From the Director
Emily Williams is director of the Brookline Council on Aging and Director of the Brookline Senior Center.
Living long, living to the fullest, and making our voices heard
The U.S. centenarian population is projected to quadruple over the next 30 years. Hold on a minute… that’s 4 times more than today’s number of approximately 101,000 U.S. centenarians.
In the year 2040, ONE in every FOUR residents will be age 60+
We are living longer, healthier lives for many reasons
But is Brookline ready for the population boom of older adults? With policy and funding changes, I believe we will be. The 100-year milestone represents a remarkable century of life: a hundred years of memories, relationships, changes, challenges, accomplishments, and contributions. Reaching 100 reminds me that a long life is made up of countless chapters and that every chapter can hold meaning.
According to colleagues at the National Institute on Aging, researchers studying centenarians continue to learn about the factors associated with exceptional longevity and healthy aging. But there is something no research study can fully measure: the wisdom, stories, perspective, relationships, and community connections that accumulate over a lifetime.
Celebrating centenarians
This month, we have the privilege of celebrating that extraordinary perspective. On October 19, we will celebrate our Brookline residents who have reached 100 and beyond at our Party of a Century. We will also present the Boston Post Cane to Brookline’s oldest resident. The Boston Post Cane tradition dates back to 1909, when canes were presented to communities throughout New England to recognize their oldest residents. The cane was intended to be passed on to the next oldest resident, a wonderful symbol of continuity from one generation to the next.
Living longer means we need to think differently about aging
If more of us are going to live into our 80s, 90s, and beyond, then our communities need to be designed to support people throughout those years. That means thinking about transportation, housing, health, social connection, accessibility, public spaces, food access, caregiving, recreation, and opportunities to remain engaged. And it means listening. This fall, we have an important opportunity to turn listening into action.
On October 15, BrooklineCAN will host the Annual Fall Forum: Making Our Voices Heard, an evening featuring the results of the UMass Boston Community Needs Assessment on Aging in Brookline. UMass Boston researchers will share what they heard from our community and help us understand what the findings mean for the future of aging in Brookline. There will be wine and refreshments, an opportunity to ask questions, and a chance to learn how residents can become part of a new volunteer advocacy group: The Squeaky Wheels. I hope you will join us.
Enjoy the fall weather and celebrate those who have reached a century
Learn from the generations who came before us and make sure that the generations coming behind us inherit a community where everyone has the opportunity to age with dignity, connection, and purpose.
I hope to see you at the Senior Center soon! Until then, please remember to always check in on your neighbors.
Sincerely,
Emily J. Williams
Director