Ageism has harmful effects
on the health of older adults.
Dr. Zheng Wu of Simon Fraser
University has shown that
stereotyping, prejudice, and
discrimination toward seniors
is detrimental to mental health
and has been linked to higher
mortality rates. His research
shows that many seniors are
not given credit by the medical
profession for understanding
their own health needs and
are often ignored or, in some
cases, heavily over-medicated.
According to WHO, ageism
has been shown to cause
cardiovascular stress, lowered
levels of self-efficacy, and
decreased productivity.
Ageism is not only harmful
to the recipient of prejudice;
it also has negative effects on
the health of those who hold
prejudiced beliefs. As described
in the July/August 2018 edition
52 | arta.net
of Zoomer, Dr. Becca Levy of
Yale University, in a famous
study from the 1970s, surveyed
regarding their attitudes about
ageing residents of a town in
Ohio. In the 1990s, she studied
the mortality rates of those she
had previously interviewed and
made a surprising discovery.
ageism and the ageist messages
we are exposed to almost
constantly in Western society.
Suggested strategies include:
• Feel optimistic about ageing.
Attitude has a lot to do with
how people overcome ageism.
Relish the experience and
wisdom that come with age.
• Don’t fall into the ‘senior
moment’ trap. Attributing a
memory lapse to something
ominous going on in our
brains will lead us, and others,
to see ourselves as less than
mentally capable.
• Resist the temptation to
tease others about their age.
The jokes about ‘being over
the hill’ can become
self-fulfilling prophecies.
• Plan for future care needs.
Addressing changes that may
happen as we age is both
realistic and proactive.
• Learn new technologies that
will stimulate your brain and
keep you in touch with the
The subjects with the most
changing world.
negative views of aging died, on
• Manage being the recipient of
average, 7.6 years sooner than
ageism. It is almost inevitable
those with the most positive views.
that we will be the target of
Ageism is different from other
some form of ageism as we get
‘isms,’ such as racism or sexism,
older. When that happens, let
in that these prejudices refer to
people know that ageism jokes
those who are different from us.
are as offensive as jokes about
But, unless we do not survive to
race or gender.
old age, we all end up as seniors. • Resist giving in to the
So, among younger generations,
peddlers of anti-ageing
senior ageism is discrimination
products. We all want to
against their future selves!
remain healthy, but the
Researcher Craig Flower
constant barrage of negative
and his colleagues of Massey
advertising related to ageing is
University believe the key to
dangerous to our health! ●
successful ageing is to resist