Over the past few months I have posted a few items (mostly videos) that poked fun at what happens to us as we grow older. In virtually every case someone has come along and suggested that I or the creators of the post was ageist. My response to those responses was to mentally roll my eyes.
Over the past few months I have posted a few items (mostly videos) that poked fun at what happens to us as we grow older. In virtually every case someone has come along and suggested that I or the creators of the post was ageist. My response to those responses was to mentally roll my eyes.
Then I got to wondering if, in my own rapidly approaching old age, I really had become an ageist. I have to start by confessing that I couldn’t even spell Ageism properly without turning to Google. I am not sure if that was a sign of my getting older (an ageist statement, I think) or that I am just generally a terrible speller (spellerism?).
Ageism
From that vaunted source Wikipedia Ageism is defined as follows: “ “Ageism, or age discrimination, is stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups because of their age. It is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to justify age based prejudice, discrimination, and subordination.” The term was originally coined to address real or perceived prejudices against seniors, but apparently can be used with any age group (not sure if I can say age group without being ageist).
What Really Got Me Going
A number of Senior industry sites posted this “granny pod” clip from the Steven Colbert Show:
And I thought wow, just how ageist can you get? The final straw that drives me to write this article was the huge publicity surrounding Brent Musburger’s (age 73) fawning comments about Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron’s spectacularly attractive girlfriend (guessing THAT is some type of . . .ism) Katherine Webb. The politically correct crowd seemed to believe his comments fell into one of two categories:
That given, Musburger’s age, what he said were the comments of a creepy old man.
Or
That given his advanced age he should be let off the hook. HUH?
I find myself scratching my head, totally confused about this whole ageism thing.
- Clearly Katherine Webb was not offended, nor should she be. She is Miss Alabama, 2012, an award she won primarily for her looks. Not only that, Musburger’s comments have pushed her visibility into the stratosphere. A good thing for someone who is already in the business of building their personal visibility.
- We learned that 86 year old Hugh Hefner married a twenty-six year old on Christmas eve. Now that is creepy. Can you imagine being that poor girl’s parents? Hefner makes Musburger look like a choirboy.
- I am almost 58 and still notice beautiful women (yes my wife edited this before I published it). I find myself wondering when I am supposed to quit noticing or when my noticing become creepy (who knows, maybe I have already crossed over to the dark side.)
- If what Musburger did was, in fact, really offensive, to let him off the hook because he is 73 is the ultimate example of ageism.
That’s Life
- I am 58 years old and there are things I am not as good at today as I was when I was younger. That’s life!
- There are also things that I was interested in when I was younger and am not today. That’s life!
- At the same time there are things I can do today and things I understand today that I didn’t get 10 or 20 years ago. That’s life!
I can still out ski most people half my age. I can safely pull a toboggan loaded with a injured snowboarder young enough to be my child or even my grandchild down a black diamond ski slope. I am smarter today than I have ever been, partly because I know more stuff and partly because I have a better perspective on life. My decision-making may be a tiny bit slower, but that is mostly because I make better decisions when I slow down, not because I am impaired.
I grin every time I walk into McDonald’s and order a senior coffee, saving a quarter. Every time I talk with a teen or young adult who talks to me like I am “too old to know . . . “, I laugh because I know that when they get to know me they will be blown away at how brilliant I am.
When I get a bit older I will appreciate the cheaper movies, meals and lift tickets. I actually like the idea that advertisers want to datamine me to figure out what products and services to pitch to me. There are lots of things that were interesting to me at 20, 30 and 40 and are less important today. Let’s quit getting offended over stupid PC stuff and get on with living life!
Steve Moran
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From LinkedIn Groups
http://www.mailman.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/Ageism_in_America.pdf
Please educate yourselves before answering Steve’s question by reading the report “Ageism in America” in the link above by Dr. Robert Butler. Then I doubt you will answer Steve’s question, “yes,” or tell your peers how shallow and stupid of a cause ageism is.
By Kathy Sporre
Nice post Steve.
In my experience, I have seen the most ageist attitudes within the senior industry. At assisted living, independent living, and just all around senior industries.
Don Rickles & Bob Newhart put on a great show at AARP this year with ageist remarks every other sentence. Everyone laughed. Should we call Don and ask him to stop it?
A group of 8-year olds presented technologies at the LivePitch tech contest and the crowd thought it was cute that kids had some ideas. The Lifeat50+ crowd was ooohing and ahhing that children had a good idea.
Like any other -ism, it happens internally and externally.
I left most LinkedIn groups because I only saw people wanting to go to battle about it, with your voice and Lorrie Eber’s voice being some of the few of reason.
I’m too busy connecting folks with tech and triumphing over the assisted living dir who says old people can’t use tech.
“What you resist, persists” C.G Jung
Lets put our attention on what we all are capable of without regards to any ability, age, race, sex . . lets get out there and do our best work. Are we surprised we live in a superficial society? Were all the folks fighting ageism doing it when they were in their 20’s? Or just when they hit 50.
Hi Becca:
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this issue.
Steve
From LinkedIn Groups
Steve,
I’m with you. I hate all this PC talk. What are we allowed to say these days? When did everyone get so over-sensitive?
By Lorie Eber
From LinkedIn Groups
I would also like to recommend a book by geriatrician and internal medicine doctor, Mark Lachs, M.D., “Treat Me, Not My Age” if you think ageism isn’t prevalent in healthcare.
By Kathy Sporre
From LinkedIn Groups
Dr. Robert Butler, who coined the term in 1969, would no doubt sob openly to think this attitude by an ‘aging professional’ is the legacy of his work. I likewise find it sad that an aging professional could neither spell ageism nor recognize the damage it has done.. Like sexism and racism, ageism is an open form of discrimination…not “a politically stupid cause,” as you so insensitively put it. You will no doubt have no trouble finding followers among the late night comedians such as Steven Colbert.
