The Ageing Translator

The Ageing Translator Logo - Dark Blue Text With Gold Typewriter to the Right of Ageing and Gold Branch with Leaves to the Left of Translator

The Ageing Translator has aspirations of grandeur. At the moment it is merely a blog and just involves me, with occasional input from colleagues, and my husband, as I prefer to run my translation work past at least one more pair of eyes.

Yet The Ageing Translator hopes to grow over time and will aim to provide a wider service. No more spoiler alerts though. Just watch this space.

Well, perhaps one little spoiler alert. Hopefully, one day part of its business profits will help improve care for some older adults in need. I am not saying that all older adults are in need. Far from it. However, there are some, and The Ageing Translator hopes to one day do its bit to help.

End of spoiler alert. 

Why, Why, Why, … and Why?

You cannot be in business for long these days without someone telling you that you have to “know your why” and tell your potential clients about it. 

So, why The Ageing Translator?

Because:

  • every older person should be treasured, respected and empowered to live well and flourish;
  • we are all growing older and need to improve the outlook for older adults, today and for all our futures;
  • no older person in need should be without support, funds or care at home or overseas.

Those of you who are learning to blog (like me!) will also have learnt that a blog has to have a purpose. So, having tried to find at least one, here is a small handful.

I originally launched this site:

  • to show you whether I know something about issues that interest you;
  • to introduce you to the way I think about life;
  • to acquaint you with my ageing journey and encourage you to think about yours;
  • to offer you a taste of my writing style and the breadth of my vocabulary.

My belief is that to collaborate well, our values and working styles should be aligned. I hope you agree. As you read these pages, please consider whether my musings reflect your own spirit, values and concerns. If you are then still interested in working with me, please do drop me a line to introduce yourself.

Three More Whys

As time has gone on, I have realised that my original plans for this blog were not enough. I now feel it important to help research, innovation and the care sector improve older people’s lives. My dream is to grow The Ageing Translator into a company that can have a much bigger impact, and to inspire others to join in. It is early days, but it is always at the forefront of my mind. If you care about older people too, please help the dream become reality.

So, The Ageing Translator business has some specific whys as well. 

  • It seeks to support academics and businesses who are working towards improving later life: for you, for the people you love, for the people I love, and for me. And for the people that none of us knows. This is about all of us.
  • It helps companies silverise their products and services in UK English. Older adults can be very discerning consumers and marketing has to reflect their values and tone of voice. 
  • It plans to plough a proportion of the business profits into improving care for older people in need, especially British citizens who find themselves between countries and are unable to access help. Perhaps even citizens from other countries in a similar predicament. It depends how big we grow.

Why Am I Inspired to Follow This Dream?

  • I genuinely love older people and enjoy their company. A number of my close relatives lived into their eighties and nineties, and I have always had much older friends and wonderful older role models.
  • I was surprised when I started reading that we are now an ageing long-lived society. That has always been my reality, so I am well-equipped to help.
  • Some of my relatives worked in their late eighties and early nineties, as did an inspiring boss I worked for when I was in my twenties. 
  • I have always worked in intergenerational teams and believe in them wholeheartedly. 
  • I have supported older adults in hospital and community settings for over 20 years.
  • In the midst of the Covid pandemic, and the worsened UK care crisis, I have had to arrange care and offer remote support to a British relative, Ethel (not her real name). She is in her late eighties and lives in Greece, whereas I currently live in the UK. I have learnt first-hand how challenging arranging and overseeing care can be, how much technology can help, and how many problems families face when trying to care remotely. My personal and professional experience had not prepared me for the extent of the difficulties. If I can do anything to help others find it easier, I will.