Closing General Session

Age is a mindset, not a descriptor. Providers in the field of aging services have learned from the people they serve that life is defined by living, not aging. The idea that less is young and more is old is an outlook of age tied to norms or assumptions, but not necessarily reality. “Age” and “aging” are as uniquely defined as an individual. Whatever one’s age, a person must decide where the path of aging will take them. Each person has a chance and a choice to embrace life and its abundant possibilities now, and at any—and every— age.

The Zimmers hail from the United Kingdom to illustrate and celebrate aging in its most spirited state. Originally formed for a BBC documentary about pensioners' rights, this worldwide phenomenonconsists of 50 people with a cumulative age of about 3700. Band members perform rock hits in a guitar-smashing style that defies aging stereotypes. Meet 14 members of the band who along with their producer and band manager will talk about their efforts to change the misconceptions about older adults—and perform LIVE on stage!