By Richard Ambrosius
From LinkedIn Groups
I’m writing a bog post on the issue of senior discounts. I’m 57 and now qualify for some, but wonder why they exist.
By Lorie Eber
From LinkedIn Groups
Steve, it’s more than just being PC when you fall victim to ageism. I,for one, have been passed over for employment in favor of younger (and less qualified) people. There is a lot of ageism in many areas of life that are serious–not a gaff by a commentator at a football game. If you were a victim, you wouldn’t dismiss the discrimination so quickly.
By Regina Ford, MBA, CAPS
From LinkedIn Groups
Thank you for this post. I am the kind of person that does not take offense at a little fun. Having said that, my current position is to bring awareness to ageism. I have a goal to educate the area youth about treating our Elders with respect. No one likes to be stereotyped. But as with anything, everyone has their own take on what is acceptable and what is not.
By Heather Hutchings
From LinkedIn Groups
Yes! Just try going through gerontology classes! The professors were determined to “clean-up” our vocabulary on aging. Media has caught on. Senior and elder are terms that are out – Now you must you “older adult.” My question – Older than what?
By Karen Everett Watson
I think “sensitivity” issues has become ridiculous . I’m looking forward to being called an “elder.”
By Karen Everett Watson
From LinkedIn Groups
Steve,
A study conducted at Yale University by Becca Levy in 1998 shows that people who have a positive perception of aging can live 7.5 years longer than those with a negative perception of aging. You can find information on her study here:
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/older-people-are-what-they-think-study-shows/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_content=6c297acc-1fd6-4726-af30-9ba89c38d916&pagewanted=print
As Levy states, our beliefs and/or thoughts become a self-fulling prophecy, people become what they think. People with negative self-perceptions of aging who have bought into the jokes that perpetuate the perception of aging as one of decline and diminished value have been proven to age worse than their positive counterparts.
Levy’s study shows that ageism really is a subtle, insidious type of discrimination that has harmful effects to those who buy into the negative perceptions of aging. Society, mainly through marketing and media, begins affecting people with this perception while they are still children. The more society perpetuates the “over-the-hill” jokes and the like, the more people “buy into” this mindset, and it can start at a very early age.
Is it worth little “fun” to potentially chop 7.5 years off your life or someone else’s because you like to emphasize aging as a period of decline and diminished value?
I think the plethora of research done by Butler and team pretty much covers it all. There is another study done by Linda M. Woolf, PhD on ageism which can be found at: http://www2.webster.edu/~woolflm/ageism.html .
Education on an issue such as ageism is important in order to understand the dire consequences of what, on the surface, seems to be minimized as “poking a little fun at” aging.
We must stop it.
By Kathy Sporre
From LinkedIn Groups
I think it’s all part of the same thing. If we allow pokes at age in a funny way, then it seems much more likely to be done in a discriminatory way because you have made it acceptable. I agree we should have a sense of humor, but not at the expense of a group of people. We try not have racially-motivated cartoons or jokes, do we?
By Regina Ford, MBA, CAPS
From LinkedIn Groups
Please also see my article “Ageism Hides in Plain Sight” in the “Journal on Active Aging” at: http://www.icaa.cc/1-Organizationalmember/member-articles/ageism-hides-in-plain-sight-2011.pdf
By Kathy Sporre
From LinkedIn Groups
If we realize now that jokes about people from other heritages are racist and discriminatory; if we realize now that jokes about other religions are intolerant and discriminatory, if we realize now that jokes about the opposite gender are sexist and discriminatory, then why don’t we realize that jokes about older women are ageist and discriminatory?
Steve, there’s not SOME discrimination based on age, it’s rampant and it’s everywhere in our lives.
The perks of a 10% discount at Walmart can hardly make up for the offensive, discriminatory way we are viewed by countless businesses, institutions and people.
Frankly, I’m amazed at your ageist post and your ageist outlook.
By Marcia Barhydt
I completed my graduate thesis on the affects of ageist media portrayals on the lives of women. Ageism is serious, it starts early and it harms all of us. The deleterious effects of ageism can be found in all spheres of life. Not only are older adults discriminated against in employment, but they face discrimination in the health care arena as well. You wouldn’t know it, but many doctors and nurses harbor virulently ageist attitudes. When it comes to ageism, much more is at stake than the mere hurt feelings of those 50 and over; ageism affects the health and well being of our elders, and women are the hardest hit.
Steve,
You edited my comment on your blog and removed the stated fact that when you say, “poke a little fun at” that you are “minimizing the consequences” of ageism, which is part of the denial process. I wonder why you removed it? Did it hit a nerve?
I would also like to suggest for consideration that the messages we get about aging from television, marketing, black birthdays with disgusting paraphernalia of all kinds, etc. have a cumulative affect on society. These messages are heard at a young age and continue all through our lives. We become so desensitized to their discriminatory message that it becomes the “norm” in society and not the injustice that it is.
Becoming desensitized to an injustice like ageism (negatively viewing people of any age as a whole) can lead to dangerous things. These groups then become imprisoned by a social viewpoint that permeates society to the highest levels, yes, even to those who legislate.
Do we really want our legislators to become desensitized to the qualities and liberties inherent to individual citizens in this country? I would hate to see where this leads for the groups that society deems a burden or as having no value to the society as a whole.
This is where the cumulative nature of this insidious, accepted form of discrimination will lead if we don’t stop it, if it already hasn’t. We have yet to see if older adults will be allowed to continue to have life-saving diagnostic tests and procedures. Will the cost of these things be too expensive considering the value of this “group” of people to society?
