Overcoming Agism

As I was trying to figure out ways to overcome ageism, I stumbled across a great journal by a Canadian medical student, Nathan Stall. It gave me quite an interesting perspective of someone who is concerned about ageism and sees it every day. He suggested three great ways to help alter the increasing ageism seen in the medical field. First he says there should be a zero-tolerance policy for those who approach older people in a negative way because of their age, just as there are policies again racism and sexism. The second way is for academic hospitals to mandate geriatric rotations for medical students to become familiar with the elderly and the complex care that they sometimes need. Lastly, he thinks that the educators should change the way elder care is displayed to ‘junior trainees’ (Stall, 2012). He states that featuring a different type of geriatric concern in daily reports can do this (Stall, 2012).

Stall says that medical students are, ‘…disarmed by lack of preclinical geriatrics education, [and] they quickly learn to adopt this behavior and turn their focus to more “medical” (younger) patients’ (Stall, 2012). Stall takes the topic of ageism and allows it to become real. Too often we hear about things and not realize the magnitude of consequences cast upon people.

In conclusion, ageism is a very real thing. It affects grandmothers and grandfathers all around North America. As citizens, we can help conquer ageism little by little. We can educate ourselves on ageism and try to not become ageists, ourselves. When others display characteristics of ageism, we can share our information and try to educate others. Stand up for what is right and not what is perceived to be right.

I will leave you with my most favorite quote. ‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’ –Mahatma Gandhi

Reference

Stall, N. (2012). Time to end ageism in medical education. Canadian Medical Association.Journal, 184(6), 728-728. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1000411662?accountid=9649

Ageism in Real Life

Over the past 8 weeks, I have interviewed three women aged 65 and over. The names of the interviewees will not be released therefore; I will use the names Mrs. A, B, and C. During the interviews, I defined the term 'ageism' for them and asked them if they had ever experienced ageism before. 

Mrs. A asked me, 'Well, what do you mean? That some people think of me different just because I am older?' I told her that was correct. She was very quick to come back and say, 'No, I have never felt like anyone has treated me differently now that I am older.'

Mrs. B told me, 'No, I do not think so, or not in an instance that I can remember. And even if they did, I would probably just ignore them.'

Ageism came up in the conversation I had with Mrs. C before I even asked her about it. Recently, she has had some major medical problems and has dealt with doctors on many occasions. When I was asking her about what the doctor told her about her latest problem, she said she did not know and that, 'The doctors just try to fix me and get me back out the door. They do not take time for an old woman like me.' It was pretty evident to me at this point that Mrs. C had undoubtedly experienced ageism. At this time, I told Mrs. C what ageism was and asked her if she felt as if the doctor was being ageist toward her. She said that she felt that the doctor was acting in this way toward her because she is older. When she realized that the doctor had taken advantage of her older age, it seemed as if it empowered her. Now that she knew what was going on, she could go back to that doctor and 'demand' some answers. 

McGuire, Klein, and Chen, conducted a study named ‘Ageism revisited: A study measuring ageism in East Tennessee, USA’. There were 247 participants. Eighty-four percent (208) of the participants reported experiencing ageism at least once and 71% (176) of the participants experienced ageism two or more times. In this cross-sectional study, statistical significance was found in those that lived in urban/suburban areas vs. those in rural areas. The elderly that lived in urban/suburban areas were more likely to experience ageism on more than one occasion while those who like in rural areas were likely to have only experienced ageism once. The most common type of ageism felt by the participant’s in this study was by a joke that made fun of old people, followed by receiving birthday cards that make fun of older people. These two experiences were closely followed by ‘A doctor or nurse assumed my ailments were caused by my age’ (McGuire, Klein, and Chen, 2008). The researchers concluded, ‘Ageist attitudes are highly contagious and tend to propagate, becoming self-fulfilling prophecies. We have the potential to create generations who value not only their own aging, but the older people around them’ (McGuire, Klein, and Chen, 2008).

 

It is interesting to read studies done on ageism when most of the population has never heard the word ‘ageism’ and even more probably do not realize what they are saying/doing is ageist. I hope the media begins making these types of studies headliners to make people aware that there is an issue that needs to be worked on. Mrs. C was completely correct in that the doctor was most likely showing signs of ageism. How can we put a stop to this doctor’s view on older people? I believe it begins by confronting the problem. If the elderly are unable to stand up for themselves, who will?

Reference

McGuire, S. L., Klein, D. A. and Chen, S.-L. (2008), Ageism revisited: A study measuring ageism in East Tennessee, USA. Nursing & Health Sciences, 10: 11–16. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2007.00336.x

Ageist Photos

I would like to share a few photos I found that relate to ageism. When the public sees photos like these, it builds and enhances ageist views. In a time that our countries population is growing older by the day, the media should really think about the unintended consequences of its' actions.

 

This first picture is an ad against ageism. It is making a point that older people are ignored; in this case because the older lady has grey hair. It also gives the older woman an expiration date as if she is just waiting to die or that at this time her life will be of no use.

 In this picture, someone took a simple picture and added in the caption. The caption gives the audience a sense of authority over an 'old woman'. It gives the public the thought that if you need easy money, you can just steal an older woman's purse.

 This cartoon depicts an old man hunched over because he is having back trouble. It is ageist to believe that all older men have back pain and are hunched over because of it.

I thought this cartoon was interesting. It is so stereotypical to show a older woman, with white hair, glasses, a long skirt, and a rolling pin. The epitome of an older domesticated woman.

References (in order of picture)

http://pointedmeanderings.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html 

http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=hh6&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&tbm=isch&tbnid=ozf4wsuyrtg_nM:&imgrefurl=http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/355y3c/&docid=2OjFr1E8GldXLM&itg=1&imgurl=http://i.qkme.me/355y3c.jpg&w=625&h=468&ei=NOmAUN_aFZCy9gT6goCYCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=596&vpy=4&dur=45&hovh=194&hovw=260&tx=199&ty=86&sig=107161755917935750704&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=162&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0,i:81&biw=895&bih=586

http://www.google.com/imgres?start=95&hl=en&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=DAm&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&tbm=isch&tbnid=MPukwdzUyyeCyM:&imgrefurl=http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21685629/posts/default&docid=L9RHrMg48btQ-M&imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aEHSeH9XsRI/SwNpWZKHAaI/AAAAAAAAALU/JgvwmePVd0I/s1600/oldman.jpg&w=800&h=775&ei=GeuAUI3yI4Hc8ASkjoDQAw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=5&sig=107161755917935750704&page=6&tbnh=139&tbnw=124&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:100,i:4&tx=36&ty=-19&biw=895&bih=586

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&tbm=isch&tbnid=p0_T-HvOIdMvqM:&imgrefurl=http://www.thegreatilluminator.com/blog/%3Fp%3D9534&docid=btui95-OSc8bbM&imgurl=http://www.thegreatilluminator.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cartoon-angry-old-woman.jpg&w=233&h=217&ei=jOuAULP1OJHm8gTq54CwCw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=256&sig=107161755917935750704&page=2&tbnh=144&tbnw=140&start=17&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:20,i:155&tx=40&ty=67&biw=895&bih=586