Ageism Attitudes And Combating It.

Ageism is a term coined to describe the stereotyping of, and discrimination against, people based on old age. Negative perceptions and assumptions about older persons remain deeply ingrained and overwhelmingly common in societies all around the world. These prejudices devalue older persons depicting them as frail, non-contributors and a burden to society.

Ageing is a natural part of human life, which cannot be reversed or slowed down. With time, not only one’s age changes, his/her attitude and the world/society’s attitude towards them changes too. According to United Nations (UN), Rosemary Lane, Focal Point on Ageing in UN DESA’s Division for Social Policy and Development,

ETV Bharat Sukhibhava team spoke to Dr. Veena Krishnan, senior Psychologist, based in Dehradun, and she says that ageing is not a problem. But as we age, we go through certain phases in life like childhood, teenage, adulthood, etc. and each phase in life comes with certain issues and sometimes, people are not able to embrace them properly. As one age, he/she may lose trust, energy and willingness to live.

When we talk about the ageism, Dr. Krishnan says that as age increases, discrimination comes up. This can be most commonly seen at workplaces and other sectors of society, where people rant or taunt them and all such things are likely to affect a person’s mental health. While on one hand, the older population is slowing down, given their age, the younger generation on the other hand is impatient. The latter is in a constant race to quickly achieve things and is least bothered to learn from the former's experiences. So it can be seen as a challenge for older people to cope up with the world. Many companies are looking for young, energetic and versatile employees, who are ready to work for less and not for the old and experienced people, who will ask for more. Thus, the feeling of uselessness creeps in here.

Therefore, Dr. Krishnan says that it is important to make them feel like a part of society and not isolate them. The old population is gradually increasing and if such things are not catered to immediately, it can worsen the situations around the world. Depression and stress are the biggest challenges if we talk about mental health, regarding discrimination and ageing. This can further lead to other health issues like heart problems, diabetes, hypertension, etc. Hence, since it is all interlinked, focusing on Geriatric health, indulging them in activities and attending to their mental and physical health needs is important.

The UN’s report on Ageism states, “Both older and younger adults are often disadvantaged in the workplace and access to specialized training and education decline significantly with age. Ageism against younger people manifests across many areas such as employment, health, housing and politics where younger people’s voices are often denied or dismissed.

Ageism has serious and wide-ranging consequences for people’s health and well-being. Among older people, ageism is associated with poorer physical and mental health, increased social isolation and loneliness, greater financial insecurity, decreased quality of life and premature death. An estimated 6.3 million cases of depression globally are estimated to be attributable to ageism. It intersects and exacerbates other forms of bias and disadvantage including those related to sex, race and disability leading to a negative impact on people’s health and well-being.”

The Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030)

The World Health Organization (WHO) states, The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) is a global collaboration, aligned with the last ten years of the Sustainable Development Goals, that brings together governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live. Already, there are more than 1 billion people aged 60 years or older, with most living in low- and middle-income countries. Many do not have access to even the basic resources necessary for a life of meaning and of dignity. Many others confront multiple barriers that prevent their full participation in society.

There are 4-decade action areas, as mentioned by WHO, which are:

1. Age-friendly environment
2. Combating ageism
3. Integrated care
4. Long-term care

Combating Ageism

Rosemary Lane says, “We need a cultural shift that starts with stimulating debate on the pervasiveness of ageism, whether institutional or subtle, deliberate or unconscious, which has become an acceptable social norm. We need to foster the contributions and address the concerns of older persons by eliminating age barriers and combating ageism.

We, therefore, urge member States and the entire world to prioritise this issue and enact laws and regulations to strengthen the protection of the rights of older persons and to eliminate all forms of discrimination, abuse and violence against them, including ageism in employment, healthcare and other settings.

Promoting a positive image of ageing and of older persons through active engagement of the mass media, including recognition of the positive contributions made by older persons to their families, communities and society, should also accompany these efforts. At the same time, it is important for all of us to frankly confront our own biases and prejudices – to recognise and challenge them within ourselves. This will contribute to a collective shift in societal attitudes.”