It’s like an iceberg, Steve. We see the part that is on top of the water. Some of us know there is a much bigger danger that lurks just underneath.
Marcia I am really curious to know how it is rampant. I haven’t asked, but will, but I would be amazed if my parents, all in their late 70’s and 80’s felt they were discriminated against because of age. I am fearful every limitation on a senior is perceived as discrimination. For instance would you the fact that because I am 58 I would have no shot at getting an airline pilot job or getting into into medical school ageism or is that just a practical pragmatic rule. With every single stage in life comes privileges and limitations. That is life not ageism.
First: I didn’t edit anything out of your post. Please show me where I did that. It is not every my practice to edit out comments because they are critical of me or my positions. In fact in the life of the blog, the only times I have ever removed comments were because of spam, blatant unrelated promotion or obscene language. Show me the original you posted here and what I edited there.
Much of the advertising that we see is based on age and generalizations made about characteristics associated with those age groups. This is not done because of a negative stereotype or negative bias, it is because it is smart advertising. In interests at age 58 are very different than they were at 18 or 38 so I appreciate that those ads are targeted.
There are also imposed limits on what I can do because of age. For instance: I can’t go be an airline pilot or a medical doctor. Those are biases, based on age so technically ageism, but they are also practical, because of the reality that in both those careers the amount of training for me to get there would mostly be wasted given my likely remaining productive years.
We have huge battles to fight with respect to aging: Affordable housing for us baby boomers who didn’t do a good job of saving; how we are going to pay for healthcare for the rapidly aging boomers; the sustainability of Social Security. There are other battles with respect to job discrimination. At age 56 I lot my job and had to go looking and was scared to death, because of my age. And yet, from an employer standpoint, they need to make some realistic decisions. Do they want me because my healthcare will cost more . . . etc.
I am pretty fit for my age, but honestly, there are some things I can’t do as well or as easily. The fact that it precludes me from stuff in on anything but life. Because I am older with lots of gray, some people have an initial perception that I am old and out of it and others that I am old and wise. I of course like the wise better, but then I engage and they can make an informed choice as to which is true.
I offered below and will offer again. You are welcome to submit a guest post that takes me to task. In needs to be no more than about 700 words.
Thanks for the dialog.
I just think we need to fight the real battles and take moments of laughter and humor where we can.
From LinkedIn Groups
Linda Armas, CSA • There’s a big difference between young people making fun of older people in a malicious or disrespectful way, and older people with a sense of humor who are able to find ways to laugh and make light of some of the challenges of aging. Here in CA we can attend Senior Comedy Afternoon events, which feature professional comedians who are seniors. These events are very entertaining and very popular with the mostly elderly audiences. Comedians often poke fun at the stereotypes of their own race or gender, and are not found offensive, while it would have a different effect if the comments came from someone of a different race.
I personally think having the ability to laugh, especially at ourselves, is a valuable asset. We can’t make aging go away by pretending it doesn’t exist or ignoring the challenges. We can make aging more enjoyable by learning to laugh.
Linda you are spot on. I got on my roof to put up Christmas lights and looked down and thought, zowee, that is steep I could roll down and break something, but it just make me laugh as I thought back to when I was younger and it would have seemed so simple. I can get mad or can laugh at the changes. Laughing is always better.
This does not not serve as an excuse for meanness as you point out. But most seniors I know are pretty good about laughing that the changes older age brings about . . .
I have taken a lot of heat on this one, you might want to check out the comments under the original article.
I’ve heard the argument that ageism is not discrimination because we are all aging so there is no “singled out” group. The problem with that logic is that ageist jokes, stereotypes, etc. make fun of a very specific group – those who struggle with physical or cognitive impairments. It absolutley unacceptable to make fun of young people with disabilities – so why is it just “poking fun” when directed at older people. A greeting card I found illustrates my point. Bunny on the front, wrinkling it’s nose – inside it say’s “I smell an old person”. Replace the word old with a word describing any ethnic or religious group, or replace “old” with handicapped. Most people would find that pretty offensive. At a time when we as a society need to encourage healthy aging why tolerate something that has the power to diminish well-being (research is clear) and negatively impact health beliefs, behaviors, and outcomes.
Steve,
You left out “Minimizing these consequences is part of the denial process,” which comes just before “We must stop it.” in your blog comment section.
Since you captured the text before and after it, it seemed strange that the part about denial was omitted. Your comment by its very nature shows that you are in denial of the need to “transform the culture and the experience of aging in America as quintessential and urgent,” as stated in the Butler report in regards to ageism.
Please let my article in the “ICAA Journal” (which is over 1,000 words) in which I address the forms of denial around ageism, and the research and books I referred to serve to “take you to task.” I appreciate the opportunity to share the insights of these researchers with the public through these forums by being called out by your insensitive remarks.
I believe I have stated my case succinctly in these forums and the comment section of your blog. Thank you for the opportunity to share the viewpoint of those of us who feel ageism is no joking matter.
From LinkedIn Groups
Steve,
You left out “Minimizing these consequences is part of the denial process,” which comes just before “We must stop it.” in your blog comment section.
Since you captured the text before and after it, it seemed strange that the part about denial was omitted. Your comment by its very nature shows that you are in denial of the need to “transform the culture and the experience of aging in America as quintessential and urgent,” as stated in the Butler report in regards to ageism.
Please let my article in the “ICAA Journal” (which is over 1,000 words) in which I address the forms of denial around ageism, and the research and books I referred to serve to “take you to task.” I appreciate the opportunity to share the insights of these researchers with the public through these forums by being called out by your insensitive remarks.
I believe I have stated my case succinctly in these forums and the comment section of your blog. Thank you for the opportunity to share the viewpoint of those of us who feel ageism is no joking matter.
