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WHEREAS, Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is an initiative of Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging and University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work dedicated to making our region more inclusive and respectful of all ages; and,
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WHEREAS, October 9, 2024 is Ageism Awareness Day, an internationally recognized day for drawing attention to the impact of ageism in our society; and,
WHEREAS, ageism refers to the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) toward ourselves and others based on age, impacting all of us at every life stage; and,
WHEREAS, ageism affects the physical and mental health, longevity and financial well-being of people of all ages, shortening our lifespans by as many as 7.5 years; and,
WHEREAS, ageism disproportionately affects communities of color, who have historically experienced disparities across income, education and other social determinants of health, resulting in vast differences in life expectancy; and,
WHEREAS, our region has one of the greatest concentrations of older adults in the United States; and,
WHEREAS, one in five Allegheny County residents-over a quarter million people-are ages 65+ who are disproportionately impacted by ageism; and,
WHEREAS, older adults are the fastest growing segment of our workforce and active contributors to our communities; and,
WHEREAS, more than 120 local and regional partners collaborate with Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh-part of the World Health Organization Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, led by AARP in the U.S.-to prevent ageism and promote age inclusion across all sectors of our society, including education, employment, housing, culture and healthcare; and,
WHEREAS, in Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging helps residents ages 60+ of all races, genders, incomes and backgrounds to live safe, healthy and independent lives, in pa...
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