The Age Guide: Perspectives on the Aging Journey

Aging Unfiltered: Aging While Black – with Raymond Jetson

• Age Guide • Season 4 • Episode 6

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Welcome to another episode of Aging Unfiltered. In this episode, we have an important conversation about the intersection of aging, race, and representation. It was a privilege to welcome Raymond A. Jetson to the podcast to talk about this important subject. He’s a visionary leader, a changemaker, and the force behind Aging While Black and MetroMorphosis. Raymond has spent his life dedicated to empowering Black older adults and reshaping narratives around aging and equity. Tune in for an inspirational conversation.

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Aging While Black

AWB The Book | Aging While Black

Aging While Black | Raymond Jetson | TEDxScotlandville

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Gretchen:

Welcome to the Age Guide Perspectives on the Aging Journey. I'm your host, Gretchen Knowlton, and this is Aging Unfiltered, a series where we get real about ageism, how it shapes our world, and what we can do about it. Today, we're having an important conversation about the intersection of aging, race, and representation. And I can't think of a better person to guide us through it than Raymond A. Jetson. He's a visionary leader, a changemaker, and the force behind Aging While Black and metamorphosis. From his years as a Louisiana State Representative to his work transforming communities, Raymond has spent his life dedicated to empowering Black older adults and reshaping narratives around aging and equity. So how does ageism collide with racial inequalities? Why does representation in aging matter? And what can we do right now to build a society where Black elders can age with dignity and joy? That's what we're diving into today. Let's get started. Thank you so much for being here with us today, Raymond.

Raymond:

Gretchen, it is a joy to share with you again. And it is always a joy to connect with the Age Guide family. I appreciate so much the important work that you guys do in the lives that you touch, the organizations that you support. And so it's a joy to share with you.

Gretchen:

Well, it's so mutual. Thank you. So Raymond, in your work, you really explore the concept of ageism in America. You've been doing this a lot longer than we've been talking about it on our podcast for sure, especially in relation to Black elders. Could you share how you see ageism intersecting with the racial inequities faced by Black older adults in America? Are there particular ways in which both of these issues compound each other?

Raymond:

Yes, there are a couple of phrases that are interesting in their use and what they communicate. And so, for example, one of the phrases that is used is double jeopardy. And it speaks to this intersection of dealing with both ageism and racism. but one of the pioneers in the conversations around aging and race actually coined the phrase triple jeopardy of being aging, black and female in America and the complexities that are associated with that. What the phrases bring to bear are the realities of just the ageist mindset that is so predominant in American culture and in the way that we go about things. combining that with the structural barriers that persist and intensify for Black Americans as they age in America. And it creates what, as we were sharing just in, before we started the podcast, I've been writing a book and I describe it as a toxic brew There are these poisonous systems and structures that are persistent and firmly entrenched that serve to create greater challenge for Black elders to thrive in America. And it shows up in economic stability. It shows up in healthcare. It shows up in digital empowerment. It shows up in just so many aspects of everyday life.

Gretchen:

Wow, well, that really highlights why this issue is so critical. I appreciate you setting the stage for this conversation so well. And I love... that concept of thinking about all the different intersectionalities that we have. It's not just about age and race. There's also gender, there's language, all kinds of other things could come into play with that. And it's just multiplying, like you said, that toxic brew. One of the critical points in the article that you wrote recently for American Society on Aging is the lack of representation of Black elders in aging-related research and of of course, in the media. We've talked about that with a couple of our other guests too, but why is this so important, do you think, for shifting those societal attitudes and the whole narrative around aging?

Raymond:

One of the great challenges we face, and certainly in today's climate, a difficult conversation to navigate is this tendency to present aging as this race neutral experiment or experience. After all, we are all aging, aren't we? Well, yes we are, but there are differences. You know, one of the important theories in aging is that both advantage and disadvantage are cumulative. and that they compound over time. And so if we live in a country where in every major city in America, you can basically tell where Black communities and non-Black communities are by zip codes and the outcomes associated with those particular zip codes or geographic, you know, the South side or the North, you know, there are these realities that are associated with people's lived experiences that are often correlated to rage. And it doesn't mean that everybody in the world is a racist and a horrible people and wake up every day speaking to do horrible things to Black people or other minoritized communities. But there are certain realities that say that if you are a young Black boy who grows up in this neighborhood, then you are less likely to have access to certain resources that serve to, in many ways, predetermine the experiences and opportunities that you have to thrive. Well, if that's how you begin life and if that's how you experience life, then it is unrealistic to expect me to show up in old age and all of a sudden begin to thrive. And so while we are all aging, as a dear, wonderful woman in Atlanta said to me, aging is a verb. And so we all are aging, but there are experiences that are different that are oftentimes correlated to race. And so it's important that we show these experiences so that we are more sensitive to them and that we understand what are the ways in which we need to address the practices, the policies, the programs that we undertake. How are, aging Black people showing up in media. How are they seen in research? And that's part of this I'll share. You know, when you look at some of the really important research that is happening in America, and you look at the clinical trials and the exclusionary criteria that is outlined, and you look at some and it says, you know, people with high blood pressure, people with diabetes, people with These things can't participate in this particular study. Well, with a few strokes of the pen, you have basically eliminated a huge portion of the African-American community. And if we are not participating in the trials, then what happens is we end up bringing to market therapeutics and interventions without any degree of certainty as to how they interact with Black bodies. And so these are really important conversations and adjustments that we need to make.