By Kathy Sporre
Steve, I HAVE discussed this issue with my parents, all of whom are over 75, and they emphatically state that they have been affected by ageism. If you and your parents have not, I think that’s fabulous! That means progress is being made. However I, who am also in my 58th year, have experienced it. My hair is gray but I color it because when I left it natural I was treated far differently.
I agree that we have become maybe a bit too PC, but I see instances of Ageism almost daily.
And regarding Brent Musberger, he went too far. It’s fine to call a woman attractive (in my opinion) but he made the statement “Wow, I’m telling you, quarterbacks — you get all the good-looking women. What a beautiful woman, Wow! So if you’re a youngster at Alabama, start getting the football out and throw it around the backyard with Pop.”
And the difference between Musberger and Hugh Hefner: Hefner didn’t get married in front of 20 million people.
I must reply on my father’s behalf because he committed suicide after trying but failing to break back into the job market when he was 56. He was desperate to find employment, became discouraged and depressed because of the barrier his age posed – now he’s dead. I know he holds sole responsibility for his choice – his solution to the discouragement he was feeling. But, when depression overtakes a person, it can be overpowering and have dire consequences. Age discrimination is NO laughing matter, and, I believe, a contributing factor in his death. It was the small little disturbance that started an avalanche in his life that led to his death. We need to take age discrimination as the serious matter that it is. Perhaps that’s one reason why I am such a strong advocate to stamp out age discrimination.
From LinkedIn Groups
Some of the heat may have come from a major point that was missed in the article. Ageism – defined by the examples you give – would seem to be a “stupid, politically correct” cause. But there is a very real, and disturbing trend of behaviors that demean and/or diminish the contributions of individuals simply because they are older. This kind of ageism is serious and has a very real impact on the lives of older adults.
By Nicole Jamison
From LinkedIn Groups
Nicole: I don’t deny there is real ageism, but when we get upset about a little humor in my opinion it makes it much more difficult to be taken seriously when there are legitimate complaints. Further just because something bad happens to a senior it is not age discrimination. It may very well be that they are taken advantage of because they are vulnerable and that the vulnerability is related to age but that does not automatically make it ageism..
From LinkedIn Groups
Chalk it up to a computer glitch then. Kathy
By Kathy Sporre
Steve, I’m a monthly contributor to Kalon Women and each month my article has to do with the prejudice of ageism. Unfortunately, Kalon doesn’t give access on their website to archived issues.
To be honest, when I first started this topic, over 2 years ago, I also thought that I might find examples for perhaps 4 or 5 articles at most. And Steve? I’m still going with a new example every month. Trust me, I do know because of all the research I’ve done that this prejudice is rampant.
Let me give you a few titles of articles as an example:
Ageism in the Job Market (the one thing we seem to agree on)
Ageism in Retirement Homes
Laughing at Ageism
Hillary Clinton Defies Ageism
Nora Ephron; A legacy of Pro-Aging
Seniors and Social Networking
Ageism in Atlantic City
Ageism at Wal-Mart
Get Out of the 50s and 60s
I have a friend who IS an airline pilot and he’s trying to change a ruling that he must retire at 65 even though there are no changes in his cognitive abilities.
I suspect that you making such a broad, blanket statement simply means that you, along with many others, are unaware of the many many insidious examples of ageism in our daily lives. A little research on your part might enlighten you.
By Marcia Barhydt
From LinkedIn Groups
George E. Wolf • Hey Steve, if you have not experienced it, you don’t know what real age discrimination is. Marcia mentions only older women. It is universal, in business, in government, in the justice system, in finance, it is as much against men as against women. Physically, men may have it a little better, as 60-70-year old actors still play romantic roles, opposite women half their age. But that is mysoginy in public taste and perception. I am 85 now, with a lifetimeof expereince and a resume like few others, and I find age discrimin
Steve Moran • George and Marcia:
I worry that you missed the point of my article. It is not that I don’t believe that age discrimination does not exist because it clearly does. But because it does exist, to get upset over something like a humorous AARP video, makes it harder to be taken seriously when there is real discrimination.
Two more points:
1. Not every single bad thing that happens to seniors is ageism and we need to be very careful how we toss around terms. Much of the terrible stuff that happens to seniors is because as we age many of us become more vulnerable and it is the vulnerable that get taken advantage of regardless of age.
2. At some point we need to lighten-up and move on with life. I have had lots of unfair things happen to me. I couldn’t be an airline pilot when I was in my 20’s because I wore glasses. When I was 56 I had a hard time finding a job so I went a different direction. Got back into senior housing and started a blog to back it up.
if either of you want to write a counterpoint blog I would be glad to publish it as long as it meets the basic guest blog post guidelines.
Thanks for contributing to the conversation.
From LinkedIn Groups
I must reply on my father’s behalf because he committed suicide after trying but failing to break back into the job market when he was 56. He was desperate to find employment, became discouraged and depressed because of the barrier his age posed – now he’s dead. I know he holds sole responsibility for his choice – his solution to the discouragement he was feeling. But, when depression overtakes a person, it can be overpowering and have dire consequences. Age discrimination is NO laughing matter, and, I believe, a contributing factor in his death. It was the small little disturbance that started an avalanche in his life that led to his death. I can’t ask him directly if he’s ever been affected by age discrimination. But I think I know how he would answer.
We need to take age discrimination as the serious matter that it is. Perhaps that’s one reason why I am such a strong advocate to stamp out age discrimination.
By Kathy Sporre
From LinkedIn Groups
Steve Moran • Hi Kathy
Thanks for sharing that very personal and painful story. I can’t hardly imagine how painful that must have been for you and see why you have such a passion for the issue.
