Confronting Ageism
As an individual naturally progresses through life, resilience is tested as acts of discrimination and prejudice against a person on the bases of age increases. Much research has concluded that negative stereotypes about older people are a direct threat to cognitive abilities in later life. Through the world of separating people into groups of high and low risk solely on the bases of age, there is further divide. Promoting healthy aging for older adults during the world of COVID-19 can include minimal contact with loved ones, and the overwhelming sense of anxiety that your life path could abruptly end without the proper goodbyes to those you love. We are aging in a new world now, and it is important to be mindful of the challenges you could experience...
In a study presented by Hess, Hinson, and Statham (2004), young and old individuals were exposed to explicit and implicit age-related stereotypes and then tested on their memory recall skills. The results concluded that when older participants’ witness age-related stereotypes, there is significant decrease in memory recall compared to younger participants. This then brings us to the question—how do we expect older people to retain their optimism when they are constantly bombarded with prejudice regarding their cognitive, physical, and emotional abilities? Ageism infuses itself into all areas of society; therefore, infuses itself into the unconscious mind of the aging individual.
The last year and a half have taught us how unbelievably precious life can be. Potentially the most critical lesson we have learned is how important social interaction is for a positive and happy life. One of the many devasting consequences of COVID-19 is the impact on the mental health of our older population. COVID-19 has been shown to lead to memory impairment, loss of alertness, increased anxiety, and decline in physical function among the older population. The loss of stimulation for those in this population instantaneously decreased psychosocial wellbeing, leading to an influx of decline among our already vulnerable population.
Psychological stress induced by COVID-19 needs to be understood at all levels of health care. We need to pay more attention to our older adult population and guide them through the obstacles that they may experience. When we recognize that there are parts of our society that negatively impacts one group of people more than another, then true change can occur. Research shows that improvements in the physical and mental health of older people can occur when we educate all ages of society about the myths associated with aging.
We need to emphasize that all life is beautiful—all life is worthy of love, admiration, and appreciation regardless of age, sex, gender, race, and ethnicity. As time moves on, healthy aging is our navigation. A healthy aging is embracing the grace of age with all of its trials and tribulations.
Sources
1. Nelson, T.D. Promoting healthy aging by confronting ageism (2016). American Psychological Association, 7(4): 276-282.
2. Batsis, J. A et al. Promoting healthy aging during COVID-19. (2021). Journal of American Geriatric Society, 69(3): 572-580.
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