BY TRACEY GENDRON

Recently, I was in the audience at an event when the person on stage, having forgotten their glasses, said into the microphone, “Don’t get old, folks.” The insidiousness of this offhand comment went largely unnoticed by the crowd. After all, people hear sentiments like this almost every day and frequently express similar thoughts to themselves. The message amplified to the crowd that day was, “Getting older is bad.”

“So what?” you might say. “Getting older is bad” is right up there with “the sky is blue” or “water is wet,” isn’t it? This oft-perpetuated myth is one of the first barriers one must overcome to recognize ageism. Aging is a complex process that includes growth, decline, development, adaptation, and loss. Falling prey to ageism can paradoxically hasten or manifest the very aspects of aging of which we were afraid.

Ageism is a pervasive and often-overlooked form of discrimination that affects people at every stage of life. Ageism occurs when people judge, have preconceived notions about, or mistreat others based upon their age. It involves stereotypes, biases, and discriminatory behavior linked to how old someone is. These biases affect our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Ageism occurs unconsciously, in our thoughts and feelings, and consciously when we intentionally judge someone based on age (e.g., that person is too old to understand technology).

Importantly, ageism is also directed inward when we have negative and limiting beliefs based upon age (e.g., I am too old to learn something new; I do not want people to know how old I am). This is called internalized or self-directed ageism, and it results from years of absorbing negative cultural messages about aging.

I would place a wager that you have heard someone claim they are “too old” to try something new or make a significant change. These self-limiting beliefs are often learned. We are not born ageists; we are taught that old age is a time to be feared, a time of loss without gain, and that we better be careful because, well—Don’t get old, folks.

Ageism can manifest in various ways, from workplace discrimination to social exclusion. No matter the setting, ageism’s impact on health is profound and far-reaching. The negative and limiting beliefs about growing older manifest in lowered self-esteem and confidence and make people vulnerable to increased stress (Orth et al., 2010). Ageism is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to anxiety, depression, lowered life satisfaction, loneliness, and decreased physical and mental health (Bryant et al., 2012).

In addition to ageism’s direct impact on mental health, negative stereotypes about older people, such as being seen as “out of touch” or “unproductive,” can lead to exclusion from social activities, workplaces and even within families. Social isolation is an epidemic that causes loneliness and despair. Loneliness alone increases the risk of developing dementia by 50%, the risk of having a stroke by 30%, and mortality risk by 26% (Holt-Lundstad et al., 2015; Valtorta et al., 2016).

Raising your awareness of ageism can help you identify self-limiting thoughts and potentially enhance your perspective on aging.

Do you find yourself saying, “I’m not old; I’m just experienced?” If so, take a moment to reflect on the concept of aging.

Also, there are essential steps we can all take to reduce the impact of ageism to promote a more inclusive society that promotes good mental health for all ages.

• Develop a solid social network of friends (of all ages!). Relationships help people cope with the effects of ageism by promoting a sense of belonging.
• Remember that age is relative. Being older or younger than someone else can be judgment-free. Instead of using the words old and young with value, remove any bias by referencing age about yourself—as in, “younger than” or “older than.”
• Seek out a role model—or become one. Having positive role models of all ages can provide guidance and inspiration.
• Think individually. When you have met one person who is 80 – you have met one person who is 80. We are all the products of our individual and unique life experiences.

Ageism is not just a matter of societal prejudice; it has far-reaching implications for mental health. By challenging our views of aging, we can create a more inclusive and mentally healthy society where people are valued and respected.

About the Author: Tracey Gendron, PhD, is chair for the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology and executive director of the Virginia Center on Aging. She is author of the book, Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It (Steerforth, 2022).

Source: https://generations.asaging.org/impact-ageism-elders-mental-health