What is ageism? Types, examples, and impact on health

Ageism is a systemic form of oppression against people of specific age groups. It affects older adults most severely but can also impact young ... MedicalNewsTodayHealthConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribeWhatisageism,andhowdoesitaffecthealth?MedicallyreviewedbyLaurenCastiello,MS,AGNP-C—WrittenbyZawnVillinesonNovember3,2021TypesExamplesAgeisminhealthcareImpactStoppingageismSummaryAgeismisprejudiceordiscriminationagainstpeoplebasedontheirage.Ittypicallyappliestopeoplewhoareolderbutcanalsoaffectyoungpeople.Ageismhasanegativeimpactonphysicalandmentalhealth,andreportslinkitwithearlierdeath.ThisinformationcomesfromtheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO).Ageismisasystemicformofoppression,butunlikeothercausesofinequity,suchasracism,sexism,orableism,anyonecanexperienceit.Althoughitisuniversal,peopledonotalwaystakeageismasseriouslyasotherformsofinequity.Inthisarticle,wewilllookattypesandexamplesofageism,itsimpactonhealth,andwaystoendageism.Typesofageism ShareonPinterestMarkoGeber/GettyImagesTherearemanywaystocategorizeageism.Termsthatdescribewhereageismtakesplaceinclude:institutionalageism,whichoccurswhenaninstitutionperpetuatesageismthroughitsactionsandpoliciesinterpersonalageism,whichoccursinsocialinteractionsinternalizedageism,whichiswhenapersoninternalizesageistbeliefsandappliesthemtothemselvesAgeismcanalsovaryaccordingtoasituation.Forexample,hostileageisminvolvessomeonehavingopenlyaggressivebeliefsaboutage,suchasthatteenagersareviolentordangerous.Bycontrast,benevolentageisminvolvessomeonehavingpatronizingbeliefstowardspeoplebasedontheirage,suchasthatolderadultsarechildlikeandrequireguidancewithbasictasks.Anotherwaytocategorizeageismdependsonwhetherapersonisconsciousofitornot.Iftheyare,thisisknownasexplicitageism.Iftheyarenotawareofit,thisisknownasimplicitageism.Forexample,ifadoctorunintentionallytreatsolderandyoungerpatientsdifferently,thiswouldbeimplicitageism.Datafromthe2020NationalPollonHealthyAgingfoundthat82%ofolderAmericansreportedexperiencingageismregularly.Thesurveyfoundthat:65%experiencedageistmessagesfromthemedia45%experiencedinterpersonalageism36%hadinternalizedageismExamplesofageism Ageismcomesinmanyforms.Someexamplesofageismintheworkplaceinclude:refusingtohirepeopleoverorunderacertainageaskingforsomeone’sageatajobinterviewwhenitisnotrelevanttotheworkenactingpoliciesthatunfairlyprivilegeoneagegroupoveranotherviewingolderpeopleasoutoftouch,lessproductive,orstuckintheirwaysviewingyoungerpeopleasunskilled,irresponsible,oruntrustworthybullyingorharassmentSomeexamplesthatappearinpersonalrelationshipsinclude:treatingfamilymembersasthoughtheyareinvisible,unintelligent,orexpendablebasedontheiragemakingageistjokesthatimplysomeoneislessvaluableorlessworthyofrespect,basedontheiragemakingoffensivegeneralizationsaboutaspecificgeneration,e.g.,thatmillennialsareentitleddisregardingsomeone’sconcernsorwishesduetotheiragetakingadvantageofsomeone’sageforpersonalgain,suchastomakemoneyusingsomeone’sageasjustificationtoundermine,deceive,orcontrolthemAgeismcanalsoleadtoabuse.TheWHOreportsthatin2017,areviewfoundthat1in6peopleovertheageof60experiencedsomeformofelderabuse,whichcanincludeemotional,physical,sexual,orfinancialabuse.AgeisminhealthcareAccordingtoa2019systematicreview,ageismiswidespreadinhealthcarearoundtheworld.Itaffectseveryaspectofhealthcare,fromdiagnosistoprognosis.Italsoinfluenceshealthcarepoliciesandworkplaceculture.InfantilizingpatientsAcommonwaythatbenevolentageismmanifestsinhealthcareisthroughbabytalk,whichinvolvestalkingtoolderadultsusingtheoversimplifiedlanguage,termsofendearment,orrhythmictoneofvoiceapersonmightuseforachild.A2021studyreferstothisas“elderspeak.”Whilepeopleoftenuseelderspeakinanattempttocommunicatemoreeffectivelywitholderadults,itispatronizingandcanreinforceunequalpowerdynamicsbetweencaregiversandpeopletheycarefor.Previousresearchalsosuggestsitcancreatebarriers,increasingresistancetocareinpeoplewhohavedementia.InaccurateperceptionofagingA2017studycitesalackofknowledgeaboutagingasoneofthereasonsageismexistsinhealthcare.Forexample,olderstudieshavefoundthatdoctorsarelesslikelytoreferolderpeoplewithsuicidalthoughtsformentalhealthtreatment,basedontheideathatthisisa“logical”experienceinolderage.Thiscanhaveseriousconsequences.Inaccurateideasaboutagingcanalsoleadtoinappropriatemedicalcare.Forexample,assumingthatanolderpatientislessindependentthantheyreallyarecanresultintheunnecessaryuseofdiapersorbedrest.Thisultimatelymakespeoplemoredependentonothers.Lesscare,attention,andtreatmentThe2017studyalsonotesthatattitudestowardsagingcancontributetohealthcarestaffspendinglesstimewitholderpatients.Forexample,researchhasfoundthatageismwasassociatedwithshorter,lesseffective,andmoresuperficialcommunicationfromnurses.Thestudy’sreportonsocialworkersinhealthcaresettingsfoundtheyspentlesstimewitholderpeoplewhohavecancercomparedwithyoungerpeople.Italsofoundthatdoctorsarelesspatient,lessrespectful,andlessinvolvedwiththecareofolderpeople.Thisresultsinunfairdifferencesintreatmentnotbasedonmedicalneeds.LowerlevelsofhealthInadditiontohowhealthcareteamstreatpeople,aperson’sownviewsaboutagemayimpacttheirhealth.Longitudinalstudiesofyoungeradultshavefoundthatageistbeliefswereassociatedwithhigherratesofcertaindiseasesastheyaged.Cardiovasculardisease,memoryimpairment,andlowerwilltolivewereallhigherinthisgroup.Thismaybebecausepeoplewhohaveageistbeliefsarelesslikelytolookaftertheirhealthormaintainhabitsthatreducetheriskofillnessinlaterlife.CoercionandviolenceBothyoungandolderpeoplemayfacecoercionorviolenceinhealthcareduetotheperceptionthattheirfeelingsdonotmatter.Staffmaytreatthemwithlesscompassionorforcethemtoundergoprocedures.Until2010,theAmericanAcademyofPediatricDentistry(AAPD)endorsedthepracticeofcontrollingchildreninthedentistchairbyusingatechniqueknownasthehandovermouthexercise(HOME).Thisinvolvesadentistplacingtheirhandoverthechild’smouthwhentheyarescaredoranxiousinordertophysicallyrestrainthem.ShortlyaftertheAAPDbannedthispractice,50%ofdentistsstillfeltitwasacceptable.However,therearenonphysicalwaysofmanagingpatientswithdentalanxiety,whichdentistsregularlyuseforchildrenandadults.Thissuggestsadifferenceinattitudesbasedonage.HowageismaffectseveryoneAgeismdoesnotonlyaffectindividuals—ithasfar-reachingconsequences.Theseinclude:Higherratesofillness:Ageismreducespeople’sphysicalandmentalhealth,increasingtheircareneedsandreducingqualityoflifeastheygetolder.Itisalsoassociatedwithrisk-takingbehaviors,suchassmoking,drinking,andanunhealthydiet.Higherhealthcarespending:AccordingtotheWHO,theUnitedStatesspendsbillionsofdollarsperyeartreatinghealthconditionsduetoageism.Poverty:Higherhealthcarecosts,aswellasalackofhealthinsurance,exacerbatespoverty.Thiscanbeespeciallydifficultforpeoplewhoareretired,whohavelosttheirpartnerorspouse,orwhocannotworkduetodisabilityorillness.Povertyalsoworsenshealth,creatingaviciouscycle.Lowerlifeexpectancy:Ageismisassociatedwithearlierdeath,causingadecreaseof7.5yearsonaverage.ThenumberofolderadultsintheU.S.isgrowing,makingageismanincreasinglyimportantissue.StoppingageismTheWHOstatestherearethreewaystocombatageism:educationtodispelmythsandstereotypesandraiseawarenessoftheimpactofageismintergenerationalinterventions,whichcreatecooperationandempathybetweenagegroupslawandpolicychanges,whichcanreduceinequityanddiscriminationTheseeffortsrequirecommitmentfromgovernmentsandinstitutions,astheyholdthemostpowertocreatechange.Onanindividuallevel,peoplecancontributetotheseeffortsbybeinganally.Allyshipinvolvesdedicatingpersonaltimeandenergytotakingactionagainstageismby:Becomingawareofageism:Reflectonhowageismshapesone’sownthoughts,feelings,andlifeexperiences.Learningaboutageism:Learnhowageismaffectsothersbylisteningtopersonalstories,readingbooks,andresearching.Developingskills:Learnaboutandpracticeadvocacyskills,suchasknowingwhentospeakupandwhentostepback.Takingaction:Putthisknowledgeintopractice.Trycorrectingageiststereotypes,challengingageistjokes,orspeakingoutagainstageistdiscrimination.Rememberthatthisdoesnotinvolverescuingpeople,butsupportingandadvocatingfortheminsituationswheretheyarestrugglingtobeheard.SummaryAgeismisasystemicformofoppressionagainstpeopleofspecificagegroups.Itaffectsolderadultsmostseverelybutcanalsoimpactyoungpeople.Itisbasedonprejudice,suchastheideathatallolderadultsareunintelligentoruncooperative,orthatyoungadultsarenotworthtakingseriously.Ageismiswidespreadinhealthcare,whichisespeciallyharmfulsinceolderpeoplearemorelikelytoneedmedicalcareastheyage.Thisleadstodiscrimination,lowerqualitycare,andpreventableillnessanddisability.Becausemostpeopleage,ageismisaformofinequitythataffectseverybody.Education,intergenerationalunderstandingandcooperation,andpolicychangearenecessarytoendit.Learnmoreaboutagingandhealthhere.LastmedicallyreviewedonNovember3,2021PublicHealthHealthEquity13sourcescollapsedMedicalNewsTodayhasstrictsourcingguidelinesanddrawsonlyfrompeer-reviewedstudies,academicresearchinstitutions,andmedicaljournalsandassociations.Weavoidusingtertiaryreferences.Welinkprimarysources—includingstudies,scientificreferences,andstatistics—withineacharticleandalsolistthemintheresourcessectionatthebottomofourarticles.Youcanlearnmoreabouthowweensureourcontentisaccurateandcurrentbyreadingoureditorialpolicy.Ageing:Ageism.(2021).https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/ageing-ageismAgeism:Conceptsandtheories.(n.d.).https://www.lco-cdo.org/en/our-current-projects/a-framework-for-the-law-as-it-affects-older-adults/older-adults-funded-papers/ageism-and-the-law-emerging-concepts-and-practices-in-housing-and-health/ii-ageism-concepts-and-theories/Ayalon,L.,etal.(2017).Takingacloserlookatageism:Self-andother-directedageistattitudesanddiscrimination.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5550624/Ben-Harush,A.,etal.(2017).Ageismamongphysicians,nurses,andsocialworkers:Findingsfromaqualitativestudy.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5550621/Elderabuse.(2021).https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/elder-abuseEverydayageismandhealth.(2020).https://www.healthyagingpoll.org/reports-more/report/everyday-ageism-and-healthFactsheet:Ageandsocioeconomicstatus.(n.d.).https://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/publications/ageJosé,J.M.S.S.,etal.(2019).Ageisminhealthcare:Asystematicreviewofoperationalconditionsandinductiveconceptualizations.https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/59/2/e98/3828302?login=trueMohammed,Y.M.,etal.(2019).Theassociationofageistattitudeswithall-causehospitalizationsandmortality.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893925/Oueis,H.M.,etal.(2010).AlternativesforhandovermouthexerciseafteritseliminationfromtheclinicalguidelinesoftheAmericanAcademyofPediatricDentistry.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20557706/Shaw,C.A.,etal.(2021).Understandingelderspeak:Anevolutionaryconceptanalysis.https://academic.oup.com/innovateage/article/5/3/igab023/6314228Whatisanally?(n.d.).https://www.nasco.coop/files/ally_packet.pdfYon,Y.,etal.(2017).Elderabuseprevalenceincommunitysettings:Asystematicreviewandmeta-analysis.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28104184/FEEDBACK:MedicallyreviewedbyLaurenCastiello,MS,AGNP-C—WrittenbyZawnVillinesonNovember3,2021LatestnewsAlzheimer'sstudycontroversy:Whatdoesitmeanforfutureresearch?NewstudyinvestigateswhichactivitiesaretiedtoalowerdementiariskScientistscompareskinpatchvs.needlevaccineagainstSARS-CoV-2variantsAbout5%ofadultsmayexperiencelong-termsmell,tastelossafterCOVID-19HIV:Fourth,andoldestpatientyetentersremissionaftercelltransplantRelatedCoverageMedicalmyths:AllaboutagingAspartofourseriesaddressingmedicalmyths,weturnourattentiontothemanymythsthatsurroundthe"inevitable"declineassociatedwithaging.READMOREHealthequity:Meaning,promotion,andtrainingMedicallyreviewedbyAlanaBiggers,M.D.,MPHFactorssuchasdiscriminationandlackofresourcescanpreventapersonfromachievingtheirbesthealth.Healthequityisanattempttoaddress…READMORERacisminhealthcare:WhatyouneedtoknowMedicallyreviewedbyAlanaBiggers,M.D.,MPHRacismaffectshealthcareinmanyways,makingitmoredifficultformarginalizedgroupstoaccessmedicaltreatmentintheUnitedStates.READMOREEffectsofgenderdiscriminationonhealthMedicallyreviewedbyKendraKubala,PsyDGenderdiscriminationharmsmentalandphysicalhealthinawiderangeofdirectandindirectways.Learnmoreandfindresourceshere.READMOREWhattoknowaboutmicroaggressionsAmicroaggressionisacommentoractionthatexpressesprejudiceagainstamarginalizedgrouporperson.Learnmore,andfindexamples,here.READMORE