Tips from ODSW Oct 2017: Ageism

Ageism -The Hidden Prejudice- Ill and Frail Dependant poor cognitive ability Not adaptable Child-like Burden on resources -What Reinforces Ageism?- Cultural emphasis on speed, mobility and change in the working world causes people to believe that the elderly do not have a place in the workforce. Positive associations with youth and negative associations with growing old, popularised through advertising and products to hide the signs of ageing. Young adults may speak to the elderly using "baby talk" and overaccommodation (excessive politeness, louder and slower speech, exaggerated intonation). "The elderly are not competitive in the workforce - they are a burden on resources." "Everyone knows the elderly are frail and slow - it's not a stereotype." "The elderly are so sweet and vulnerable - they are dependant on our care." -What are the Implications?- Employment Medical treatment Difficulty finding a job even when they retain high cognitive capability. Health professionals may assume that the elderly are stubborn and unable to change their behaviour, resulting in real mental health problems going unrecognised. WEll-being Longevity A study found that older adults exposed to positive stereotypes have significantly better memory and balance whereas those with negative self-perceptions had worse memory and feelings of w o r t h l e s s n e s s (Levy, Slade, Kunkel & Kasl, 2002). A study on 660 people found that those with more positive self- perceptions of ageing lived 7.5 years longer than those with negative self-perceptions of ageing (Levy, Slade, Kunkel & Kasl, 2002). Created by: MSF Office of the Director of Social Welfare | 2017 Adapted from: Addler, T. (2013). Ageism: Alive and Kicking. Retrieved from http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/ageism- alive-and-kicking#.WKJ-GbZ97LY Dittmann, M. (2003). Fighting Ageism. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/may03/fighting.aspx Levy B.R., Slade M. D., Kunkel S.R. & Kasl S.V. (2002). Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12150226. Nelson, T. D. (2011). Ageism: The Strange Case of Prejudice Against the Older You. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-4419-6293-5_2.