex:
Grace kiss Nick, and Frankie kiss Jacob, might be surprising – but older adults are also romantic. Growing old does not make you asexual. Older adults do have sex. …and masturbate.
“Addressing sexual difficulties in older adults is problematic.”
At one point, Frankie created a new vibrator designed for women with arthritic hands! Marketing their product to older women reawakened perceptions about older women’s sexual needs.
5. Older Adults Need Sex Education:
Believe it or not, sex education is important as we age. A bonus product to accompany the vibrator, Frankie created a lubricant for more comfortable use. Addressing sexual difficulties in older adults is problematic. Grace and Frankie show how there is no need for embarrassment in addressing these issues. Older adults have sex and need to be knowledgeable about methods to protect themselves.
6. Older Adults Have A Lot To Offer:
The two female protagonists start two companies in the span of six seasons – in their 70s Now, that’s inspiring. One of their companies created a toilet seat that was aimed at helping older adults raise from their commode.
7. Ageism On A Sitcom Show:
Their efforts in finding a funder exhibited the problems older entrepreneurs have in securing business loans. Their resiliency demonstrates that age itself does not play a part in what older adults are capable of accomplishing. It is the perception of age that stifles creativity and motivation.
It is inspiring because while it never shies away from problems associated with age, this sitcom shows there is so much more to the older adult than that! Overcoming ageism is possible and Grace and Frankie have surely been a big inspiration for that sea change.
Reference: Betapsi. (April 19, 2021). 7 things Grace and Frankie teaches us about ageism. Retrieved from here.
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About the Author:
Patricia Faust is a gerontologist specializing in the issues of brain aging, brain health, brain function and dementia. She has a Masters in Gerontological Studies degree from Miami University in Oxford Ohio. Patricia is certified as a brain health coach and received a certification in Neuroscience and Wellness through Dr. Sarah McKay and the Neuroscience Academy. My Boomer Brain, founded in 2015, is the vehicle that Patricia utilizes to teach, coach and consult about brain aging, brain health and brain function. Her newsletter, My Boomer Brain, has international readers from South Africa, Australia, throughout Europe and Canada. She has also been a frequent guest on Medicare Moment on WMKV and Cincy Lifestyles on WCPO.
