The Impact Of Ageism In Society

That said, after reviewing the copious volume of information available on the impact of ageism throughout society, perhaps the most striking story I found relates to the dramatic toll ageism takes on the daily lives of older adults, and on their perceptions of aging. Studies by Dr. Becca Levy, director of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division at the Yale School of Public Health, revealed that negative self-perceptions of aging result in poor health outcomes, hearing decline, poor memory performance, and shorter life spans. Conversely, Levy 's studies demonstrated that positive self-perceptions of aging can improve memory, thinking, and cognition, mood, self-confidence, overall functionality, and longevity.

The case involving ageism in

Additionally, the younger workers are more likely to have acquired the latest technological skills. Seeing that most older workers are better paid due to their years of service, they can often take up the amount of money a company would pay to a young employee (Hodson & Sullivan, 2008). The United States of America has learnt that prejudice against women (sexism) and against race (racism) was costly to society. Productivity suffered. Cultural sensibility was offended. Likewise, the impact of ageism is considerable, for older people can and do play a major role in social and economic development. Yet we fail to maximize the potential of older persons on either a paid or voluntary basis and deny them the opportunity to play a significant role in our cultural life. Recognizing that age discrimination exists both advertently and inadvertently in personal and institutional form, and that economic and psychological factors play a major part in ageism as well, the International Longevity Center (ILC) has set out to examine the problem of age prejudice, also known as ageism (Butler, 2009). The American Psychological Association suggests that ageism is a serious issue that should be treated the same as sex, race, and disability-based discrimination. They suggest that raising public awareness about the issues ageism creates can help. As the population of older adults

And, once again, one of the ways they can advance this important agenda is through civic engagement activities-if they are given the chance (Raynor, 2015). Finally, civic engagement activities provide an effective means to address ageism in two very important ways: First, they give older adults the opportunity to exercise their desire, willingness, and ability to make meaningful contributions to society in so many ways. Second, and perhaps most importantly, they provide a forum through which older adults can engage with other generations-on both the giving and the receiving end of the equation. If you look at the CEP projects listed in the sidebar on page 61, not one of them involves older adults helping only older adults. On the contrary, all of them involve adults 50 and older interacting with people of all ages, which may be the real key to breaking down the negative stereotypes associated with every age group (Raynor,