REFRAMING AGING
Long Beach Gray Panthers
www.Longbeachgraypanthers.org
HOW DO WE VIEW AGING?
We Will All End Up with Dementia
Most of Us Will End Up in a Nursing
Home at the End of Life
Older People are Incompetent,
Forgetful, and a Drain on Resources
Older People Deserve to Sit and
Watch TV All Day Because They are
Worn Out and Useless
HOW DO WE VIEW AGING?
We Will All End Up with Dementia
Only 10% of Us Will End Life with Dementia
Most of Us Will End Up in a Nursing Home at the
End of Life
Only 3% of Older Adults Will End Life in a Nursing Home and the Percentage is Decreasing. Volunteer 75 billion in value and as caretakers - $235 billion in value.
Older People are Incompetent, Forgetful, and a
Drain on Resources
Older Adults are Experienced, Sharp, and Own Most of the Wealth in the U.S. (70%) and pay most of the taxes (46% Federal and 57% State). They Generate 45% of GDP.
Older People Deserve to Disengage from Society
The Current Generation of Older Adults is Active, Fit, and Healthier Than Previous Generations
WHAT IS AGEISM?
Ageism Is the Socially Constructed View
That Permits Discrimination of People Based
Upon Their Age – Geriatrician Robert Butler
coined the term ageism in 1969.
Can Be Against Younger Or Older People
Everyone Will Experience Ageism Sometime
In Their Lifetime – 70% of Older Adults have
experienced Ageism.
Senicide is the killing of older adults by lack
of care or neglect. Lack of increase in Social
Security, Medicare, and Long-term care is
the senicide of today as is forcing the
disabled to live below the poverty line.
U-CURVE OF HAPPINESS
People are Happiest in Their Lives at the
Beginning and at the End
Most People Do Not Fear Death at the End
of Life
We Need to Make It Okay to Discuss Death
A Positive Attitude Increases Life by 7 ½
Years. Ageism in policy, media and
advertising creates negative views of
aging and Older Adults
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF AGEISM?
We Internalize the Message from Mass Media
The Message Reduces the Value of Older
Adults and Youth in Society – Public Policy
Adopts this Message and the Policies Impact
how Successfully People Age
Creates Layers of Oppression in the Lives of
Individuals and Groups as They Age
People Don’t Participate in Activities
Because the Message is You Don’t Belong
Denying Ourselves the Benefit of Older Adult
Experience Has Enormous Economic,
Psychological and Emotional Impacts
WHO BENEFITS FROM AGEISM?
Pharmaceutical Companies
Skin Care Companies
Vitamin/Supplement Companies
Cruise Industry
Cosmetic Surgery Industry
Hair Care Companies
Congregate Care Facilities/Older Adult
Exclusive Housing
WHERE IS AGEISM?
EVERYWHERE!
Birthday Cards
Workplace
Separation of Generations
Lying About Age on Applications or When Asked Your Age Beauty Products
Advertising
Whenever Someone says “ You Look Good for Your Age”
LANGUAGE USE
➢ You look young for your age
➢ Use of the term “Senior Moment”
➢ You’re Too Old/Young to Do_____________
➢ Directing Comments to a Younger
Companion and Ignoring an Older One
➢ Name calling “Boomer”
➢ Lying About Your Age
➢ Using Language Like “Silver Tsunami”
COMBATTING AGEISM
Build a Strong Social Network
Create Your Own Community
It’s Okay to Need Help
Learn to Adapt to Changes in Body Performance
Learn What Services are Available in the
Community
Older Adults contribute 5.6 trillion of spending in
GDP of 7.6 trillion. They Buy Half of All Consumer
Packaged Goods
Americans are Living Longer and Our Policies and
Infrastructure have Not Kept Pace. Older Adults
Hold 62% of the World’s Wealth.
HOW DO WE ELIMINATE IT?
What Can We Do?
Let Your Hair Go Gray
Work Consciously to Include a Variety of
Ages in Work Environment, Social Settings
Ask an Older Adult or a Younger Person
About Their Life
Be Vocal and Political About Ageism -
ORGANIZE
Stop Saying “You Look Great for Your Age”.
➢ Affects Health, Well-Being and Income
➢ Stereotyping Becomes Ingrained in a Culture and Denies the Humanity of an Entire Group of People.
➢ When We see People as “Other”, Their Welfare Seems Less than a Human Right.
➢ It’s Why 6 out of 6 Cases of Elder Abuse go Unreported. ➢ Value Older Adults for Their Wisdom and Life Experience.
LONGEVITY DIVIDEND – LIVES
WERE SHORTER, LONGEVITY IS A
HALLMARK OF PROGRESS
AGING IS A POWERFUL LIFELONG
PROCESS
85+ FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT
DENIAL OF AGING – OLD IS 4
DECADES OF LIFE
LIKE GENDER, AGE IS A SPECTRUM
WORKPLACE-IS BETTER, WHEN IT IS
DIVERSE, THAT INCLUDES AGE.
NOT ONE STEREOTYPE OF AGING IS
TRUE