Prejudice and bigotry can be overt or covert. Sometimes negative bias toward older people is not so much an ‘attack’ or statement, but rather an unintended action or thought lacking a base sensitivity or understanding of the physical, mental, or emotional changes all experience in mature years.
In a book titled, “Ageism” author Erdman B. Palmore provides helpful definitions and descriptions of ageism. I thought it important to share these:
Marketing Images: Use of young people to promote products designed for older people including anti-aging products, lifestyles, and procedures.
Generalizing: Grouping people by age (e.g. “The elderly have special needs.”)
Stereotyping: Assuming all older people are retired, feeble, sexually inactive, hard-of-hearing, sad, lonely, grouchy, have failing memories, are prone to certain illnesses, etc.
Denial: Treating elders as if they weren’t old. (e.g. “Don’t you look pretty today, young lady!) Giving compliments that would not be given to younger persons. (e.g. “You certainly don’t look your aged.”)
Amazement: Being surprised that an older person is capable of looking, doing, or expressing something that seems inconsistent with your image of elders.
Induced Dependence: Viewing older people as being needier or more disadvantaged than they actually are. Treating the older person as dependent and helpless. Offering help when none is needed.
Elderspeak: Patronizing speech. Speaking slowly and loudly or with a high pitch and exaggerated intonation that is normally used with infants or young children.
Derogatory Observations: Attempting to maintain a positive self-image by devaluing people who are older. (e.g. “Look at that old coot shuffling across the street.”)
Elder Abuse: Seeing old people as ‘unproductive’ and ‘less deserving’ or as ‘disposable citizens.’ Valuing your needs above theirs and feeling more entitled to social or family resources. Taking advantage of an elders’ trust.