Gretchen:

Wow. That is a really big shift in thinking. around both how we talk about aging and that we're all aging and how we look at things like representation, both in media and in research. Like you said, I think we try to create kind of a shared sense of investment in aging. when we say things like you said, we're all aging. And that's something we say all the time in Age Guide. But how do we expand that then to say, yes, we're all aging, but, and make sure that we're bringing everybody along and recognizing that there are some differences. Is there a way that you would reframe that introduction?

Raymond:

Yes, and it is that very familiar way device of yes and. Yes, we are all aging. And for some of us, there are other aspects that make that aging journey somewhat different. And so if I live in a particular environment or if I am faced with a certain policy driven or societal enforced disruptions, to my ability to access the life, that brings into the discussion some differences. Now we are all aging and we do have that in common, but if we are all going to age well, then that requires that we look at those things that serve to disrupt the ability for everybody to age well.

Gretchen:

That, you said that so well, that really resonates. And that's something that individuals can think about in reframing how they talk about this. That's really helpful. Thank you for that. The next thing I wanted to ask you about is as we look ahead, How do you envision this society where Black elders can age with what you said, with dignity, with security, and good health, and hopefully some joy, despite, like you said, the fact that these things can kind of accumulate over time, the challenges that people in underrepresented communities face? So what steps do you think we need to take collectively to reach your vision? And how can the listeners to this podcast advocate for that change?

Raymond:

I think that there are a couple of really important mindset shifts that need to happen. The first is that All Black elders are not frail. They are not suffering from frailty and loss and absent any redeeming contributions to the wellbeing. And beginning to recognize that Black elders actually have the capacity to be active architects in building a brighter future. One of the things that we talk about in Aging While Black is leaning into Sankofa. which is the third of our three pillars. And Sankofa is this West African concept which speaks of making benevolent use of the past. Some of the listeners to the podcast may be familiar with the Sankofa bird, where the bird is looking backwards while flying forward with an egg in its beak, which represents this bringing forward of the past in ways that benefit the future. future, particularly in moments like this in America's history. Black elders are not seeing this for the first time. We've experienced this tenor of public conversation and this push in public policy, this dramatic shift in people's commitments to fairness. We've seen all of this. This pendulum swing is not a first time experience. And so there is a, a wisdom of lived experience that is invaluable for those who are willing to access. And so I think that it is important that the mindset shift from you know, this group of people who need our care, certainly there are some people who are more at risk than others, but even those who may be in poor health may have much to share, but through their lived experience, through their wisdom, through their abilities to communicate. I also think that that as we live in this digital world, it's really important that we move from a place of centering what this preoccupation with the digital divide and digital literacy, I think digital empowerment needs to be a driving force. Again, the second force, the second pillar of Aging While Black is leaning into innovation and rapid change. We live, Gretchen, in an amazingly rapidly changing world that's deeply rooted in technology. And so the absence of digital empowerment is not just a digital literacy. It is an equity crisis because you have people who are unable to thrive in the world that surrounds them. They can't access critical resources. They can't manage their finances. They are limited in social connectivity and family connectedness through this absence of digital capacity and so I think that there are these mindset shifts that need to take place and since I started at the third pillar and went to the second one I guess I should end on the first pillar which is just recalibrating the village and so So how do we, Gretchen, become mindful of the ecosystem that supports Black elders? Is it culturally attuned? You know, is it sensitive to the realities of faith or family traditions or other reality that surround black life? And so I think that those mindset shifts are critical drivers in transforming the way Aging While Black in America.

Gretchen:

That really underscores the importance of seeing Black elders as leaders and not just as people in need of care and making sure that everything is tied in, like you said, to the village and that we're bringing those voices to the forefront. Let

Raymond:

me just share one of the things. Go ahead. One of the chapters in the book that will be released later this year, which is entitled Aging While Black, a radical re-imagining of aging and race in America. And one of the chapters is entitled, From Advocacy to Activism. And what it posits is that there is an abundance of advocacy on behalf of older people generally and aging black people specifically. And what we at Aging Wild Black believe is a critical shift is moving from advocacy to where older black people become their own activists. When you think about whether it is the silent generation or baby boomers, we have vast experience with activism. I mean, we've had to raise our voices to access the American experiment in ways that fully included us. And we're at a point where we have to do that again. But that can occur simply with others speaking on behalf of Black elders. A fundamental shift that needs to happen is how do we begin to position Black elders to be their own voices, to be their own activists, to design and declare the world that they want to live in.

