Oct. 1 is National Seniors Day and the BC Community Response Network is using the leadup to it to raise awareness of just how prevalent anti-senior ageism is.

The network鈥檚 Victoria chapter said in a release that 19 per cent of B.C. residents are aged 65 or older as of the 2020 census, and that figure is expected to rise to nearly 25 per cent by 2041.

Citing the World Health Organization, the network said while ageism can affect everyone at any age, in the older population it has been associated with an up to seven-and-a-half year shorter lifespan, poorer physical and mental health, and slower recovery from disability.

鈥淎geism is practised everywhere 鈥� in government, business, retail, education and health care, to name a few sectors,鈥� according to the release. 鈥淛ust check out how many ads try to sell their products based on their anti-aging properties. It鈥檚 interesting that society views aging in a negative way when we鈥檙e all going to be senior one day.鈥�

On Oct. 1, the network is encouraging people to show the seniors in their lives they care about them. Simple acts like reaching out to a neighbour to wish them well, taking a walk or cooking a meal together, sending a card or simply smiling and saying 鈥渉i鈥� when you pass a senior on the street can make a positive difference.

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