Ageism Reflection

Ageism, an idea created by Robert Butler, can be described as degrading behavior or emotions toward older people based on one’s own fears or preconceived ideas (Butler, 1969). This kind of behavior can consist of anything from refusing jobs to someone due to their age and perceived capabilities from not offering ideal care to older people because one believes it is wasteful of resources. The presence of ageism within society leads to a population bound by certain stereotypes that can prohibit the advancement of people considered to be older adults.

“Ageism has been called the ultimate prejudice, the last discrimination, the cruelest rejection,” Stein (unpublished). We as a people have defeated for the most part racism and sexism, but we have allowed the third great “ism” to remain unchallenged. “This widely practiced prejudice has gone on for generations and is known as ageism,” (Palmore, Erdman, Ballagh (1999). By definition, according to Webster’s Dictionary, it is discrimination against person’s of a certain age group. Ageism includes both positive affect and a negative connotation with any given age group. It is predominately seen as a reflection on the elderly. Positive aspects of ageism on the elderly include medical care, discounts and tax

When I trained to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), my instructor went over multiple times on how to deal with the death of the patients I will work with. However, actually experiencing the death of the resident I cared for left an impression on me to better understand all of the residents at Medilodge of East Lansing. I discovered that applying for an internship in social services department there would allow me to build deep and trusting connections with the residents, and develop my skills in working with older adults as I pursue a career in geriatric social work. My internship allowed me to work under the guidance of the social services director and gain insight on how to interact with residents in a professional capacity.

Aging Americans, like other age groups, are feeling the effects of the declining real estate and stock markets, as well as soaring fuel and food prices. Seniors’ economic security will only increase in importance as the U.S. population ages. The nation’s health and social services resources will face unprecedented demand as 75 million people in the baby boomer generation reach retirement age—some with eroded savings and retirement accounts. Aging people of color are more likely than white

Let me tell you a little about myself, growing up in a larger than normal family has its setbacks and struggles; but non-the-less special. Also growing up and helping take care of your great grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s, takes a special family. I never though of myself pursuing a career in the medical field, ever. I actually despised the idea; I wanted to become a CSI, I wanted more science, but something happened. When my great grandmother came to live with us after the Alzheimer’s had spread, I was there to help her, when my parents working. I helped feed, bath, cloth, distributed medication, use the restroom, I even cut her hair and painted her nails the colored she loved, dark red/maroon. It was in those years, before she died, that I saw myself helping other just like this. I love to say that my great grandmother inspired me to become a nurse. She inspired me to become who I am now.

Ageism is any attitudes, actions, or institutional structure which subordinates a person or group because of their age or any assignment of roles in society purely on the basis of age. It typically reflects a prejudice in society against older adults. The concept of aging varies across different cultures as different countries have varying demographic statistics such as Japan and Italy having significant part of their population above the age of 60 versus most countries in Africa who have significant parts of their population below the age of 30. Most research on ageism is done on children, adolescents, or young adults with few studies on actual older adults. Age is increasingly becoming a more positive concept, yet older people are still stereotyped. The three theories in sociology about aging are disengagement, activity, and continuity.

Data from the Census Bureau tell us that in 2015, there are around 47.8 million Americans age 65 and older, up from about 25.5 million just 35 years ago; demographers predict that in another 35 years, there will be nearly 88 million Americans in this age group. The rate of growth of the “oldest old” population—those age 85 and older—is even more dramatic: Their numbers currently stand at approximately 6.3 million, but by 2050, that number will have almost tripled, to 18.7 million Americans. This population explosion is unprecedented in history, and the resulting demographic shift is causing profound social and economic changes.

Racism is the belief that one certain race is superior to another considering that race to be less than them, and are therefore are discriminated, stereotyped, and antagonized against. Racism has been known and experienced all throughout history. It has been a constant battle, and unfortunately it is still very current in today’s times. Recently in the world today, there have been several stories regarding racism and shootings, and in the article “Feds fault San Francisco police for violence against minorities and recommend 272 reforms” it strongly focuses on this issue. It’s a tragic thing for cops to be considered racist when they are supposed to be the protectors of our nation. In the article, it states how federal officials made 272 separate recommendation for reform, which would help train and advice the officers on their duties. These recommendations are taken daily by the San Francisco Police Department in

A new culture of ageism is now in the medical world. So many Canadians look down on seniors that ageism has become the most tolerated form of social discrimination in Canada. Health care professionals like Nathan Stall, a future geriatrics specialist and Carrie Willkies, a registered nurse are both against this new norm. In both pieces, the central idea is clear, “The Eradication of Ageism in health care”.

The news is flooded with stories of negative acts of racism, along with arguments regarding sexism and stereotypical gender roles. While major steps have been taken toward a more unified, accepting country, the United States continues to still lack correct knowledge and understanding to one of the most common “isms” in the country: ageism. Ageism is defined in Aging, the Individual, and Society as “the prejudiced behavior of individuals and systems within the culture against older adults, including negative consequences of inaccurate stereotyping of the elderly” (Hillier & Barrow, 2015, p.11). As a result of prejudice, myths tend to form about the stereotyped group of people. Facts and Fiction about an Aging America by The MacArthur Foundation

I wanted to interview someone outside of the healthcare field because I feel that we are “trained” to deal with death and the dying differently. I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but I feel that now that I understand death and dying more because I am a nurse; my thoughts and feelings would be different from before I was a nurse. So, that brings me to my mother. When my grandfather was sick her and my grandmother decided to keep him at home and have hospice come to the house weekly to care for him outside of what they weren’t able to do themselves. They kept him home until the day he passed away and my mother was beside him every day. He had Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

The aging of society has not significantly changed our perceptions of the elderly. Ageism is widespread in Western societies (Dionigi, et al, 2011). Older adults are seen as boring, grumpy irritable, weak, debilitated, mournful, and most significantly cognitively. These stereotypes which are negative can be allowed by the aged themselves negative self-stereotyping (Dionigi, et al, 2011) and are as well found among specialized caregivers (e.g., Cowan, Fitzpatrick, Roberts, & While,2004). The image in relation to which older adults are more ineffectual than younger adults is predominantly dominant. Nevertheless, in a variety of domains, older adults are inclined to have analogous performances and at times even do better than younger

As a nurse, I have worked around the elderly for the last eight years, and before that I was a Certified Nursing Assistant for approximately 3 years. Over the years I have witness the end of many lives. I have seen residents pass with a multitude of family members and I have seen a resident pass with just a staff member holding their hand. I have been able to be a part of many lives and have witnessed how activities can make a great impact on these same lives. This is why I chose to complete my service learning project in a long term nursing facility to be a first-hand participant in these activities.

Ageism is the discrimination against an individual or group due to age. While ageism is a real problem, many people tend to ignore it because it is so often practiced, people don’t even realize it is happening. The forms of ageism range from the very obvious to the more discrete, almost unrecognizable discrimination. While ageism is evident in all age groups, it tends to be more dominant among the elderly and teenagers or young adults.

The Age Discrimination Employment Act (ADEA) was passed over 40 years ago (in 1967) prohibiting the denial of employment, forced retirement, hours of employment, compensation, or termination of individuals due to the person's age, and it was meant to encourage the employment of older individuals based on their abilities and invaluable experience. However, age discrimination and ageism still permeate American society and the workplace.”(Tate)