Ageism remains very common in traditional media, and there has been a significant increase in social media. This was highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as older adults were often portraired as “defenseless and expendable elderly people”, as well illustrated by the spread of the “#BoomerRemover” hashtag. As such, it is essential that we take concerted action into knowing how to communicate ‘ageing’, so that we can guarantee an environment of respect, empathy and solidarity between all generations. This is a challenge for all of us that should not only involve media professionals, but also decision-makers, academics and researchers, as well as, fundamentally, older adults themselves, who ought to be be increasingly committed to dissipate the stereotypes assigned to them.

The 13th Session of the InterAções Symposium seeks to better understand the roots of age-based steriotypes and identify strategies to deconstruct the myths and the preconceptions.

Population ageing is reflected in the workforce age profile. Thus, if on the one hand, the increase in life expectancy makes it possible for people to work even later, sometimes even beyond the legal retirement age,on the other hand, it is necessary for organizations to adapt to this new reality, being able to promote longer, flexible, inclusive and healthier careers, creating conditions for workers of all ages to fulfil their potential throughout their working lives, facilitating the transition to retirement without compromising the balance between the reality of population ageing and the success of organizations.

On the 12th Session of the InterAções Symposium we will reflect on the transitiong into retirement, showing some projects, experiences and good practices that aim to combine active and healthy ageing with an adequate working environment throughout the life cycle.

The digital revolution is ongoing. The introduction of technological innovations will impact all dimensions of our lives. The paradigm of support services “available anytime and anywhere” is asserting itself, which will facilitate aging in the community, but will also imply an increasing penetration of technological devices in our daily lives. Are we prepared to keep up with this dizzying pace of digital intrusion into our lives? Will we be able to really understand the importance of these digital tools in improving our well-being? If, on the one hand, it is essential to understand and follow the technological evolution, on the other hand it is essential that we do not lose sight of the deontological, moral and ethical discussion of the place these technologies in our lives, in order to always preserve, as much as possible, our self-determination and intimacy.

In the 11th session of the InterAções Symposium we will discuss the challenges of aging in the digital age, showing some innovative projects with an impact on our lives, without compromising our self-determination.

Only resilient local organizations, capable of adapting to the changing needs and demands of people during their life cycle, will help us guaranteeing the continuity of care adapted to the ageing in place paradigm. This is a challenge that requires not only more social and health intersectoral coordination and integration but also more versatile planning and financing mechanisms both allowing traditional solutions and promoting innovation, experimentation and the dissemination of Good Practises.

The 10th session of the InterActions Symposium is devoted to the continuity of care, in order to address the new demands of the ageing in place paradigm, calling for the testimony and the experience of three important social and solidarity economy organizations.