Steve
Steve, ageism may be the next politically correct cause. However, I don’t think it is necessarily stupid. Roll Tide!!!
Cynthia L. Gilley, MS
The Alzheimer’s Caregiver (TM)
LightBridge Healthcare Research, Inc.
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By Cynthia Gilley
From LinkedIn Groups
I’m personally tired of all PC stuff. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
By Stephanie Templeton
From LinkedIn Groups
There definately is an issue that should be corrected. When I was a new NHA several years back, the older more experienced NHA’s took the newer ones under their wings and taught us so much………Now they want to throw the more experienced from years of blood, sweat, tears like an old shoe….Those in the corp. world need to wake up to what can be added to a community with this valuable time, which no one can get unless they have been in the industy and have learned it, the hard way…. Were not older were better….yet they want a 20 year old with 30 years experience, pay less, with perfect survey’s. It just isn’t going to happen!!!!
By Sondra Eppard NHA
From LinkedIn Groups
Any article on an “ism” is certainly bound to stimulate negative feedback, but I find your article resonates strongly with my experience in the senior living arena. I, at the tender age of 55, am thrilled to be eligible for the discount coffee, and I regularly ask about senior discounts when I am in a purchasing position. In the past two months I have received significant discounts at a movie theater and my hair salon. In this economic climate, we can all use a break, and I intend to capture as many discounts as I can! A little laughter goes a long way, and it’s important to not take ourselves or others too seriously.
By Paula Wilhelm
It’s not just about reading, Stephanie. It’s about real cause and effect, wellness and frailty, liberty or bondage, life and death. Take some time to educate yourself, so you recognize it when it happens to you or those you love. Best regards.
From LinkedIn Groups
What has happened to our sense of humor? Steve’s comments were not ageist. While I can agree that there can be a fine line between humor and any kind of “ism” our judgement should help us to discriminates the difference. Having been mentored by Dr. Robert Butler and proud to call him my friend, he would be chuckling over this whole thread if he were alive today. Nonesense really.
By Nancy Orr-Rainey, RN, BS, MS Gerontology
From LinkedIn Groups
Steve, you have done a great job on this subject….I’m so tired of the PC phenomenon…some of us old guys have learned enough at 70 to get through life and enjoy “humor” and deal with non-humor….some have become soft/dependent/entitled…tape an aspirin on it and get back in the game!!
By Andy Wojdula
From LinkedIn Groups
Of course having called the ageism discussion “the next stupid, politically correct cause” did not help matters, and brought out all my “protective instincts”, as it well may have Marcia’s.
Our country is in deep economnic trouble. At a time of widespread unemployment,
financial crises, stagnant middle-class income, and all the semi-fraudulent shenanigans by banks, insurance companies and other institutions, the public searches for scapegoats. I come from Europe, I was at the Nurnberg War Crimes trials at the end of the war, and believe me, I know what scapegoating can do. It starts with subtle attacks on the intended scapegoat, rises to jokes, to ridiculing, to job discrimination, that tends to get more vicious with time. The goal is the dehumanizing of the scapegoat. Once dehumanized, society can justify to itself the most horrendous acts against the target population.
Today, the House Republicans seem intent to maintain their big bucks donors’ huge contributions by attempting to safeguard their low taxes. But they are doing it at the expense of the elderly, suggesting cuts and postponements in medicare-medicaid and social security, as well as other programs that are vital to the poor, especially poor children and poor elderly. Today, the “seniors” have become the intended scapegoats.
So if I take serious offense at the comment that ageism is a “stupid, politically correct cause” and that I should lighten up and enjoy jokes at the expense of seniors and their physical looks and problems, I do it with full force. Because, unlike you who do not have the historical memory that I have, I know the political consequences if it is not stopped in time!
By George E. Wolf
Like I said in another post about the subject of ageism: ageism is like an iceberg. Most of us have no trouble seeing the part that is above the water. However, there are those of us, such as those with historical perspectives as you have shared, that see the larger, dangerous portion below the surface. I’ve been watching a History Channel show, “Mankind: The Story of Us All.” It’s amazing the cruel things mankind has done to one another. We are still human and capable of justifying horrendous things in the name of one thing or another. It’s a slippery slope when we start devaluing a group of people.
From LinkedIn Groups
Thanks Steve, I honestly just connected the two for the first time yesterday when you suggested on your blog that we ask our parents if they felt they have been affected by age discrimination. It was an eye-opener for me as I processed my father’s death 28 years ago when I was 28. Now, 28 years later, I am exactly the age he was when he died. Strange how one can take a fresh look at something and see things differently or in a broader perspective. But then, what did I know about age discrimination at 28 years of age?
I didn’t mean for it to be a conversation stopper. I think age discrimination is worth discussing because it is so prevalent in our society. I hope the discussion will continue so that I can keep throwing out all those great educational resources to people who want to educate themselves on the issue.
Now I finally understand why I have such a passion for the issue. Thanks for being the catalyst to open my eyes…..even if we disagree.
By Kathy Sporre
From LinkedIn Groups
Respect should always come first along with (un) common sense. You make a great point about Musburger. Thanks and keep writing!
By Luke Daniels, CSA
From LinkedIn Groups
Maybe just “cranky-ism”… (smile)
Seriously, though, I think it may be the fear of the unknown.
By Paula Wilhelm
From LinkedIn Groups
Over the past few years I have realized that our industry, which segregates services by age really fuels ageist viewpoints.
On your blog post you referenced skiing, imagine if someone created a ski resort for people over (or under) a specific age! That’s what we do with when we create Senior Centers and other age segregated settings.
As an adaptive snowboard instructor, I work with individuals of all ages and abilities on the same slopes as the elite athletes, its a community based around an interest, not age or ability.
