BY DAY 7
Respond by Day 7 to at least two colleagues in the following ways:
· Provide additional resources or information to support the solutions proposed.
· Describe alternative practices from other locations not previously discussed.
· Offer alternative viewpoints and insights.
· Ask for clarification.
YONETTE
As the old saying goes, "Everybody wants to grow old, but nobody wants to be old" has been famous since ancient times (Brinkhof et al., 2022, p. 44). Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against older adults (even among older adults themselves) on the grounds of their age are commonly referred to as ageism. Ageism is similar to other "-isms"—like sexism, racism, classism, or heterosexism—in that it creates an "other." The discrimination I believe is happening to the older population is that older people are viewed as lonely, frail, poor, and deserving of our help (Brinkhof et al., 2022). Ageism can manifest in policies, interactions, patronizing older adults, and thinking one is too old to learn something new (WHO, 2021). Additionally, crucially ageism is insidious because it is deeply ingrained and more socially accepted than many other forms of bias and often goes largely unrecognized.
The discrimination I believe is happening to the older population is that older people are viewed as lonely and frail. People use this to their advantage and try to abuse them. People can pretend to help them by pretending to be friendly, for example, at the bank. Some older adults typically ask strangers to help them put their pins in the ATM and become victims of financial abuse, as the person can switch the car and use it later. Additionally, there are other ways the elderly can be abused or neglected--not just financially. If caregivers are in charge of seniors' daily needs, they are sometimes not treated with dignity and respect. Perpetrators may be paid attendants, family members, employees of long-term care facilities, or other caregivers who lack adequate skills, training, time, or energy. Also, because some people see the elderly population as greedy and selfish, they do not care who their caregivers are, which could be people who are mentally ill, have alcohol or substance abuse, or have other mental health problems.
Ageism also includes three dimensions: stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination (Iversen et al., 2009). Stereotypes are over-generalized, often simplified ideas that people hold about older adults are slow in movement and thought and reflect how people think. Secondly, Prejudices are opinions related to feelings and attitudes, considering older adults as boring conversation partners. Finally, discrimination is the application of beliefs about older adults based on stereotypes and prejudices (Fiske, 2010) and relates to how people behave toward older adults; e.g., older adults are not taken seriously). Most forms of ageism relate to at least two of these dimensions.
Proposed Solution to Ageism in Society
There should be a law that everyone reports to the police if they think an older adult is being abused. Additionally, other agencies should help in situations where elderly abuse is suspected. The Division of Ageing (DOA), established in August 2003, is an umbrella agency within the Ministry of Social Development and family services to focus on aging initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago. There is also a hotline at the division of the aging unit that can be accessed at any time and is anonymous. Older people should not live in fear because the general public thinks it does not affect them. The law will ensure that the elderly is everybody's business and no older adult will be taken advantage of or abused. We all will be in this age group one day, and knowing we did our part now will make it more secure for future generations.
While ageism tends to be negative, older people should be shown positively on social media (Brinkhof et al., 2022). Positive ageism will have a different, possibly even opposite, effect on self-perceptions of aging and (in)directly on physical, mental and cognitive measures (Brinkhof et al., 2022). For instance, it was shown that exposing individuals to positive stereotypes of aging can improve gait speed (Brinkhof et al., 2022) and that positive beliefs about the impact of aging
References
Brinkhof, L. P., de Wit, S., Murre, J. M. J., Krugers, H. J., & Ridderinkhof, K. R. (2022). The Subjective Experience of Ageism: The Perceived Ageism Questionnaire (PAQ). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14).
Fiske, S. (2010). Social Beings: Core Motives in Social Psychology, 2nd ed.; Wiley: Hoboken, NJ, USA,
Iversen, T.N.; Larsen, L.; Solem, P.E. (2009) A Conceptual Analysis of Ageism. Nord. Psychol. 61, 4–22.
