*There is some unbleeped swearing in this episode.

Kristi Allain (researcher & narrator), with Stephanie Dotto (writer) and Cory McKechnie (editor)

Winter can be a tricky season for older Canadians, as they face duelling pressures. On the one hand, health agencies and the media encourage and even pressure older Canadians to keep up high levels of physical activity, to stave off what they call “age-related decline.” On the other hand, the same sources also warn older Canadians to stay inside in the winter, in order to avoid winter slips and falls. While contradictory, both of these pressures emerge from the same neoliberal mindset that views older individuals as morally obligated to avoid burdening the healthcare system.

In this podcast, I interview older men who participate in the winter sport of curling, asking how they feel about playing the sport at an older age. While they’re conscious of the pressures to stay healthy and the health benefits of curling, they’re more focused on the enjoyment and community it brings them, as well as the feeling of athleticism and mastery that might be increasingly difficult to find in other arenas.

The question of aging and sport becomes particularly acute when I ask them about stick curling, a variation of the game that allows players to curl without having to kneel to deliver the rock. Stick curling has enabled curlers in wheelchairs and other disabled people to curl and has extended the curling life of many players with various injuries and conditions. But picking up the stick can be a blow to the pride of some curlers, an admission that their body cannot do what it once did. With the curlers, I explore the crucible of the stick, its connection to their feelings about aging and sport, pressures and possibilities, health and fun.

References

Bartels, S. J. & Naslund, J. A. (2013). The underside of the silver tsunami — Older adults and mental health care. New England Journal of Medicine, 368: 493–496. NEJMp1211456

Chai, C. (2013, February 4). 5 lifestyle changes to improve your heart’s health. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/388255/5-lifestyle-changes-to-improve-your-hearts-health/

Das, R. (2015, August 11). A silver tsunami invades the health of nations. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/reenitadas/2015/08/11/a-silver-tsunami-invades-the-health-of-nations/?sh=64ec1bc13efd

Glicksman, E. (2012). Preparing for the ‘silver tsunami.’ APA, 43(9): 32–35https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/10/tsunami

Society & social. (2013, August 3). Make health last – Heart & Stroke Foundation – health awareness [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzu8BFDY9Tg&ab_channel =society%26social

The silver tsunami. (2010, February 6). The Economist. 2010/02/04/the-silver-tsunami