Whenever I speak about this, the conversation always turns to efficiency of services or “they” want to be together and not around young people. I always remind people of the dramatic progress we have made in civil and womens rights in the last decades.
By Steve Gurney
George:
I believe you are right in stating that we are in big economic trouble, but I would be reluctant to blame it solely or even primarily on the Republicans fight to keep taxes low. Ultimately lower taxes help all of us, because it is more money in the economy. If we were to confiscate all the wealth of say the top 2% income earners in this country it would hardly make a dent in the deficit.
Unfortunately government has gotten bigger and bigger and more and more expensive. Medicare, was in good concept a nice idea, but because it was a cost plus based system it caused costs to skyrocket.
Are the seniors the scapegoat? I am not so sure about that. Perhaps we have for the last 50 years been living on money borrowed from our children and grandchildren and we are running out of borrowing power. I am honestly not at all clear how we can as a nation afford even minimal care and housing for our seniors. It is a scary thing, but to blame it on one side, honestly does not move us forward at all.
Steve
Steve,
I agree with those who say lighten up. The thing about life is…. Nobody gets out alive.
You’re spot on with the answer about the deficit. It’s the worst kind of blindness to simply blame the other side.
As if nearly Everyone in Congress doesn’t seem to think themselves entitled to much more and better, than the public has.
And also, PC is too prevalent. We’re losing our individualism as Americans, and our freedom of speech. I love Maxine, she’s the very “ageist” lady from the greeting cards and calendars, and she speaks to my heart as a senior caregiver.
Our Residents love the Maxine calendar I got late last year. A couple of them have started looking at the pages daily, and they give each other pages they think sound like the other person, or like Themselves, to read and to chuckle over.
Really, we run the risk, when we insist on “stamping out” all references to any other view but the PC one, that we create a “thought police” and in the end, tyranny. This hue and cry will do nothing to change human nature in the short run. Some people will always be more upbeat, versus more down on themselves and on life. But in the long run, this robs us of one of the anti-aging tools that Works the Best…. Humor, Laughter is the Best Medicine, or so I read in Readers’ Digest, and I always found it true.
Doreen
Steve G:
I am not sure what you mean by our industry segregating by age. If you mean that only seniors live in assisted living, I see that as being mostly practical. Not many young families would want to live in that environment and honestly most seniors would not want small children running around making noise and messes.
I think it has more to do with meeting needs that are different in different stages of life. That being said, and maybe a seemingly contradictory statement, I do think more effort needs to be put into creating more inter generational activities. It may ultimately even be the way to reduce costs.
Steve M.
To conflate age-related humor with Nazi-Germany scapegoating is about extreme a continuum fallacy as I may have ever seen. That a snowball has rolled down a hill in a certain trajectory once does not mean it will roll down the same path every time.
The direct harm of an action or the direct proof of causation of a harmful act is the burden of proof of the accuser, not the defendant. The published studies that have been referenced so far show he negative effects of a systemic system of discrimination, but it does not prove causation between age-related jokes and a systemic system of discrimination. In fact, a study published by the Journal of Aging and Mental Health showed that “The relationships between health status and humor coping and health status and life satisfaction were statistically significant.” (Aging & Mental Health
Volume 7, Issue 6, 2003 )
Ageism is alive and well, and must be combated, but you should treat age-related humor for what it is, and not as though it is equal to more severe acts.
Ageism, smageism! C’mon, people, you have to take age and gender into consideration in many cases! Do you want an 80 year old fire fighter, who is also a female with typical female low upper body strength, trying to pull you out of a burning building? Do you want a 22 year old man (with typical raging hormones) just out of college, advising you on your finances and retirement plans? We prefer to hire older workers who do not have young kids … kids who get sick and make them stay home and miss work, because they can’t go to school with a fever. Is that ageist ….. or just prudent business practice??? You tell me.
Ageism and prudent business practices are not mutually exclusive concepts. What is best for a business is not necessarily non-discriminatory.
From LinkedIn Groups
Thanks Steve, we must not be frightened or afraid to speak up when things are not right in our industry. Otherwise how can we fix it?
By Sondra Eppard NHA
From LinkedIn Groups
I’m an advocate for older women and in that vein I collect lots of information about older women living in poverty —
WOMEN IN AMERICA: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being
People, Families, and Income
Prepared by
U. S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
and
Executive Office of the President
Office of Management and Budget
– Historically, women have been more likely to be
poor than men. Poverty rates for unmarried
female householders with children are
particularly high, and have consistently been
two or three times as high as overall male and
female poverty rates since 1966.
– In 2009, almost 11 percent of women age 65
and older were poor, compared to 7 percent of
men age 65 and older.
– In 2009, 28 percent of working women who
were unmarried with children had incomes
below the poverty level, compared to a poverty
rate of 8 percent among all female
I am 100% convinced that much of this poverty is the result of lowered income due to ageism combined with sexism. Older women are still the targets of discriminatory activities.
By Marcia Barhydt
From LinkedIn Groups
I always laugh when I meet with folks living in Assisted living communities and they talk about age…. I was conversing with a 79 year young woman the other day. As another community member entered the room, my companion said – “You know – that woman is almost 90 – she should be in a nursing home!” To my companion – that 10 year age variance, made her feel younger!
Personally, I turned 60 and am really enjoying this time of my life – so those 50 year old kids still have alot to learn! ;-0)
Mark
By Mark E. Stricklett MBA, CHSA
From LinkedIn Connections
Steve,
I agree with your position. When there’s a problem, there’s blama all around.
By Lorie Eber
From LinkedIn Groups
Wow, a lot to comment on here. I agree with Lorie that the blame should be spread around to both sides.
Since this discussion shifted a bit to funding and cuts in government programs, I will speak to my experience with government agencies during the last 2+ years .
