Using words
Guide fights ageism through language .
By Elise Hartevelt
An advocacy group has released a new manual for aged care workers to help reduce the impact of ageism on residents .
The guide from EveryAGE Counts hopes to assist workers in preventing and addressing ageist attitudes affecting older people through language .
Ageism is stereotyping against people based on their age and negatively affects people ’ s health , reducing someone ’ s life expectancy by up to 7.5 years .
EveryAGE Counts advocacy campaigner Joel Pringle says age stereotyping erodes unity between generations and devalues the acknowledgement of people as a person .
“ Ageist attitudes stem from our own fear of becoming older ,” Pringle says .
“ We respond by distancing ourselves from that idea of ‘ becoming older ’,
22 agedcareinsite . com . au and we project that negativity onto older people .
“ But those fears are generally based on myths about what older life looks like .”
From age four , we become aware of stereotyping through mediums such as language , which guides our feelings and behaviour towards people of other generations .
Pringle says people tend to falsely believe they ’ ll lose control and agency over their minds and bodies as they age .
For example , people who think loneliness , depression and poor health are normal aspects of ageing are less likely to seek medical help , exacerbating their condition .
Controversially , people with positive beliefs about ageing are at a smaller risk of developing age-related diseases like dementia .
“ Ageist attitudes
stem from our own fear .
“ When we believe in these myths , we ’ ve lowered our own expectations of life ,” Pringle says .
“ We might not push for health treatment we otherwise have a right to , or we won ’ t be as active and engaged in our community .
“ That ’ s all because of the transfer of attitudes from people around us to ourselves – and that ’ s where aged care workers can interrupt that process .”
EveryAGE Counts says ageism is the main driver behind failures , including neglect and abuse cases , in aged care settings .
So , the guide was created to take ‘ ageism out of aged care ’ and provide directions on what language to use best when interacting with older people .
For example , when referring to older people , they suggest it ’ s best not to use phrases such as ‘ the elderly ’ or ‘ the aged ’. Pringle says language is never neutral and that the way we talk about and interact with older people matters .
“ Despite our best intentions , we can all fall into the trap of ageist language by some social attitudes that we ’ ve absorbed ,” he explains .
“ If we are aware of it , we can actually use our language to undermine ageism and improve older people ’ s lives .”
The language guide was developed in collaboration with one of Australia ’ s major health networks Brisbane North PHN and not-for-profit aged care association healthy @ home consortium . In their research , EveryAGE Counts found ageism was most prevalent in aged care , healthcare , workplace and community settings . But Pringle says age stereotyping is a persistent phenomenon that is ‘ deeply ingrained in our society .’
A 2021 study found that 90 per cent of Australians believed ageism existed in society , of which 83 per cent agreed it was a problem .
Over 60 per cent of people reported they experienced this form of prejudice in the past five years .
Pringle hopes the guide will clarify and improve understanding of how ageism affects people of all ages .
“ Ageism hasn ’ t necessarily been increasing , but awareness of ageism has ,” he says . ■