Ageism is defined as a systematic stereotyping of and discrimination against people because they are old, and it happens when people are defined not by their personality, individuality or beliefs but by their age. Ageist ideas also spring from cultural influences such as media, religion, family and society in general. Television shows often portray old people as frail, forgetful and slow. Often, we are not even aware of our negative perceptions towards aging, and fail to understand that, like racism and sexism, it works the same way and is still a form of discrimination.

Some examples of ageism are:

• Referring to momentary forgetfulness as a “senior moment.”

Many of us have from time to time not been able to locate our keys or recall where we put our wallet, so why do we attribute a minor lapse in memory as being due to age?

• Praising older adults using a comparison to younger adults, such as “You look good for [your age]” or “You’re still… [dancing, driving, going to the gym]!”
• Lying about one’s age for fear of negative perceptions.

Ageism often makes people reluctant to reveal their true age, which creates a vicious cycle. If older adults try to hide or lie about their age, younger people may not realize how many older adults are vital and active. Younger adults don’t help when they decline to purchase an article of clothing using the rationale that “it is something grandma would wear.”

• Health care and social-service providers, waiters, and others directing comments regarding an older adult to a younger companion or child of the older person.
• Using patronizing language (honey, sweetie, young lady, etc.) and/or reacting with surprise when learning that older adults engage in behaviors associated with younger people (tweeting, having sex, riding a motorcycle, etc.).
• Ads for ways to hide one’s age through anti-aging products and surgeries.
• Workplaces and career paths that force retirement or have age restrictions.

Classified ads and job postings often include ageist content. According to AARP, about two-thirds of workers aged 45 to 74 have experienced age discrimination in the workplace.

• Assuming that deteriorating health is just a natural process of aging.

Experts stress that the environment in which we age coupled with our lifestyle choices (smoking or not, exercising, socializing, eating habits) play a major factor in influencing our health as we age.

Humor is important in life, and in relieving stress, but we need to be conscious of how it may be interpreted by others. Laughing at oneself is healthy, but there may be a fine line between jokes about aging and jokes that are ageist.

An excellent article about this topic, including some tips for how to reverse it, can be found here: https://www.seniorliving.org/guides/ageism-against-older-people/