Perspective Chapter: Age Is Not Just a Number – Understanding Ageism and Its Health Implications for Older Adults

Abstract

Demographic changes present both benefits, such as the increased longevity of older individuals, and potential concerns, including ageist expressions. Ageism is a complex phenomenon, deeply rooted in modern societies, encompassing stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination that affect billions of older adults globally. The stereotypes surrounding older people combine both positive and negative traits, with negative aspects such as illness and dependence being socially emphasised. Emotional responses of pity and sympathy, linked to paternalistic or benevolent forms of prejudice, are commonly associated with these stereotypes. Ageism can manifest at micro, meso, and macro levels, and it can be directed towards other individuals or oneself. Stereotype Embodiment Theory offers insight into how age-based stereotypes influence self-perceptions of ageing and subsequently impact health and well-being. When stereotypes become self-relevant, they can act as either facilitators or barriers to the health outcomes of older persons. Internalised age stereotypes can result in self-fulfilling prophecies through three primary pathways: psychological, behavioural, and physiological. The detrimental effects of ageism on the health conditions of older adults compromise their active ageing, have been observed globally and have increased over time. Efforts to combat ageism must consider various factors across different levels and domains, requiring a coordinated international strategy for success. Three effective strategies include the development of policies and laws, educational and intergenerational contact interventions. Changing stereotypes is essential; it is crucial to rethink practices and institutional norms or policies that place older persons in positions of inequity or jeopardy while also promoting contact and solidarity between generations.

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