Written By Alan Good
Recently, I came across a book written by Dr. Becca Levy, a Yale professor and leading expert on the psychology of successful aging. The title is “Breaking the Age Code” and worth a read, no matter how old you are.
In her studies which have stretched for years, Levy examines “ageism” and its wide-spread prejudice against people of age—that is, seniors. Those sixty years of age and older are thought to be of less, or even little, use. If you are in your seventies or eighties, you may feel this more significantly.
Seen in advertising, movies and TV, seniors are portrayed as week, infirmed and around for “colour”. In turn, seniors internalize these stigmatisms. As a result, health and activity are traded for a good rocker.
Ask yourself, “What are the first four words that come to mind when you picture someone in their seventies?” What do you see as you think, “senior”?
“Like most stereotypes or mental shortcuts, they are the product of natural, internal processes that begin when we are babies as a way of sorting and simplifying the overwhelming number of stimuli in the world. But they are also the products of external societal sources, such as schooling, movies, or social media and the ageism that operates in these realms,” Levy stated on age beliefs and expectations about people.
Here are some interesting facts gleamed from inquiries on ageism. A Canadian survey found that 63% of older adults surveyed felt they had been treated unfairly based on their age. 80% of Canadians agree that older adults are seen as less important and are more often ignored than younger generations. 69.9% of questionnaire respondents believed that ageism has increased in Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Negative age stereotypes colour actions and judgments toward other people and can influence how we—seniors—think about ourselves. These thoughts, if they are not counteracted, can impact how we feel and act. Take mental agility in a senior. Studies suggest that the all too commonly accepted stereotype, that the brain inevitably deteriorates as we get older, is false.
C.S. Lewis stated, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
The fight against ageism has been felt in Canada, Ontario, and the City of London. Go online and type, “ageism in (name the place)” and view surveys, documents and workshops on this subject. We don’t have to internalize ageistic comments and actions of others. Let’s look at how we can improve our minds and bodies next time.