Gretchen:

And how do we do that?

Raymond:

So there's a wonderful project that we at Aging While Black have been partnering with in Los Angeles that is called the Sankofa Elders Project. It is sponsored by the California Black Women's Health Project and Sisters Aging with Grace and Elegance or SAGE. It's funded by the Stan Foundation California Health Project. Foundation, Metta Foundation. Oh, wow. And other big Cal. Yeah, it is. And it is that what they created were these echo or community organizations across California. And this one is in South California. Los Angeles. And what this amazing team of people led by my dear friend, Carlene Davis, has done is that they have mobilized over the course of six to eight months, more than a hundred Black elders who are known as ambassadors. And what they have done is they have created a manifesto on wellbeing for Black elders in South Los Angeles. A manifesto, wow. And now they are preparing to present and become activists for the execution of this manifesto in government, in organizations, in community-based institutions. And they are the creators, the owners, and the drivers of this work. And it is an amazing model and one that we at Aging While Black are partnering with our dear friends, Carlene and her team on understanding the learnings so that they might be replicated in other communities. But they have other organizations across this country who basically elevate activism in addition to advocacy.

Gretchen:

Yeah, the two of them kind of go together, but you have to take it another step to get to activism and get more personal and get people involved, like you said, in advocating for themselves, in a sense, picking up that torch and trying to make some change, right? Would you say that's kind of the difference between advocacy and activism?

Raymond:

Yeah, advocacy overdone can mute the voices of the people we are advocating for. And so we become their voices. We become the articulators of their best interest and what needs to happen. Activism says, you have space here. Your voice matters. And Any strategy that is executed on your behalf should be informed by your perspectives.

Gretchen:

I'm pausing because I'm actually taking notes and I keep thinking I'm just going to re-listen to this podcast over and over until it all sinks in because you're saying so many great powerful things that I want to remember. Raymond, thank you for that.

Raymond:

But Gretchen, and thank you for your openness and for the openness of the Age Guide family, broadly defined. But these are things... that we collectively need to say over and over again, we need to explore, we need to create venues where we can ask questions, where we can push back when it doesn't feel right for me and create these kinds of spaces where we can have these conversations. It's part of what we are. So the next big step for aging while blind is we are having the audacity to invite people to join a national network. And so we are going to be launching in April, actually at the American Society on Aging Conference in Orlando, we are going to be launching the Aging While Black Network. And it is going to be an electronic platform where people can self-identify and connect with, and we are going to be weaving and mapping and connecting people based on geography, based upon size of organization, based upon population served, based upon interest, affinities. And so we see our work as network weavers. And so to invite people while being consistent to what you do. And so Age Guide, for example, could become a part of the Aging While Black Network without changing your mission, without changing your population serve, but being true to what you do, but also being open to understanding the three pillars connecting with others who may be similarly situated organizations, but in other parts of the country. to be connected and to have some peer learning and some sharing, but also to be connected with Black elders and others who are geographically dissimilar to you, who can inform our collective learning and wisdom sharing.

Gretchen:

That is going to be a great opportunity. I'm so excited. And we, as soon as that's available, we'll share the link in the show notes for this podcast so that people can hear your description of it and then follow through with getting connected. What a conversation this has been. I've learned so much. You've given us a lot to think about and that power of representation and the realities of aging while Black and the work that we all need to do to create this more just and inclusive society, the way we talk about things, the way we either advocate or move a step further into activism. Lots, I know our listeners are going to walk away from this feeling challenged and inspired and maybe even seeing the world a little bit differently. I know I do after this conversation. So thank you for joining us, Raymond. Are there any parting words that you'd like to give to the listeners?

Raymond:

Well, Gretchen, I Sincerely, I'll end where I started. It's a joy to share with you. And I appreciate so greatly the openness of the Age Guide family to creating space for important conversations and engagements. And I do really appreciate that. I'll just end by saying Asian While Black is not a project for me. It is something that is deeply personal. I grew up next door to my great grandmother and great grandfather. I have a picture in my study of my dad and my mom on the day that my dad was sworn into the Louisiana House of Representatives. And it's such a beautiful picture. But I look at it now and I realize that 177 days later, my dad was dead of leukemia. And my mom now, 41 years later, ambulates on a walker as a 91-year-old who fell and hit her head and has cognitive decline and other things. And I am my mom's primary caregiver. I also, in just a few days, will be observing my 69th birthday. And so this isn't just a project or an organization. It's deeply personal. And it is my lived experience.

