In my position as the Trumbull County Senior Services administrator, the age consideration for a senior is 60 years and older. Various government agencies assign ages for reaching senior status differently as some are 55 and others as of 65 years of age. Regardless, I remind myself it’s only a number.

As I age, noticeable changes are occurring, of which some are embraced and others are a reminder of that annually increasing number. One of those changes is my slower ability to easily comprehend new technologies.

Every time a cellphone is released, processes change, different buttons pressed in new configurations give you faster results and by the time a comfort level of adaptation sets in, that phone needs replaced.

My husband and I had a chuckle about the time he called his doctor, the call was placed on hold and when the person came back to the phone, it was our good friend Randy.

Confusing to both of us for a millisecond, “Why was Randy working at the doctor’s office answering phones?” The reality of the moment was that somehow a button was pressed while on hold at the doctor’s office and the phone dialed our friend. Technology.

But imagine how difficult technology can become for the aged. Television channel availability, streaming services and devices are far more challenging than the three local stations most of us grew up with in our youth.

Ageism is discrimination against people based on their age. Surveys have shown that 45% of those in this age group experience the assumption that because of age, a lack of competence exists when using cell phones or computers.

Even the darn TV remote causes stress when you aren’t the usual remote operator. With the challenges of technology, many area resources are available at our local Senior Centers throughout the county where one can receive one-to-one assistance with maneuvering through the technology challenges.

Our culture worships youth and beauty. Just look at advertisements. The one my husband and I find amusing is the one for Lumify which is an eye drop for whiter, brighter eyes.

The advertisement shows a young person using eye drops rather than an elderly person who would more typically need the product than a youthful eye that hasn’t experienced the strains of life. Human bodies age and most likely will not fit society’s idea of how beauty is supposed to look. That does not mean that we seniors aren’t beautiful. Just ask us if you want to know.

But those questions often do not happen.

Feeling appreciated for the knowledge seniors have and the wisdom gained through life experiences can cause a feeling of invisibility. There is a disparity between when women start to feel invisible compared to men.

About 70% of women become invisible as they age, and only around 30% of men do. Women experience this in their 50s whereas men start at 64 years old.

Men tend to be valued more for what they do and women tend to be valued more for how they look.

In my own life, upon meeting strangers, my husband is asked about his career most of the time and that question is not asked of myself even though we are both professionals. We both noticed this when meeting new people.

Being seen and respected as aged individuals should be very important to society as we do get wiser with age in knowledge, experiences and life strategies. A larger percentage of the United States is over 65 than ever before. We, as a society, should do everything possible to embrace the inclusion of older people in every aspect of life.

To help empower an individual in all aspects of life, to feel needed and important, is a common positive for our Senior Center communities. Engaging in conversation, to continue learning the smallest of technological advances helps to keep the individual connected.

Our county has nine senior levy-supported community centers that can help empower any of us over this invisibility. Each center has its calendar of events and welcomes any residents to keep you visible.

Should you need any information regarding the Senior Centers of our county, please contact your Senior Levy administrator.

For additional information, contact Trumbull County Senior Levy Administrator Diane Siskowic-Jurkovic at 330-675-7846 or sljurkov@co.trumbull.oh.us.