Department of Family Services Alert:
Learn to Recognize and Speak Out Against Ageism
October 7 is Ageism Awareness Day, an opportunity to reflect on ageism and its impact. To help us better recognize ageism, understand its wide-ranging and negative impacts, and learn strategies to combat it, we spoke to Dr. Tracey Gendron, Chair of the Department of Gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Gendron is a leading authority on the issues of age bias and discrimination and the toll they take on both individuals and society. She explores these issues, along with the history of age bias, in her book “Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End it.” Read more.
50+Expos Return this Fall in Virginia and Maryland
The Beacon newspaper is pleased to announce the return of its in-person 50+Expos this October. Thousands of older adults and their families are expected to attend the free annual events, featuring a range of valuable resources, informative speakers, health screenings, volunteer opportunities and entertaining activities tailored to their interests and needs. Read more.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Aids in Reducing Opioid Overdoses
You can participate in helping reduce the number of opioid overdoses on October 28. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a nationwide event aimed at reducing the number of expired, unused, or unwanted medications available to vulnerable individuals who may seek to misuse or abuse these substances. As opioid overdoses continue to impact individuals of all ages and backgrounds, one way to reduce access to these substances is to properly dispose of prescription medications. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved to be abused or illegally sold, and drugs flushed down toilets contaminate the water supply. Read more.
How to Show Support for the LGBTQ+ Community
The LGBTQ+ community is diverse, and many people make the choice to come out or keep their identity private for different reasons. Some people may choose to come out because of their life circumstances, such as a transgender person who wants to go by a different name and pronouns or a gay person who starts dating someone of the same gender. But many LGBTQ+ people who choose to come out do so because they want to share who they are, either with their loved ones or with everyone in their life. Read more.
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