Let’s Fight Ageism!

“You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt, as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear, as young as your hope, as old as your despair”. Douglas Macarthur

I have been feeling pretty good about aging lately: positive, looking forward to the journey ahead, especially motivated by my Israeli trip with adventure seeking 60 year olds.

Something happened last week that stopped me in my tracks. I had my twice yearly ophthalmologist check-up. (Because I was so nearsighted from the age of three, my optic nerves are large, which could be a precursor to glaucoma). So far so good, but I digress. Now that you are on the edge of your seat, here is what happened.

The millennial assistant was doing the pre-testing for my meeting with the doctor. She was honey this and sweetie that, and finally told me to go sit in the big gray chair and wait for the doctor. I have been going to the eye doctor my entire life and am very familiar with which chair is for the patient. This young woman spoke to me as if I were in kindergarten.

I may have silver hair, but my brain cells are still in tact, thank God. I don’t believe the woman meant any harm or that she was even aware that she was treating me in such a condescending manner, but I was very upset. I wanted to speak to her about it, but didn’t know quite what to say. I left feeling uncomfortable and decided to do some research on this whole ageist thing.

Immediately, I found examples of ageist speech and behaviors that are so common and well meaning that we may not even think much about them, but we should!

Birthday parties featuring black balloons and crepe paper with cards and gifts making fun of age, e.g. you old fart, dirty old man etc.

Commenting “you look good for your age”.

Describing minor forgetfulness as “senior moments”. More about that later…..

Commenting, “you’re still dancing (going to the gym, doing Zumba, wearing leggings). Aren’t you too old for that?

Health care providers and service people patronizing older people. Bingo!

What exactly is ageism? According to the World Health Organization, it is the stereotyping and discrimination against individuals and groups on the basis of their age; it can take many forms including prejudicial attitudes, discriminatory practices or instituting policies and practices that perpetuate these stereotypical beliefs.

Research suggests ageism may be more prevalent than sexism and racism. (Remember that every day 10,000 Americans turn 65 with numbers expected to rise as mortality rates decline).

Today’s society treats older people unfairly, lumping all age 65 and up into a group of old, frail, forgetful and sickly beings separate from the rest of society. Ageism has deeply permeated our culture. This has serious consequences for older people and for society at large.

However,most Americans and even older adults are not aware of ageism. Some older adults even accept that the discrimination they face is a normal part of being in the last stage of living (How terrible!)

Specifically, ageism in health care is adversely affecting our older adults and our society. According to the Journal of General Internal Medicine, one in five older adults experience age discrimination in ways described as follows:

Practitioners belittle gerontology and geriatrics as a profession. Negative thinking about working with this population hinders doctors from practicing in these areas ( why do you want to hear about aches and pains and constipation all day)

Undertreating older patients (it’s normal to be depressed because you are old; lumping all complaints into normal signs of aging) or over medicating is the opposite problem.

Ageist talk in the health care setting.

Lack of communication between doctor and patient. Doctors who engage in “elder speak” which is similar to baby talk with high pitched exaggerated tones and volume. (Talking down to patients assuming all are deaf and stupid). Or speaking to a third party in the room (an adult child, for example) as if the patient is not there. The indignity of it all!

Older adults who have a negative attitude toward aging can affect their health; they may live 7.5 years less than those with positive views. Ageism has been shown to cause cardiovascular stress, lower levels of self efficacy and decreased productivity.

What can we do to combat this type of discrimination. We need to change the focus. Aging should be considered in society as both a personal and shared resource and opportunity. This rethinking would allow us to view older Americans as central rather than marginal participants in our collective life as a nation. One study recommends developing informational tools and ways to help society reframe or change our understanding of the aging process. Changing the way we see aging, eg that developing dementia does not reflect normal aging.

We need to counter the outdated concepts of older people as burdens and acknowledge the wide diversity of experience in this population. We need communication campaigns in the media as a starting point.

For example, publicize the story of Grandma Joy, an 89 year old who visited 29 U.S. national parks with her grandson Brad, and who has no intention of stopping.

Highlight Road Scholar programs which attract travelers who are “lifelong learners typically,over 50 from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. Students of the world, they are the guests you hope to sit next to at a dinner party. They have led interesting lives because they are interested in everything”.

The people I met on my trip to Israel were active, robust, healthy and inquisitive. There were no complaints about aches and pains or forgetfulness despite the fact that one couple was in their mid eighties. With their walking sticks, they kept up even at the Dead Sea where the weather was 106 degrees.

“So, the next time you find yourself standing in a room wondering what you came in for, do not say “I’m having a senior moment”. Cognitive decline is not a part of getting older. (You are probably experiencing mental overload from trying to juggle too many tasks and not getting enough quality sleep). Words are powerful. Don’t talk yourself into believing your brain is mush. Adopt an ageless and healthy mindset so that you can program your cells to be ageless and healthy too!” Dr. Christiane Northrop, Goddesses Never Age

Resources

www.roadscholar.org

www.seniorliving.org

Dangers of Ageism in Health Care Settings by Dr. Karen Ouchida and Dr. Mark Lam

Goddesses Never Age by Christiane Northrop, M.D.