Gretchen:

Wow. Well, thank you so much for that, Raymond. Thank you for sharing your personal perspective and being open to passing on your wisdom. Really appreciate having you here.

Raymond:

Thank you. To

Gretchen:

everyone listening, let's carry this forward. Keep asking questions. Keep challenging assumptions and most of all, keep seeing and celebrating the wisdom of our elders. Thank you for being here and I will see you next time on the Age Guide Perspectives on the Aging Journey.

Val:

Hello and welcome to your Medicare Minute. My name is Val Guzman and I'm the Benefit Access Specialist here at Age Guide. Today, we're going to learn ways to avoid medical debt with Abigail Rodriguez, patient health advocate at the DuPage Health Coalition. Stay tuned to learn more.

Abigail:

Hi, my name is Abigail Rodriguez and I am a patient health advocate for DuPage Health Coalition, also known as Access DuPage. We have a lot of programs that help with different situations and one of those areas we advocate in is medical debt. Medical debt is growing every year and it can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you live on a fixed income and can't afford any additional bills. My goal is to help reduce stress and ease financial burdens for older adults in our community, as well as providing education so that they are able to advocate for themselves Here are some tips for the most common situations that I have been helping with. So tip number one is always review your medical bills. We're all humans and make mistakes and chances are someone in the billing department may make a mistake from time to time. So please make sure you ask for an itemized statement and call to ask about any billing questions or discrepancies that you see. I cannot stress enough that if you have a secondary insurance like Medicaid, please confirm the billing department has this information. I know that coming home from the hospital can be tiring and you probably won't bother to think about it until you get the bill in the mail, but this is really important. Do not put off calling them as sometimes insurance companies cannot backdate coverage and you can be left with the remaining balance that could have been covered. Tip number two is know your coverage. As we know, Medicare changes every year and some plans are added and others are dropped and what insurance covers can change too. So it is important to understand your co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-network costs as these can slowly add up depending on how often you use them. If you are someone who has issues with coordination or balance, perhaps it is not in your best interest to get an insurance with a $300 copayment for an ambulance ride. That kind of leads me to the third tip, which is speak to a SHIP counselor. Insurance coverage changes every year, but so does your health. It's important to meet with a SHIP counselor every year if possible to determine if there are any changes you need to make to your coverage. SHIP counselors are available to educate you about the different types of Medicare plans available and help you make educated decisions regarding your coverage. While you might be okay with the plan you currently have, perhaps there's a better option out there for you that could reduce your insurance or medical expenses Thank you. Tip number four is medication programs. One of the things I have helped with recently is lowering medication costs or trying to reduce them. This may be something small like calling your insurance to verify who your preferred pharmacy is. This can significantly affect the cost of your medication. Pharmacy X may be charging you $200 for your eye drops, but at Pharmacy Y, your preferred pharmacy, it could cost you only $30. Your insurance can also determine whether there are any medication programs from the that are available to you for little to no cost. They will send you the application via mail or email. You'll have to fill out your portion of the application and your provider will need to fill out the rest and send it back. These programs are renewable each year and your medication could be free or at a really reduced cost. And tip number five is seek financial assistant programs. While a $1,200 hospital bill may seem payable, your economic situation could change. Always apply for financial assistance assistance through hospitals when possible. Some hospitals have a 240 day limit of when to file, so the sooner you submit the application, the better. There is financial assistance everywhere, not just at the hospitals. For example, LIHEAP, which helps with home energy costs and SNAP benefits. Even Medicare has additional programs like Extra Help or SLIB that can help with Medicare Part B premiums, Medicare Part D deductibles, and coinsurance expenses. The medical world is such a difficult world to navigate. Never be afraid to reach out and ask for clarification from providers, insurance companies, pharmacies or organizations like us. You do not have to live a life of medical debt. There are a lot of resources and programs available. We just might have to ask someone to help us find the correct ones. So I encourage you to take out that shoebox filled with medical bills and apply some of these tips or reach out to me and I'll be more than happy to help.

Val:

This was your Medicare Minute. For more information about the DuPage Health Coalition and medical debt, contact Abigail at 331-716-7168.

Gretchen:

Thank you for listening to The Age Guide, Perspectives on the Aging Journey. Age Guide coordinates and administers many services for older adults in Northeastern Illinois. Our specially trained professionals are available to answer questions and connect you with local service providers and resources. If you are interested in these services or want to learn more, go to our website at ageguide.org or call our offices at 630-293-5990. Please follow our podcast so you can be notified in your streaming account. Thank you and we will see you next time on The Age Guide. Guide podcast.