Ageism, as defined by Robert Butler in the 1960s, had the older people characterised as being rigid and senile and their younger counterparts as being stereotypical and discriminatory towards the older generation. The younger people in society were thought to treat older people differently because of their age. I used this line of notion to examine my thoughts on ageism. In general, I view older people as citizens who are struggling to keep up with latest developments, and this acts to alienate them. Even though I have this view and know some elderly people, I tend to find myself frustrated whenever I am behind an elderly person at the grocery store since they take a lot of time.
Based on my observations, I feel that ageism is a serious issue that needs to be addressed in society. Elderly Americans have to grapple with ageism as society has an unfavourable view of them. Many elderly people are faced with loneliness, social disconnectedness, and discrimination in health care and in the workplace ( Palmore, Branch, & Harris, 2016) . Many advocates for elderly rights have tried to determine the causes for ageism. Maggie Kuhn, one of these advocates, sighted ignorance and neglect of complex health, social and chronic care needs of the older generation as the main causes of ageism (Nelson, 2016). There have been efforts aimed towards providing protection to the elderly but unequal treatment of the elderly in the workplace, legal system and healthcare continues to be a big problem. Moreover, it seems that a large section of the senior American community is starting to believe in these practices too and this contributes to marginalization. Although the population of Americans over the age of 60 continues to grow rapidly, these individuals continue to face the problems of ageism to this day.
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Individual who perceive ageing positively, are likely to avoid the negative stereotypes associated with ageism. In addition, people with positive thoughts about seniors have a positive mind-set. Moreover, older people who are exposed to the positive stereotypes have improved memory as compared to their counterparts who were exposed to the negative stereotypes (Weiss, 2012). Experts state that the existence of the old and the young are intertwined and that the old needed the young to thrive and vice versa. This is almost similar to the belief that ageism stereotypes are acquired at a young age, way before they are relevant to the individuals in question ( Levy & Macdonald, 2016) . The trends of society and the media that children and the youth acquire throughout their lifetimes are crucial to the fight against ageism.
Basically, the issue of ageism and its impact on mental health, physical wellbeing, the society and family is viewed differently by different people. In my view, it is important to consider the following factors so as to make the process of ageing as well as the impact of ageism that much easier. First, the younger people’s perception of the older generation needs to be positive from a young age. Thus, parents as well as the society should educate their children about the importance of respecting the older generation. Secondly, the younger generation individuals should consider making the right lifestyle choices in their youth in order to make their ageing process a smoother one. This should also include having a positive mind set about the ageing process. Lastly, the society in addition to the families of the elderly, should embrace the responsibilities of taking care of the older generation, especially in areas of healthcare, legal matters and the work place.
Part 2
The issues that move me are; supports and long-term services for elderly people, healthcare, federal budget, and justice for the elderly. Supports and long-term services are crucial to enable elderly people to live fulfilling lives. Many elderly people cannot support themselves and thus require care from qualified personnel. Healthcare is also vital for old people as they tend to be marginalized from the healthcare system. Due to the prevalent stigma against old people in society, most of them, find it hard to access the public health system and prefer to suffer in silence. Allocation of federal budget to sustain elderly people is important since many old people cannot work and need money to help them survive. Lastly, elderly justice ensures old people have equal access to the criminal justice system, and that their issues are heard.
The policy that elicits strong feelings within me is the Old Americans Act (OAA). The OAA finances vital services that enable older adults to stay independent and healthy (NCOA, n.d). This policy is important in tackling the negative stereotypes against old people in society as it ensures that they can sustain themselves without being perceived as a “burden” to society.
The social problems that make me angry are lack of access to healthcare and lack of support services. Healthcare is a crucial service to a person of any age group; therefore, the alienation of old people from the public health system is just wrong. In addition, the lack of support services means that older adults are not able to sustain themselves, and this contributes to ageism. The lack of a good retirement scheme makes me fearful of reaching older adult years. The lack of funds during my retirement means that I have to depend on the inconsistent government support. On the other hand, an issue of least concern is job training since this is an endeavour that requires personal effort and interest.
As a young person, I will strive to help elderly people whenever I can. This entails shedding off negative stereotypes about old people and taking time to volunteer in elderly homes. Further, I will advocate for the rights of older adults.
References
NCOA. (n.d). “Older Americans Act.” Retrieved from https://www.ncoa.org/public-policy-action/older-americans-act/
Nelson, T. D. (2016). Ageism.
Levy, S. R., & Macdonald, J. L. (2016). Progress on understanding ageism. Journal of Social Issues , 72 (1), 5-25.
Palmore, E. B., Branch, L., & Harris, D. (2016). Encyclopedia of ageism . Routledge.
Weiss, T. (2012). The Issue of Ageism in America Today. Retrieved from http://www.disabled-world.com/editorials/ageism.php.