After the financial exploitation of my 93 year old mother, I contacted, wrote letters to and filed complaints to over 15 state and federal government agencies. I reported ID Theft, SSA fraud, fiduciary abuse, elder financial exploitation, neglect, mail fraud, etc. I spent precious time filing a very credible and detailed complaint to the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau because they said one of their missions is to protect Older Americans. They posted they wanted our elder abuse stories, but they have not resolved one elder exploitation issue..
To date, either no one has responded or they closed my complaints and disputes. Last year I read the link below that the GAO reported that 85% of complaints are NOT investigated within these government agencies I mentioned. The GAO also stated that there is no coordination between agencies and seniors are falling through the cracks. I know, because my Mom fell hard through those gapping cracks.
I review study after study by these government agencies about elder exploitation. Millions and millions of dollars have been spent to study elder abuse and neglect with no reduction in this ugly crime. Awareness is being raised, but we are not helping victims. There are so many levels of government that impede helping the deserving.
Women are most likely to be financially abused and. I’m very passionate about victims rights especially Older Americans. These government agencies have not produced results for my mother’s welfare and care. I handled everything myself and I did not place her on Medi-Cal, even though she is impoverished and should qualify.
My views are not a blanket condemnation of all agencies. Everyone told me, just put your mother on Medi-Cal. That comment annoyed me to no end.
I also know people dismissed my mom becauese of her age. That was very hard to overcome. This entire experience taught me that seniors are not valued and that big government missed the mark for my Mom and other victims I have met during this ordeal.
GAO article:
http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2012/11/27/news/doc50b531d82e335658210281.txt
By Leanne Collins Miller
From LinkedIn Groups
I would like to see our industry be more creative in extending options beyond the scope of age.
A great example of how challenging this can be is illustrated in this story http://www.retirement-living.com/a-family-overcomes-the-odds/ , a couple taking care of their daughter with a disability needed assistance, it took calls to over 30 communities until they found one where the family could stay together. The daughter is in her early 50s and since moving to the community has become a valuable asset as a resident.
Another example is the Josh Fiola, the minor league baseball player who lived in an assisted living for a season instead of being hosted in a little league household. The benefits were seen immediately for both Josh and the residents and the community was transformed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWDIck1m7TA
Also the Hope Meadows community has created an environment that offers subsidized housing for seniors to help families raising foster children. http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-7603-this-is-the-village-it-takes.html
I disagree with your statement that “most seniors would not want small children running around making noise and messes”, there are hundreds of seniors that live in my community right alongside kids. BTW kids are not the only individuals that run around and make messes – we have those in my community as well! I am involved in setting up a “village” in my community and I have actually found that single parents and elders living alone probably have more in common with each other than their own age cohort. The other exciting thing is that we see opportunities where they can help each other in meaningful ways as well.
My point is creating environments that legally segregate by age don’t give people options. Yes, your typical assisted living will probably be populated by people who are older, however lets not limit it – you might get a pro ball player or a young attorney in a wheelchair!!
Sorry to go so long – I love this topic and I appreciate the dialogue on this forum!
By Steve Gurney
LinkedIn Groups
Your comments could apply to sexism and racism as well. In other words, ageism is stereotyping and so deeply ingrained that it is not even recognized by many. To educate yourself and others, more than reading Wikipedia, i suggest AGEISM Edited by Todd Nelson. You might be surprised that the jokes you make, even at yourself, influence your 6 year old grandchild. I speak on this topic frequently because we need to understand the effects. Thanks for raising the issue!
By Karen Klein
From LinkedIn Groups
Leanne thank you so much for sharing your story about your mother and the agencies who are meant to include her in their list of those to be protected.
To me, your post and accompanying article add dramatically to the evidence of ageism everywhere, including the government.
By Marcia Barhydt
LinkedIn Groups
I was on a leadership team that developed a “Little City” design within a community that won first place in MN’s Thriving by Design Competition. It is an integrated design concept. I can send you a copy if you are interested. Just let me know.
By Kathy Sporre
From LinkedIn Groups:
Mark reminded me of a story about my great aunt Rose from several years back. She was 90 years old at that time,living in an assisted living community in Florida somewhere and one of the oldest residents there. I remember my dad getting off the phone laughing so hard he was crying. Turns out Aunt Rose was very active and didn’t mind speaking her mind. She ended up helping with the activities some how and got rally peeved with the “crankiness” of some of the women attending and complaining about the activities. She had had it with “all those old people!”
So it’s not just chronological age variance that accounts for feeling younger. Mental age makes a big difference, too.
By Martin Sabel
From LinkedIn Groups
yes, you have but you needed too…As you get older you get better…don’t you know that???Everyone forgets once in awhile so what? your human!!
By Sondra Eppard NHA
From LinkedIn Groups
Great discussion, really. So much of thios centers on who is the butt of the jopkes…and so much of this is based upon why is everyone so sensitive. All depends on which end of the stick you are holding. As for the comments on the 93-eayr old victim of financial elder abuse, no way to know the anything without facts (which I am not requesting) but it is disconcernting how poorly the system is set up to accomodate a person on the issue. Best case is to file police reports and forget agencies trying to handled one case…nothing there, be prepared to file a law suit against the perpetrator…limited number of attornesy can/will handle but ones that do can assess the case’s merits early, and proceed if facts justify.
The discussionm about poutting your mother on Medi-Cal has nothing to do with health care…there is no reason to abandon a good Medicare Advantyage policy (zero cost) for Medi-Cal. If she needed long-term care in a skilled nursing facility, then Medi-Cal is certainly the way to go. Medicare has extended life expectancies of people over 65 years old by 6.5 years since inception in 1965…a demographic miracle. Social Secuirty has lifted 75% of all people over 65 years old out of poverty since 1937, an economic miracle.
