International Perspective: China and Malaysia

INTERNATIONAL-PERSPECTIVEMALAYSIA – PETALING JAYA: “Policies and programmes are needed in Malaysia to protect and care for the elderly population, says Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).’As an increasing number of Malaysians are living well into old age, they are in greater need of assistance in performing routine functions,’ said Hasmy.” Read more here in “Confronting the Old Age Conundrum.”

 

CHINA – SHANGHAI: “More than 70 percent of elderly people in Shanghai are open to a house-for-pension program, a survey showed, despite a recent public outcry against the idea raised in a central government document. . . Under the program, an elderly person who owns a property could deed the house to an insurance company or bank, which would determine the value of the property and the applicant’s life expectancy, and pay out a fixed amount of money every month.” [Like a reverse mortgage here.] Read more here in “Shanghai Elderly Open to House-for-Pension Plan.”

 

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Men: Are You Too Old for Your Outfit?

vector illustration of a black bow tie in low-polygonal style. mKatherine Wheelock wrote an article for Details Magazine’s “Rules of Style” column entitled, “Are You Too Old for Your Outfit?” in which offered examples of the youthful poor choices of which she disapproves.

“…micro-lapel jackets on top of floral-print shirts on top of ruler-thin camo-print ties on top of Turk’s-head-knot cuffs on top of a tangle of bracelets  on top of purple plastic Wayfarers. And yet, under all this, a man can still  look very obviously middle-aged (like our friend . . . here). This type of trend cluster has the same effect as a plastic-surgery pile-up: It makes him  look not just old but afraid of being old.” Read more and see photos here.

It’s not surprising that Simon Doonan, author, fashion commentator, and creative ambassador for Barneys New York, strongly disagrees:

“I remain unconvinced by these ‘experts,’ for one very important reason: The problem—if there is one—is the exact opposite of the one identified by Mrs. Wheelock and her fun-exterminating acolytes. They contend that seniors need reining in, while I feel passionately that the opposite is true.” Read more here.

And one of our favorite bloggers, Ari Seth Cohen, creator of Advanced Style, a blog “dedicated to the sartorial savvy of the silver-haired set,” agrees with Doonan:

“Dressing up and taking pride in our appearance is a sign of vitality. Rather than masking our age, personal style allows us to be visible in a world that often overlooks anyone over 50. It shows that we still care about the way we look and the way we feel.” Read more here.

Even Katherine Wheelock admits that she is willing to throw out the rule book eventually:

“Once you turn 80, you can dress however the hell you want.”

What do you think?

 

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Oldest Park Ranger

Lyle Ruterbories, 93, “still hauls gravel, mends fences and wields a chain saw to clear fallen trees from the road to the most remote encampment a visitor can drive to in Glacier National Park.” He’s the oldest ranger in the entire park system. Read more about this popular and knowledgeable public servant here.

 

 

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Iconic Designer & NY Magazine Founder Milton Glaser

ARTYou’ve probably seen the “I ❤ New York” image  in ad campaigns and on souvenir products for years. Did you know that it was designed by Milton Glaser?

“Iconic designer and New York Magazine founder Milton Glaser, discovered his vocation when he was 5 years old. He didn’t know the ‘how’ or the precise path. But he did know he had to create. To draw. To design. To make. Eighty-four years into life, Glaser’s body of work is stunning in it’s breadth, depth and impact.”

Read more about 84-year-old Milton Glaser here and get the link to a free interview posted on iTunes.

 

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The Cassette Celebrates Turning Fifty

FYI“The cassette should have died. Instead, it’s turning 50 in an atmosphere of celebration.” Click here to read the story of the enduring appeal of this familiar bit of technology that’s been around far longer than expected.

 

 

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Worth Repeating: Homelessness Among the Elderly

WORTH-REPEATING“Worth Repeating” is a weekly feature on the EngAGE Blog that will bring you previous posts that we think are still timely, interesting, or just plain fun! From 10/10/12:

October 10th is [annual] World Homeless Day: “The purpose of World Homeless Day is to draw attention to homeless people’s needs locally and provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness, while taking advantage of the stage an ‘international day’ provides.” Read more here.

Homelessness is acute among the impoverished older population. A 2009 report from the National Coalition for the Homeless states:

“Increased homelessness among elderly persons is largely the result of poverty and the declining availability of affordable housing among certain segments of the aging. Throughout the nation, there are at least 9 seniors waiting for every occupied unit of affordable elderly housing (HEARTH, 2007).”

Clearly, more low-income housing for seniors is a necessity. EngAGE is gratified to be part of the solution to this pressing problem that will require even more attention as our population continues to age.

 

 

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Fabulous Fashionistas Demonstrate Personal Style After 70

vector illustration of a black bow tie in low-polygonal style. m“Some people still believe that an interest in clothes means a woman’s brain — and it is overwhelmingly women on the receiving end of this disdain — has crumbled into face powder, that the very existence of lipstick scrubs out 50 years of feminism. ‘Fabulous Fashionistas’ (Channel 4) is a delightful, delicate documentary that sticks two fingers up to this idea.”

“The idea that it’s about looking good is a bit of a ruse, really, because it’s about being determined to live as full a life as possible at whatever age. It’s style and substance, and it’s lovely.”

—  Rebecca Nicholson (The Guardian)

See the documentary about six fabulous women over 70!

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