Older people who have negative views about their aging live on average 7.5 years less than people with positive attitudes. In fact, they walk more slowly, experience memory problems and recover less fully from a fall or fracture, among other things. Their attitude literally pulls them down.
And yet, how can older people help feeling negative, especially given how pervasive ageism is in the worldwide culture? In the “World Values Survey” analyzed by the World Health Organization, 60 percent of respondents reported that older people are not respected. The lowest levels of respect came from the highest income countries.
New York Times reporter Frank Bruni saw ageism in action when he met Nancy Root on a cruise. Despite her high intellect, curiosity and determination, she was alienated by others. It’s a compelling story and shows ageism (and disability) in action.
According to experts, we start developing attitudes toward aging at age 6. You know some of the stereotypes: Older folks walk slower, can’t hear as well and so on. Of course, you can’t apply a blanket canvas to older people any more than you can to any group of people. But there’s more.
Princeton University researchers uncovered what they call “Prescriptive Prejudice.” It happens in three areas.
— Consumption: Older people shouldn’t consume so many scarce resources.
— Identity: Older people shouldn’t attempt to act younger than they are.
— Succession: Older people should move aside from high-paying jobs and prominent social roles to make way for younger people.
That first one, consumption, specifically cites the use of health care resources by older people as an issue for younger people. How ironic since older people naturally consume more health care.
[Read: Finding Support for Seniors Facing Challenges Living Alone.]
Health Care Does Not Get a Pass
While mostly compassionate and empathetic people work on the frontlines of health care, it doen’t make them immune to ageist attitudes.
The type and the amount of care people receive is impacted by attitude. Mistreating, over-treating, under-treating and misdiagnosing happens. Professionals often expect less improvement and slower recovery when in fact, every person is different.
Next Avenue says that there’s something called longevity inequality. The way people age is heavily affected by their socioeconomic status — level of education, access to care, city of residence and more. This too leads to inadequate or inappropriate medical care.
[Read: Malnutrition: It’s Not Always What You Think.]
What You Can Do
Embrace your age. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Cathy Bollinger, the managing director of Embracing Aging York County (PA) Community Foundation. She was one of four witnesses selected to present testimony at the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging in May 2017. She told me that we first need to embrace our age at any age, and she has a process for that: Stand in front of a mirror, say your real age and declare that “I am the perfect age for me today!”
I use this when speaking to health care groups, and everyone gladly participates because in a group setting, when you shout out your age, it gets drowned out in the noise.
Cathy suggests that, as you look in the mirror, you consider the following: “My worth is not gauged by what I still do or what I can’t do. It is not measured by what I look like. My worth is based on my whole story, the person that I am.”
Speak up. It’s been said that older people have not taken the stand that disability advocates have done for years with the mantra of “Nothing about us without us.”
Speak up when you notice something. Monitor the media. Talk about aging. Be mindful of the aging narrative, and educate your younger friends and family members on the issues.
Develop a positive attitude. You can start with embracing your age, but also consider the impact of positivity. Becca Levy, a Yale professor, conducted a 2016 study in which researchers exposed older adults to subliminal positive messages about aging several times over the course of a month, and it improved their mobility and balance.
What Society Can Do
Check your thoughts, words and actions. What messages are you sending about aging? Do you immediately assume things when you meet an older person? Do you say “You look great for your age” to someone who surprises you when they say their age and you were expecting them to be much younger? Gotcha!
Get to know older folks. How much do you really hang with older folks? Maybe a volunteer stint in a senior community can expose you to the nuances. Consider that some progressive assisted living communities offer free room and board to younger people in exchange for services such as providing music and entertainment. The more you know, the less likely you are to stereotype. Most importantly, put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel about the way older people are treated if it was you being treated that way?
Join the global campaign. In May 2016, the World Health Assembly called on the Director-General to develop a global campaign to combat ageism and implement the WHO Global Strategy and Action Plan on Aging and Health. One initiative that came from this is the International Day of Older Persons.
At a time when older people should be mentors and sages, we relegate them to has-beens and liabilities. This impacts planning at all levels of society and discourages younger people from pursing careers having to with the aging field, only exacerbating problems.
[Read: Aging Parents at a Distance Who Aren’t Really ‘Just Fine.’]
We are, after all, all perfect for the age we are. Let’s just start acting it.
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Battling Pervasive Ageism originally appeared on usnews.com