Once we are allowed to have an honest, non-ideological discussion about Medicare in the U.S., we will all be relieved to discover things are going to get better with costs from here on out. Stayed tuned, read up, turn off the television set.
By Michael McGuire
From LinkeIn Groups
I did nto say the Republicans were the cause of our economic troubles. I also did nto say the elderly were the scapegoats. I said to correct the ecponomic troubles, caused BTYW by multiple causes that had been ignoredx for years, the Republican congress was throwing up obstacles. And I said at times like these, the public searches for scapegoats. Elderly make handy scapegoats and we need to nip it in the bud. That’s all.
By George E. Wolf
From Linked In Groups
Leanne, your story is horrific, your mother having been victimized twice – once by the crime (you do not explain of what kind) and the second time by the inactivity of the authorities and your inability to get justice for her. Besides my advocacy for the elderly, I am involved with domestic violence prevention and help to victims, and there are two discussion groups where I think you should post your story. You may get valuable advice or insight, but of course that is a hope,not a promise.
Domestic Violence Victims/Advocates forming National Network and DVH Domestic Violence and Homelessness.
That said, the reaction of the various authorities and agencies are clearly age discrimination as well as inertia, laziness, incompetence so often typical of government bureaucracy. Can you connect with your Congressional
representative or your Senator? You might find that one phone call or letter from him or her could get all of them pretty active pretty quick.
By George E. Wolf
From LinkedIn Groups
As an additional comment, Steve, you and I are not in agreement on economics, the role of government, whether government should be or not be like a business (it should not), and much else. If we start to debate every single point, it could take years of our lives, which at least I do not have to spare. It is also that you are convinced of your arguments and I am convinced of mine, and we shall never convince the other. With that I tip my figiurative hat and bid you adieu for now.
By George E. Wolf
From LinkedIn Groups
As I approach retirement within a few months after over 41 years of service to the same home ( as DON and then ADM.), I am still full of good ideas, motivation and ability to oversee the facility, to correct the things that are not quite up to my standards and to learn more. I choose to retire at 65, because I owe it to my husband of 43 years to spend some quality time with him and to get away from ALL the responsibility that the title holds. I do find a few middle age employees making fun of my declining hearing, but I also hear them saying “huh?” at times. For the most part, I have been and still am respected y the majority of the staff and when the nurse aides tell me that they will not let me retire, I know I have made an impact. Now it is time to hand over a 41 year old facility that I raised from a “pup”, to a brand new person. That is the scarey part. I do believe that experience is the greatest teacher and make the best administrators, but some time we have to pass the torch. So God Bless You ALL that are sticking with it. I will retire into minimal part-time teaching of healthcare at a local college ( with much less responsibility…. no late night phone calls or answers to a false fire alarm or snow emergencies… or evacuations…. or passing of some GREAT folks that we serve)
By Theresa Womeldorf
From LinkedIn Groups
Martin. I totally agree. I would like to add that I have always found the activities department to be extremely important in affecting the quality of life for individuals. Their ability to engage all residents in a meaningful manner that adds to their self worth goes a long ways in helping them to feel young. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
By Ralph Reid
From LinkedIn Groups
My father was 82 when he passed away from complications of prostate cancer but his mind was still very sharp and he ran his business from his bed. Age and how lively you are I believe has a lot to do with your mind and staying current.
By Leslie Spirer
From LinkedIn Groups
With all of the years I have spent in this industry my favorite quote from a resident is “Age is a number and mine is unlisted” Age its self is not the limiting factor; your mind is. If you have not see the movie “Age of Champions” I would highly recommend it.( http://ageofchampions.org/ ) I believe our mind and how you keep your relevance are the key to an active fulfilled life, not how young you are.
By Rick Taylor
Many state statutes regarding what constitutes crimes against the older population such as elder abuse are out of date. We need to start there to make sure we can put some teeth into helping those who are victimized.
All other forms of discrimination have been identified, challenged, and reformed. Slavery and racism had Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to champion those causes, and the bloodshed in the Civil War alone was over 600,000 souls. Dr. Robert Butler started to champion the cause of ageism through his important research with the Anti-Ageism Task Force. As far as I can tell, that important piece of work is collecting dust and ageism continues to be as prevalent in the country today as when the report was written in 2006. I agree with Richard Ambrosius that the late Dr. Robert Butler would sob, not only at the ignorance of those in the aging field, but of the lack of progress of a movement against age discrimination by 2013.
Fallacy? I don’t think so. History has always been a good teacher. But, there are those who refuse to believe the holocaust even occurred. Could we at least agree that the snowball would trample over everything in its way on the way down the hill regardless of the trajectory that it takes? Please, age-related humor is one of the many things that fan the flames of ageism. It only takes a few embers to start a raging forest fire!
I absolutely disagree. So many snowballs lose inertia before they even begin to roll. Jokes have been made at the expense of thousands of types of people without material discrimination presenting as a result of the humor. Again, burden of proof lies with the accuser. It is up to you to PROVE that humor leads to material ageism, simply reiterating THAT it does lead to material ageism treats the causation as a foregone conclusion, which it is not.
Incidentally, Slippery Slope and Fallacy of Continuum are unquestionably logical fallacies:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies
Here is another, newer, report on ageism. This one comes from Revera out of Canada: http://www.reveraliving.com/About-Us/Media-Centre/Revera-Report-on-Ageism/docs/Report_Ageism.aspx
The Special Committee on Aging of the United State Senate held a hearing (107-797) on the Image of Aging in Media and Marketing on September 4, 2002. The full Senate testimonies can be found here: http://aging.senate.gov/publications/942002.pdf