WHO. Global Report on Ageism; WHO: Geneva, Switzerland, 2021.
EMILEE
Ageism is defined as the stereotyping of older individuals in a negative manner that can lead to discrimination and prejudice (Kunkel & Settersten, Jr., 2022). The first example of ageism in my society I can identify happened within my family, much like the example given in this discussion prompt. In the early stages of COVID, my dad was let go from his job as a professor at a local private, Christian college after teaching there for 19 years and having his doctorate. Not long after they let a group of professors go, they announced a raise for remaining staff throughout the college, and we later found out they rehired someone for my dad's job with no experience. My dad struggled to find work for over a year, and we contribute his being let go and struggles to his age (62) and his increased medical issues that have come up over the last 5 years, which makes it both age and health discrimination.
As an overall example of ageism within society, I feel as though one of the biggest and most harmful acts of discrimination regarding aging comes with the process of qualifying for state-funded long-term services and supports. To explain, in order to qualify for something in Arkansas like Medicaid to pay for nursing home care, a person cannot make more than $2,742 a month and cannot have more than $2,000 in assets, meaning savings, stocks, bonds, etc. (Arkansas Department of Health, 2023). Granted there are special considerations for couples, but if the nursing home resident has more than the allotted income and asset limits and are not protected by things such as wills or trusts, they are required to spend that money down on their care to be below the limits (Arkansas Department of Health, 2023). To me, this is harmful because it essentially drains all the money a person has saved throughout their life that they may have wanted to pass on to the family or be used in other ways, aside from overwhelming look of discrimination against those who are aging and in need of care.
Solutions
Change is possible when it comes to age discrimination for older adults. In addition to the AARP program mentioned in the prompt for jobs, other systems like the Certified Age Friendly Employer program allows businesses to qualify for a specific distinction that states their commitment to supporting workers over 50 (Age-Friendly Institute, n.d.). Legislation has been passed on the federal level, such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, n.d.). However, the act could be revised as it only covers employees if age is the only reason for someone not being hired or being fired (Lewis, 2013).
As far as qualifications for state-funded long-term services and supports, it is my opinion that there needs to be more education done for those who are aging to understand the expectations should they need those types of health services and care. Studies have shown limited knowledge by the general population concerning long-term care financial planning, and the results came from a study regarding employees and election of long-term care insurance (Matzek & Stum, 2010). It is clear that legislation may not be swift as these are state-funded programs, which would require more pay out from the government. However, it is important to note that studies have “found that over a nine-year period median household wealth grew 20 percent for married people ages 70 and older who did not receive nursing home care, but fell 21 percent for their counterparts who received nursing home care; for single people who received nursing home care, median household wealth fell 74 percent” (as cited by Johnson, 2017, p. 1).
References
Age-Friendly Institute. (n.d.). Certified age friendly employer program. Retrieved from https://institute.agefriendly.org/initiatives/certified-age-friendly-employer-program/
Arkansas Department of Health. (2023). Long-term services and supports (LTSS) Medicaid assistance. Retrieved from https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/aging-adult-behavioral-health-services/find-home-community-based-services-for-adults-seniors/long-term-services-and-supports-ltss-medicaid-assistance/
Johnson, Richard. 2017. “What Is the Lifetime Risk of Needing and Receiving Long-Term Services and Supports?” Research Brief. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Kunkel, S. R., & Settersten, Jr., R. A. (2022). Aging, society, and the life course (6th ed.). Springer.
Lewis, C. R. (2013). A Gross Injustice: Proving Age Discrimination by Federal Employers under the ADEA in the Wake of Gross V. Fbl Financial Services, Inc. St. John’s Law Review, 87(1), 271–296.
Matzek, M. & Stum, M.S. (2010). Are consumers vulnerable to low long term care knowledge? Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal. 38(4), 410-434.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (n.d.). Age discrimination. Retrieved from https://www.eeoc.gov/age-discrimination