How many of us have ever stopped to think about what our lives will be like in 10 years? And maybe in two years, three years, or when we’re over 80? Science is showing us signs. If you plan and take care of your health, you’re more likely to age in an active and fulfilling way. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy a long life?
No matter at what moment in life they were surprised, some of these questions led Andrea Falcone, Mercedes Jones, Liliana Parodi and Samanta De Filippi to found the Latin American Silver Economy Forum (SEF) I ended up doing it. , the third edition will be held on the 22nd of this month at the Palazzo Libertad of the Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Cultural Center (formerly CCK).
Why do they talk about the silver economy? It is the economy that causes gray hair. Far from fearing what this stage of life will bring, they are boldly taking on the challenge, defining themselves as “silver girls” and proposing to go “from gray to silver.”
“We do not intend to deny the value of gray hair, and we do not intend to stop it from being a challenge for many people in our region. Gray hair is a complex reality on the one hand, but a bright reality on the other. That’s why we always talk about opportunities,” said Mercedes Jones, sociologist, Director of the Positive Longevity & Silver Ecosystem at SEF, and Project Director of the University of San Andres Social Innovation Center (UdeSA). says.
economy that is power
According to the United Nations, in 1990 there were approximately 95,000 people in the world over the age of 100. Today, that number has increased to more than 500,000. It is predicted that by 2050 there will be approximately 3.7 million centenarians.
Moreover, Gen Silver is expected to reach 44% of global consumption in 2030 and 50% in 2050. If the silver economy were a country today, it would be the third largest economy in the world after the United States and China.
On the basis of these data, participants in the next edition of SEF, whose motto is “A new map of life”, will be surprised to hear the results of the report carried out by Guillermo Oliveto of Alma Trend, and then start Probably. This journey includes eight seasons that cover every aspect of being a Silverperson.
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The Life Map concept originated from the Stanford Longevity Center and reflects how longevity is redefining traditional aspects of life. That is why one of the most important points of the conference will be led by Alexandre Karasz, a Brazilian doctor who is a champion of the realization of active aging and the originator of the concept of Friendly Cities. is. Because, for this expert, the environment affects how we age. .
open question
This journey began with a question Andrea asked herself in 2022. At the time, the pension lawyer and founder of Argentina’s first elder law law firm was 40 years old and in crisis.
“Everyone’s age is different when they start having doubts about the future. People in their 20s may feel old. That happened to me in 2022, and then I started looking into it, but I still haven’t learned. I wanted to learn that, but then I went on a journey related to astrology and realized that there is another world, and it helped me visualize what we are doing today. I started,” Falcone recalls.
Left to right: Liliana Parodi, Andrea Falcone, Mercedes Jones.
The first SEF was held at Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), and Andrea didn’t hesitate to invite Mercedes to participate. Of course, Jones didn’t doubt it either. And she was so passionate that she became an ambassador for this silver movement from the beginning.
“I’ve put in a lot of effort because universities understand the value of the silver economy and companies understand it, so I looked at other people who were working with the same idea as me. I immediately thought, “Working with these people is a commitment from my own life experience,” Jones says.
Liliana, a recent content director at American TV, felt the same way. “During a break from watching TV, I met Andrea on a course about being an entrepreneur and living in the world without falling into dependence, and she started talking about the silver economy. I quickly realized: “I’m a silver girl,” she proudly declares.
“My job is communication, and I want to spread the word about this topic. I want everyone to know about this topic, from the president to the people watching this topic on TV. Because I can change the conversation. Especially as I continue to learn.” A colleague sent me a talk the other day with this title: “The ’80s are the new ’60s, but the ’80s today are actually the new ’80s,” Mercedes said. That’s what drives me to embrace diversity. ” Parody added.
“Let us change the mirror that we see in silver, but let it be the mirror that we want to see ourselves in. Let it have all the diversity that the segment has. Today, silver is invisible, hidden. “There’s a fog around people who are older than others,” Jones emphasizes.
Liliana remembers the worries she had when she was younger. “I was obsessed with being an older woman with financial resources. Now I know I need mental resources and health as well.”
In this sense, Jones says, “There is unnecessary social suffering. We imagine longevity as something similar to the concept of old age, but it is not the same. Feeling good, living a good life.” “There are also silver people who want to be healthy.” This is a very powerful stage, but you need to show the data. ”
“What we are doing requires incorporating information, creating maps, and providing data. We still have a lot to learn, but the conditions are given. World Health Organization (WHO) has been talking to governments and businesses for 20 years, and the time has already come to get your act together. Longevity won’t wait,” warns Falcone.
For example, the trio suggests continuing to interact with companies to understand Gen Silver from all angles: how to implement it, its role within the organization, and the benefits that companies value.
“Generational diversity is not just an issue in human capital, it’s an issue from the board member to the company doorman. ” advises Jones.
Therefore, SEF is an opportunity for everyone to address this problem that we are going to experience or are already experiencing.
+ Information: www.seflaam.org
