The average American lives to be over 78 years old. One in five full-time employees in the United States is above the age of 55. Most Americans above the age of 65 still live independently, and many describe their years after age 60 as among the happiest of their lives.

So why is it that so many people still consider growing older as something to fear or look down upon?

Ageism is an epidemic in the United States that affects the rights, emotional well-being, and physical health of older adults every day. It’s up to us to challenge ageism at its roots. That’s why we created #WithIt, a movement dedicated to encouraging conversation to attack the harmful assumptions about aging that are far too common in the status quo of our society.

At the end of October, we were thrilled to launch #WithIt to over 8,000 aging services professionals attending LeadingAge‘s national expo in Philadelphia. This annual gathering is focused on expanding thinking and challenging perspectives on what it means to grow older, as well as demonstrating the possibilities for older adults to live better in the future. We were proud to be part of LeadingAge’s event and strongly support their commitment to fighting for an America free from ageism.

The #WithIt booth was located in “Our Community,” an Expo area devoted to highlighting new ideas in the field of aging services. It featured an interactive, multimedia experience with live presentations and a photobooth. Conference attendees had a great time taking photos and posting them to social media in support of the #WithIt movement. We also hosted a cocktail hour that gave marketers and business partners an opportunity to learn more about #WithIt.

It was a fascinating and heartening experience to hear first-hand from those who are fighting against outdated and harmful stereotypes about older Americand and working to change these perceptions. We found that the #WithIt movement really resonates with most people, particularly those who have witnessed or experiencenced ageism first-hand, and we’re more optimistic than ever about the future of the movement!

#WithIt is a movement launched by Parker, a New Jersey-based aging services organization with over 110 years’ experience empowering older Americans. This is a mission we believe can be accomplished with the help of companies, organizations, and people like you.

Connect with #WithIt on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to read stories about those who are defying aging stereotypes and challenging the status quo. Visit @wearewithit on Instagram to see some of our photos from the conference, including some of the presentations we saw during the week and new friends who visited our photobooth. Join the conversation! Share our message with your friends, family and co-workers.