DB: Older people

Older Adult Oppression

Defining Ageism • Ageism • myths, stereotypes and misunderstandings about people as they age

• people who express ageism make general statements that are not true • Ageism makes judgments about the actions, character and desires of people based

on their age. • There is also a sense that old age is inferior to youth

Old is Ugly

• Ageism has developed over many years • society as a whole has put a

greater value on youth than on aging. • Television, movies and the

printed media tend to strengthen the idea that young is “good” and old is “bad.”

Process of Ageism

• People who have little or no contact with elderly people are more likely to accept the myths and stereotypes of aging. • People may visit their grandparents or

see other older people while shopping, but many people never spend any time getting to know an elderly person as an individual. • Young people who believe the

stereotypes see no reason to become close to an old person as they are seen as having little to offer.

Older Adults

•14.5 of US, 15.3 in OK (2016) •Vulnerabilities: • Poverty • Health care access and

affordability • Sexuality

Myth one: More alike • The idea that we all become more alike as we age is

common, but false. • Just the opposite is true. • As we age, we become less like our peers than younger

people. • As years pass, people learn different things, face different

things and respond differently to life’s occurrences. • Also, the actual number of years lived affects people

differently. • Some people are “old” at 65 and others are “young” at 90.

• Everyone ages physically, emotionally and spiritually at different rates, so the longer we live, the more chance there is to be different.

Myth two: senile

• The word “senile’’ actually means to age or grow old. • It has come to mean “dementia.”

• Dementia is not a normal part of aging. It is a disease that affects the brain and nervous system.

• “Alzheimer’s disease” is a type of dementia. • one in eight adults has Alzheimer’s disease

over 65. • Prevalence of Dementia increases markedly

at age 80 .

Myth three: Serene

• Many of us are familiar with the term “golden years” when referring to retirement. • Not all older people view those years as

“golden.” • Many older people face poverty, isolation, grief,

physical decline, loss of social stature and decreased control over their lives.

• These stresses may be reduced by help from family, friends, churches, public agencies or community networks, • no matter how much help is given, some stresses

cannot be avoided. • Some people are not able to cope with their

situation. • Suicide rates are higher for people over 65 than

for younger people.

Myth four: Sexless • There is a strong belief in our society that sex is for the

young and that older people should not and/or cannot engage in sexual activity. • Old and young people believe this myth.

• Many older people stop sexual relations because they have learned it is “bad” for them to continue. • Research has found that sexual activity and enjoyment

do not decrease with age. • People with physical health, a sense of well-being and a

willing partner are more likely to continue sexual relations. • People who are bored with their partner, mentally or

physically tired, afraid of failure or overindulge in food or drink are unlikely to engage in sexual activity. • These reasons do not differ a great deal when considering

whether or not a person will engage in sex at any age.

Myth five: Inflexible

• Inflexibility means to be resistant to change and to be unable to adapt to new situations. • People of any age can be inflexible.

• Increased age does not make a person inflexible. The opposite is true. • Older people must adjust to changes such as retirement,

disease, illness, death of family and/or friends and lifestyle. Without the ability to accept change, adjustment to these changes would be impossible.

• Research shows older people may change their opinion slower than younger people, but most remain open to change throughout their lives.

Myth six: Unproductive and uncreative

• This idea probably comes from the fact that society equates productivity and creativeness with employment and earning money. • In reality, many older people have the

freedom after retirement to really develop their creative side. • People now have the time to be active as

volunteers in all areas. • Many elderly people remain active and

productive throughout their lives.

Myth seven: Difficulty learning new skills

• There are differences in learning rates and styles between age groups, • incorrect to say older people have difficulty learning.

• Preschoolers learn differently from children in grade school and they learn differently from high school students. • We do not assume these differences are wrong.

• How older adults learn is different from younger learners, but that does not mean they cannot understand new information.

Myth eight: “Cranky”

• Young and middle-aged people who are able to get along with others will be able to do so when they are older. • People who are difficult to get along with

when they are young will be difficult when they are old. • How people adjust to change, accept and

respect others when they are young will most likely be their style when they are old.

Myth nine: Lonely • Sixty percent of the population at large sees the elderly as lonely. • Many people believe the elderly are usually abandoned by their family.

• Despite these beliefs, most elderly people are not abandoned by family and usually have close contact with one another.

• When asked about loneliness, only 12 percent of the elderly felt loneliness was a problem. • Family and friends largely determine whether or not an elderly person is lonely and

rarely is an elderly person totally abandoned in our society.

Myth ten: More religious

• Members of the present older generation did not become more religious as they aged • they grew up in a time when there was more formal religious training given to

children. • Their lives were often started on a more religious path that continued throughout

their lives. • The difference is generational rather than age-related.