Critique of Ageism

This article discusses ageism, a type of discrimination and mistreatment against older people. It explores the detrimental effects of ageism and the principles of human dignity that call for its eradication. The article also suggests ways to address ageism at personal, community, and global levels, including changing perceptions about older people, advocating for intergenerational contact, establishing elder subtypes, and combating ageism in the nursing community. The importance of technology and global initiatives in fighting ageism is also highlighted.

Running head: AGEISM 1
JUSTICE AND CHANGE IN THE GLOBAL WORLD
Name of the student
Course
Date

AGEISM 2
Critique of Ageism
As stated in the previous assignment, ageism refers to a type of discrimination and
mistreatment against older people. Rendering to Chrisler (2016), elderly people are often
regarded as nonexistence and unnecessary in the contemporary world. Ageism deters the
equitable sharing of resources for the common good to humanity since the older people are
degraded, stereotyped and are usually not given equal opportunities as other groups of population
in the society. According to a journal by Estelle (2018), ageism is one of the most prevalent
modes of human discrimination. The detrimental treatment of ageism defiles particularity of
human dignity which calls for good of all people. Cameron, (2015); and Levy (2016), affirm it is
a kind of disempowerment and disrespect to the elderly group in the country which causes
detrimental effects such as poor life quality, deprived life esteem, and other health- weakening
attributes. The insidious disrespect of human dignity in ageism needs to be addressed for its
prevalence significance in healthcare and also as an act of professional law.
Principles of human
The principles to human dignity are determined to protect human life and have been
echoed and advocated by different laws such as the German Bardic LAW and the Catholic social
teachings. According to the teachings, all humans are created by the likeness of God and the old
are no exceptions. The teaching calls for radical equality of all people and every individual
should make an effort to treat each other with the dignity they deserve.

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Ways to address the ageism challenge
Ageism entails deep-rooted negative stereotypes of the older people and the problem
requires equally deep-rooted measures to wash away the beliefs. Some of the approaches ate
personal level, community level, and global level include;
Fighting ageism locally by changing the perception about the older people; seeing the
person rather than the age
According to North (2012) age is just a social group that everyone can join. Age gender
and race encompasses the three main dimensions of interpersonal categorization, only age that
cut across the categories in which every person potentially joins. Due to this universality, there is
a need for a change of perception to acknowledge the significance of this vital category. North
(2012) tries to bring out ageism in an intergeneration perception and views ageism in another
lens. Changing on the perception of the old involves viewing the elderly with another lens. It
can be achieved through the following;
Advocating successful intergeneration contact
A key approach to change the perception about the old people and combating ageism is
keeping a successful intergeneration connection between members of the community. Numerous
researches have been successful in evaluating the significance of fostering continuous contact,
collaboration, and interaction between different age groups in the community. Chen, (2017),
finds increased the change of altitudes and reduction of stereotyping after an increased
interaction between grandparents and their grandchildren. Increased contact and interaction
between generations is an effective mechanism to reduce ageism in the contemporary world.
Establishment of elder subtypes

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The old population is not uniform as commonly presumed (Davies, and James, 2016).
Rather, it is the most diverse group in terms of appearance attitude and health. North (2012) feels
that the introduction of different subgroups of young-old versus old-old distinction can help
combat ageism. This will help to remove the assumption that all the people in the age bracket are
universally old rather viewing them as different subgroups. This would be beneficial in
combating ageism. For instance, it would be easier to administer a specific type of care to people
aged 65-75 years differently for people aged 75-85 years rather than administering care while
treating the subtype as one group of old people.
Combating ageism in the Nursing community
Rendering to the previous assignment, it is notable that order nurses also feel undesirable
in the same weight as the filthy view of old patients. The following can be done to fight the
discrimination affecting some of the elderly nurses in the nursing community.
Understanding a person's full capabilities
According to Kagan (2015), one of common prejudice prevailing in the profession is that
the elderly nurses are outdated and misinformed of the modern procedures and forms of
treatment. Conversely, prejudice needs to be washed away in the minds of health practitioners. In
fact, some of these elderly nurses are the most highly experienced in their field of activity.
Acknowledging what a specific nurse does best and praising his or her capability is one of the
ways to fight ageism and making the offer nurses feel appreciated in the nursing community.
Upholding technology
We are living in an era of improved technology. New innovations and technological
advancement to cub almost every problem to humankind; new medicines, lifestyles, technology

AGEISM 5
is being developed to enable older people to stay healthier and reproductive. The older nurses
should be given the chance to get rejuvenated by being involved in the technological things of
the modern world. For example, modern communication can be upheld over the old
communication system to make the old feel in the digital era. This stimulates the brain to defy
against ageism and the problem will be long gone if the technology is well utilized. Policymakers
should also acknowledge this and act appropriately by increasing the retirement ages for the
working nurses in the community.
Fighting ageism globally
According to a report by the World Health Organization, the nation and the globe as a
whole m the authorities should develop a developed a way to combat ageism by developing a
way to ensure the older people get access to information and opportunities and that their opinions
are heard and responded to. In the City of Salisbury, the Council on Ageing South Australia
(COTA SA) in collaboration to Community Ambassadors which is a group of older residents
who have provided leadership seniors since 2010 in the northern region of Adelaide are
examples of such organization. This enterprise conducts bimonthly forums on different topics
that directly influence the lives of the older population. According to WHO Such program
discuses on issues such as Housing for the old, active and thriving ageism, creative aging, road
Safety and essentials of Older Drivers and educating the aged about their rights and issues about
Aged Care. Such an engaging partnership can be a key solution to ‘reframe aging’ through the
different engagement forums, participation, and empowerment of older generations if enacted
globally.
Conclusion

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Acknowledging ageism is the first step to combat the problem. Involved bodies should
first have a clear misconception facing the population. Ageism comes as unfair treatment to the
old or by having negative altitude and stereotype concerning the older generation. After
understanding the challenge, various approaches can be enacted to ameliorate on the problem.
Such includes change of view about age population, acknowledging their capabilities, utilizing
technology, and setting global programs to fight ageism.

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References
Cameron, S. (2015). A Study of Nurses' Attitudes Toward Medical Ageism.
Chen, C. Y., Joyce, N., Harwood, J., & Xiang, J. (2017). Stereotype reduction through humour
and accommodation during imagined communication with older adults. Communication
Monographs, 84(1), 94-109.
Chrisler, J. C., Barney, A., & Palatino, B. (2016). Ageism can be hazardous to women's health:
Ageism, sexism, and stereotypes of older women in the healthcare system. Journal of
Social Issues, 72(1), 86-104.
Davies, A., & James, A. (2016). Geographies of ageing: Social processes and the spatial
unevenness of population ageing. Routledge.
Day, T. (2014). About medical care for the elderly-long term care and eldercare. Retrieved from
http://www.longtermcarelink.net/eldercare/medical_care_issues.htm
Kagan, S. H., & Melendez‐Torres, G. J. (2015). Ageism in nursing. Journal of Nursing
Management, 23(5), 644-650.
Levy, S. R., & Macdonald, J. L. (2016). Progress on understanding ageism. Journal of Social
Issues, 72(1), 5-25.
Nelson, T. D. (2016). Promoting healthy aging by confronting ageism. American
Psychologist, 71(4), 276.
North, M. S., & Fiske, S. T. (2012). An inconvenienced youth? Ageism and its potential
intergenerational roots. Psychological Bulletin, 138(5), 982.