Agesim & Myths and facts
about older adults
Process of systemic stereotyping and
discrimination against people because
they are old (Robert Butler ,1969).
or
Any prejudice or discrimination
against or in favor of an age group
(Palmor, 1990)
Ageism has been
identified as the third
major form of
discrimination in our
society after racism and
sexism.
Myths
Illness
Uselessness
Poverty
Isolation
Depression
Mental decline
None of us is fully and
completely capable at any
point in our lives.
Myths
Illness
Sick or disabled
Spend much time on bed
Poor coordination
Developed infections
Having more acute illness than
younger
Facts
78% are involved in normal activities
43% have chronic illness limit their
activity
10% elder having fewer acute illness
than do younger
About one third of the muscle mass is
loss by age 80
All five of the senses decline in older
age.
Ugliness
Beauty is associated with
youth
Fear the loss of beauty.
Facts
Depends on culture
In some cultures the youth is
beauty
In some other cultures tend to
admire the characteristics of old
age.
Mental decline
Begin to decline from middle
age onward
Abilities of learning and
remember decline
Cognitive impairments is
inevitable part of aging process
Facts
Most elders retain their abilities of
learning and remember
10% have mild to moderate mental
impairments
significant learning and memory
problem are due to illness not of
aging .
uselessness
Majority are disabled by physical or
mental illness
Unable to continue working
Compulsory
retirement ,discrimination in hiring,
retraining and promotion
facts
Work as efficiently as
younger workers
Intellectual performance
does not decline until the
70s
Isolation
The majority are isolated and
lonely
The majority lives alone
The loneliness is very serious
problem
Facts
Majority are not socially isolated
2/3 live with their spouse
4% of elders are extremely isolated
Close relatives are within easy
visiting distance and contact
between them are relatively frequent
Poverty
Most elders are poor
Facts
Most elders have income well above
the poverty level
Majority are property holders
Joint family system
Depression
Majority are depressed
Because they are
sick ,poor ,useless and lonely
Facts
Depression is less prevalent in elders
than younger persons
Succeed are the highest of all age
groups
Depression is issue for this
population .
In many cultures as well as in vari0us
religions, older adults are accorded positions
of respect and authority.
The council of elders in various churches is a
positive image, implying a knowledgeable,
decision-making group.
And, in many native American cultures,
elders are viewed in much the same way,
commanding the respect of the tribe and
dispensing wisdom collected through the
years.
Older adults, themselves, can be guilty of
ageism, conditioned through experience or
observation of societal trends and behavior to
expect, and then accept the words attributed
to them as they age.
Unfortunately, as Rodin and Langer have
shown, continued labeling decreases feelings
of self-worth and brings about negative
changes in behavior.
Real losses occur all around
older adults by virtue of their life
stage, e.g., loss of spouse; loss of
friends; loss of home, and in
some cases, even loss of
children.
These changes are adjustments
in life that older adults can
expect to occur as their
There are two competing views of aging and
as a result potential sources for ageism:
“The ancient Greeks had two views
of aging- the “geronte”- the ridiculous
old person with cognitive and other
declines and the “presbyte”- the wise
old person rich in experience and
wisdom.”
Class activity
How you’ll fight the myths and stereotypes of
ageism?
No matter that gray hair is more an expression
of your family’s genome than your chronological
age.
Who cares if most wrinkles are a result of sun
exposure than your year of birth?
Kyphosis — more often labeled with the ageist
phrase “widow’s hump” — is my best current
example. Between lack of exercise and an
addiction to smartphones and tablets, we’ll all
end up permanently hunched over and kyphotic
at about age 25 or 30. Yup. It’s called text neck .
The implicit ageism of self-stereotyping often
only appears as an incidental “Oh, I’m too old
for ……….”
