Is society ageist?

Our society often holds negative stereotypes about older adults, which are evident in language, media, and humour. Common phrases like "over the hill" and "don't be an old fuddy-duddy" depict aging as a period of weakness and incompetence. This bias against older individuals is termed "ageism."

Ageism is defined as any attitude, action, or societal structure that marginalizes individuals or groups based on age or assigns roles purely on age. Ageism reflects a societal prejudice against older adults.

However, ageism differs from other forms of prejudice, like sexism and racism, in two keyways. First, age classification is dynamic, changing as one progresses through life, unlike fixed categories like race and gender. Second, nearly everyone will experience ageism unless they die prematurely, affecting individuals on two levels: they may stereotype others based on age, and they may internalize ageist attitudes affecting their self-concept.

A substantial amount of research has been conducted on ageism, but the empirical evidence is inconclusive due to methodological differences and errors. Several methodological issues in ageism research are worth discussing.

First, a prevalent problem in ageism research is a mono-method bias, where each study employs only one method to define ageism. This singular focus on age highlights age differences in the subject's mind and leads to the discovery of age-related disparities.

Second, many studies on ageism use predominantly younger populations to investigate ageist attitudes. These studies often focus on children, adolescents, or young adults, rather than the older adults who are most affected by ageism. Furthermore, the few studies that involve older subjects often use institutionalized individuals, who do not represent the broader population of older adults.

Additionally, ageism research tends to concentrate on negative stereotypes of old age, disregarding more recent findings that suggest increasingly positive attitudes. Nevertheless, these attitudes remain stereotypical, including positive stereotypes that are rarely studied.

Two theoretical issues are also prevalent in ageism research. Firstly, there is a lack of exploration into the root causes of ageism, despite significant theoretical work in this area. Empirical research is needed to understand these contributing factors better. Secondly, ageism research often neglects to examine the interactions between ageism and other forms of prejudice. As many individuals may experience multiple prejudices simultaneously, it is essential to investigate how these prejudices interact with each other.

What age is old?

 I don’t think about my age and so I am surprised when other people go out of their way to mention their age. I was talking with a man the other day and out of nowhere (or my mind might have wandered), he said he was 70 and felt pretty good for his age. I agreed and continued the conversation, but I noticed that many people tend to want me to know their age. I am not sure if it is because they are proud or because I have white hair and so they are trying to figure out how old I am.

When old age starts may also partly depend on how you view ageing. What age do you think counts as middle age? Forty to 60? Fifty to 70? Somewhere in between? It probably won't surprise you to learn that the answer people give to this question depends on how old they are at the time they are asked it.

When half a million people completed an online questionnaire in 2018 the participants who were in their 20s and 30s said on average that middle age began at 40, while old age started at 62. By contrast, the over-65s didn't think old age began until the age of 71. I think, if you ask someone who is in their 80s old age does not start until you are in your 90s.

It's evident what is going on here. No one really likes to think of themselves as getting older, so if you are 60 you relish articles that proclaim that 60 is the new 50. Likewise, people in their 70s are buoyed by suggestions that with advances in nutrition and health care they are barely out of middle age. Also, we tend to want to disassociate ourselves from any group that is stigmatized. This means we resist being designated as old when we see elderly people portrayed as frail, sedentary, ill and even a burden on society

Of course, old age is a reality and older people should be treated with respect and dignity. If you refuse to consider yourself is this delusional In fact, it turns out it might be a sensible strategy, one that can be self-fulfilling and life-enhancing.

In 2003, the researchers carried out a wide-ranging study in which participants were again asked the question: when does old age start? Answers varied of course, but what they found was that those people who thought old age began earlier were more likely to have had a heart attack, to be suffering from heart disease or to be in poor physical health generally when they were followed up six to nine years later.

So, how could the number you give to old age starting possibly have this great an impact on your health?

