What is ALAA?
What if we could transform the conversation on aging throughout the
world?
The answer is that we can – and in a very significant way.
The idea is really simple, but profound: have older folks document
their own experience of aging, in photography, videos, writing and
interviews. In all the extensive literature on aging, no one has
ever asked older people, in such an extensive and organized way, to
document their own experience of it.
This project began at two assisted living communities in Santa
Monica, California. Participants were provided cameras and digital
recorders, and given training and support in documenting their
lives. This resulted in two large and well-attended photo shows,
and the project has since gone worldwide.
In the contributions of you or your loved ones to Age Looks at
Aging we will transform the conversation about aging, adding – at
long last – the voices of those who are most knowledgeable and
affected by it. In doing this, a dialogue has been created between
people of all ages.
Many seniors who now live in independent and assisted living
communities, as well as nursing homes, used to be the elders of the
tribe. They were the people we went to for counsel. Through
economic and social shifts in our society, family and community, to
a great extent has been lost. ALAA is recreating community to bring
our elders back to their rightful place at the head of the table.
They need to speak, and we need to hear them.
Brian Braff
Founding Director
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