Welcome to Silberman Aging, Hartford Center of Excellence in Diverse Aging

We at Silberman Aging have crafted this call to action aimed at our gerontological colleagues to attend to the syndemic¹, the terrible intersection of the epidemics of racism, ageism and COVID-19, currently affecting older adults of color. We call on our gerontological social work colleagues to help us respond to critical, unanswered questions related to these epidemics entangled within a context of intersecting forms of oppression. It is imperative to challenge interlocking systems of injustice by working together to overcome and repair the neglect of aging people of color from multiple margins who find themselves, as has historically and perennially been the case, in the crosshairs of these multiple jeopardies at this contentious time.

In solidarity,

Silberman Aging Faculty, Staff and Students

 

¹Poteat, T., Millett, G., Nelson, L. E., & Beyrer, C. (2020). Understanding COVID-19 risks and vulnerabilities among Black communities in America: The lethal force of syndemics. Annals of Epidemiology, 47, 1-3.