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In the field of ageing studies, activist ageing refers to activism and research that empowers the elderly. This approach investigates how ageing is imagined (in mostly Western societies), how 
Many elders, and especially women, are involved in organizations that aim to effect social change on issues related to ageing or in general. Retirement engenders a form of social exclusion. In this context becoming an activist or a volunteer represents one's agency and participation in social change, outside the market system. Instead of assuming a passive role they act. As
RECAA
: Aims to raise awareness of elder mistreatment within the ethnocultural communities, using strategies such as forum theatre (acting out situations from the life of elders to stimulate discussion). They participate to events like the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. *
Seniors Action Quebec
Aims to address the living conditions of English-Speaking seniors in Quebec and give access to information for an active and healthy aging to its members.
Ageivism
as an ideology of aging. Ageivism is defined as follows: "Ageivism" refers to an ideology which serves as the basis for calls for social action (echoing similar "isms", e.g. feminism, or socialism) on the protection and promotion of the rights of older persons based on the grounds of political, social and economic principles of identity, dignity and social justice.
Ageism
Ageism, also spelled agism, is discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. The term was coined in 1969 by Robert Neil Butler to describe discrimination against seniors, and patterned on sexism and racism. Butler d ...
operates, and how elders respond to exclusion.
Many elders, and especially women, are involved in organizations that aim to effect social change on issues related to ageing or in general. Retirement engenders a form of social exclusion. In this context becoming an activist or a volunteer represents one's agency and participation in social change, outside the market system. Instead of assuming a passive role they act. As elder rights
Elder rights are the rights of older adults (usually those in the seventh decade of life or older, although this definition is disputed), who in various countries are not recognized as a constitutionally protected class, yet face discrimination ...
activists
Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...
and members of community organizations, they try to prevent elder abuse, raise awareness, build resources and networks. Activist ageing is different from active ageing.
Organizations
* Respecting Elders: Communities Against AbuseRECAA
: Aims to raise awareness of elder mistreatment within the ethnocultural communities, using strategies such as forum theatre (acting out situations from the life of elders to stimulate discussion). They participate to events like the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. *
Raging Grannies
The Raging Grannies (or just "Raging Grannies") are activist organizations in many cities and towns in Canada, the United States, and in other countries. The first group started in Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, i ...
: Created in 1987 in British Columbia, they spread across countries. They are social justice activists.
* CARP (Canada): An organization that defends the needs of older Canadians and offer benefits to its members.
Seniors Action Quebec
Aims to address the living conditions of English-Speaking seniors in Quebec and give access to information for an active and healthy aging to its members.
Ageivism - The Ideology of Activist Ageing
For many years the action around rights of older persons and social activism of older adults was not anchored in a unique ideological framework. It is only in recent years that attempts to frame the global elder rights movement within an ideology began to build up. One such an attempt is the development oAgeivism
as an ideology of aging. Ageivism is defined as follows: "Ageivism" refers to an ideology which serves as the basis for calls for social action (echoing similar "isms", e.g. feminism, or socialism) on the protection and promotion of the rights of older persons based on the grounds of political, social and economic principles of identity, dignity and social justice.
Mediatization
Canadian governmental services offered through various Internet portals require greater technological skills from the part of elders, who need to comply in order to get information about their rights or specific programs.Middleton, C. & Sorensen, C. (2005). How connected Are Canadians ? Inequities in Canadian households’ Internet access. Canadian Journal of Communication, 30(4): 463-483. The development of digital technologies forces activists and community organizations to consider including media in their actions. Many organizations use digital technologies to contact other organizations at a distance, to document their organization's history and actions, and to develop intergenerational ties. Contrary to popular discourses that represent the elderly as passive and dependent, their uses of digital media show their agency and ability to produce media content.Sawchuk, K. (2013). “Tactical Mediatization and Activist Ageing: pressures, pushbacks and the story of RECAA,” in MediKulture special issue on mediatization edited by Stig Hjarvard and Line Nybro Peterson. Other kinds of projects also aim to enhance digital literacy among elders, such as the workshops taking place at the Atwater Library in Montreal.See also
*Elder rights
Elder rights are the rights of older adults (usually those in the seventh decade of life or older, although this definition is disputed), who in various countries are not recognized as a constitutionally protected class, yet face discrimination ...
References
{{reflist Ageing Activism