One idea is that the answer to the simple question of when old age starts actually provides a lot more information about a person than you might think. It might be, for instance, that the question prompts people to think about their own physical health, and if they have underlying health issues or a poor lifestyle, they might not feel that well and are moved to think old age is coming sooner.

People who think old age starts later in life may be more conscious about their health and fitness

People who say that old age sets in at an earlier age may also be more fatalistic and less likely to seek help for medical conditions or to adopt healthier routines, believing that decline is inevitable. They may, for instance, assume that older people are frail and so deliberately start walking more slowly and taking it easy when this is exactly what they shouldn't be doing for the sake of their physical and mental health. 

I believe it is better to have a positive attitude about ageing. I also believe that anyone who is 10 years older than me is starting to get old. I believed that when I was 20, 30 40 and I believe it today. Old is a state of mind, so stay young at heart and enjoy the time you have here. As a friend of mine says to me "It is better than the alternative."

Ageing in Place in Canada, thinking about your community and getting around

 Thinking about your community

The type of community you live in can also impact your ability to live independently.

Age-friendly communities encourage seniors and other residents to stay active and engaged, and make it easy to do so with features such as well-maintained sidewalks and benches, accessible buildings, and good public transportation.

Age-friendly communities also provide seniors with access to essential supports and services such as shopping, health care providers and recreational activities. Many communities in British Columbia have a designation as “Age-Friendly” but that designation must be taken with a grain of salt. Many communities that claim to be age-friendly are only partially so. Here are some questions to ask about your community or any community that claims to be “age-friendly.”

•                    How age-friendly is my community?

•                    What supports and services are there in my community to meet my needs and help me maintain my independence as I age?

•                    Do I need to consider moving to a community with more services?

•                    Am I close to the support and services that I need now and may need in the future?

•                    What assistance may I be eligible for from governments or helping agencies?

Getting around

Being able to get to appointments, shopping and recreational activities is an important part of being as independent as possible. For many people, this involves driving.

Planning for independence includes thinking about what to do when you are ready to, or must, retire from driving.

Many people outlive the ability to drive safely due to medical conditions that are more common as they age. It is important to consider how you will get around if you are no longer able to drive. It is also important to start thinking about other transportation options available in your community such as public transit, taxis, low-cost transportation services, Uber or Lyft, or family and friends.

Share your views on ageism with the government of Canada through an online questionnaire  This link will open a new tab in your browser. The questionnaire is a chance for you to provide your point of view anonymously. It should take 20 to 30 minutes to complete(External link)

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.        As I age, can I get to the services that I need and the activities that I enjoy?

•        Am I aware of my medical conditions that could impact my ability to drive?

•         Am I aware of the signs that suggest I may need to consider retiring from driving? Do I know where to go to test my driving ability?

•        If I am no longer able to drive, do I have access to reliable and affordable alternatives in my community?

•        Will the cost of alternative transportation be more or less than owning my own vehicle? 

Tips to live longer

 Here are some tips on h to make it to 100 and a half

1.     Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight, and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."

2.     Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3.     Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer’s.

4.     Enjoy the simple things.

5.     Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6.     The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive.

7.     Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8.     Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9.     Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country but not to where the guilt is.

10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

And always remember:

Life not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. - Author Unknown

How Old Are You?

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we were kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you are so excited about aging that you think in fractions: “I'm four and a half!" You're never 36 and a half, you are four and a half going on five! That’s the key.

Then you hit your teens, and now they can't hold you back. You jump a few months ahead or a few years ahead.

“I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of becoming 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony You BECOME 21. YES!

You turn 30. Ooh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He turned; we had to throw him out. He is no fun now; you're just a sour dumpling know What's changed?

You become 21, you turn 30, then you're pushing 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you reach 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait! You make it to 60. You didn't think you would! So, you become 21, turn 30, push 40, reach 50 and make it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you hit 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you hit Wednesday!

You get into your 8os, and every day is a complete cycle; you hit lunch; you turn 4:30; you reach bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards. "I was just 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!

            May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half."