Ageism

Have you ever noticed how some individuals love to clump people into a box or category?  I can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve told people that I work with seniors and they respond with some gross generalization, lumping all seniors and mature families into one big homogeneous bunch.  ”Don’t you just find that they are so… “And what follows can be flattering, or unintentionally not so flattering, but in any event it is stereotyping.  Stereotyping has the potential to lead to discrimination which if done, on the basis of age, constitutes ageism.

The percentage of seniors in our society is growing at an unprecedented rate, yet we seem to live in a youth-obsessed culture.  This obsession with youth affects how older adults are viewed as well as how older adults view themselves.  It is challenging to find films and magazines that depict attractive, purposeful seniors yet any grocery/drug store check out is packed with scantily clad, teeny types being quoted about how to live  fuller, happier lives with flat abs and a tight bottom – like they’ve had years to defy gravity or to face life’s challenges!  Sadly, most of us are never taught that there is beauty in smile lines or silver hair.  We, as a society tend to perpetuate the misconception that youth trumps experience, acquired skills, maturity and life lessons which is perplexing because down deep I believe we all know differently (I hope we do).

Stereotypes people hold have a way of seeping out and alienating those around them.  You know what I’m talking about – those back handed compliments such as “You look so good for your age” or my favourite “I hope I look that good when I’m her age” to which I’m thinking “sister, you don’t look that good now!”  These types of comments are generally intended as compliments and most seniors choose to graciously accept them as such.  However there are times when people’s insensitivity and perhaps ignorance goes too far, resulting in unfair prejudices.  Recently I heard someone, who thinks of herself as a seniors’ advocate, say that she will just hang up her car keys when she turns 80 as most people over age 80 probably shouldn’t be on the road – What? – How outrageous a statement is that?  What if you still have places to go and people to see and things to get done?  The issue at hand is one of ability – not of age!

What about reports of physicians not investigating symptoms or concerns of seniors because they are all too comfortable attributing the symptoms to aging thus they either do nothing at all or all too quickly write out a prescription.  This is a serious matter as people may not receive appropriate diagnosis and intervention for a treatable condition or disease.  Consider too, the assumption that seniors are old fashioned, rooted in the past and unable to change. These beliefs are so limiting.  Sadly, I have had seniors say “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” to which I respond “Oh yes you can”.  We know that improving ones lifestyle in terms of diet, exercise, engagement and cognitive stimulation can positively impact a senior’s health and well-being (just as it would anyone else).  Again, it is a matter of human need not age!

There are many hypotheses as to why ageism exists but perhaps the one which seems to be the most common and widely cited is directly correlated with our society’s fear of growing older.   Like most prejudices we create and exaggerate differences between ourselves and others thereby creating distances (a comfort buffer) so that we do not have to acknowledge that we are all the same.  With ageism it seems we are insulating ourselves from the fact that a long life leads to old age and ultimately death.  Unlike other “isms” (such as racism and sexism) ageism is not static, thus everyone may eventually be subjected to ageism.  So what better argument could there be for stopping to think before we make comments about our older citizens for as we all know it is only a matter of time…