The Brookhouse Home works often with AgeSpan (formerly North Shore and Merrimack Valley Elder Services) and we are always interested in any new information on an important topic – ageism. Very recently, we were impressed by their new fact sheet on the topic of ageism, something every elder person has experienced.
Rethinking Age and Ageism was researched by the Healthy Living Center for Excellence and Point 32 Health
and offers a few reminders of what and how to handle ageism as an elderly person. Here are the facts according to the fact sheet provided by AgeSpan.
What is Ageism?
Ageism is stereotypes (how we think), discrimination (how we act), and prejudice (how we feel) towards others or ourselves based on age.
Why is Ageism Harmful?
Ageism has a detrimental impact on all aspects of our health and quality of life. Ageism is embedded into our systems
and policies and takes an economic toll on individuals and society. Ageism has been normalized in our society; from a young age we form negative thoughts associated with aging.
Self-directed ageism is when you internalize a negative attitude toward aging or your own age group. This creates a deep sense of self-doubt and an overall negative perception of yourself. You might start to believe that your best years are behind you or that you’re becoming a burden on your family. Maybe when you lose an item or forget a name, you blame it on your age. Or perhaps you blame your sedentary lifestyle habits on your age. This only reinforces your self-directed ageism and gives other people more reason to believe the stereotypes.
Institutional ageism is when social norms, practices, and rules are unfair to older adults. A workplace that insists workers retire at a specific age is an example of institutional ageism. In some cases, ageism is so embedded in institutions that it may be hard to spot. For example, in the medical field, older adults are often underrepresented in health research and clinical trials. In the mental health field, professionals may receive less training on how to work with older patients.
Ageism in the workplace can be particularly prevalent in the workplace, where it can affect everything from your financial security to your mental health. According to a 2020 survey, 78 percent of older workers either witnessed or experienced age discrimination while at work.
Ageism can also combine with sexism and racism and create compounding consequences. For example, older women of color face age, race, and sex discrimination in their personal lives as well as institutionalized disadvantages in areas like housing and healthcare.
Whatever situation you’re facing, it’s important to remember that you’re not powerless and you can take steps to counter the negative effects of discrimination.
What Does Ageism Sound Like?
• I’m having a senior moment
• I’m too old to try that
• Young man, you look so good for your age
• Those aches and pains are because of your age
• With those wrinkles and gray hair, you’ll never get that job
Another Reason for Rethinking Age? Aging Is Changing
Americans are living longer, working, and volunteering later in life, and we need to stop limiting the opportunities for older adults in our communities.
What Can I Do to Promote Rethinking Age?
The National Center to ReFrame Aging created an initiative to combat ageism by changing the way we talk about aging, our words matter. Here are some suggestions:
• Explain what ageism is and how it works
• Use inclusive language such as older adults and avoid terms that stoke stereo- types such as “seniors” and “the elderly.”
• Avoid focusing on the negatives of the aging experience (silver-tsnumani, anti-aging) and focus on the full experience of living
