Kicking off a global conversation about ageism

Today marks the launch of the first UN Global report on ageism.

Ageism is common and experienced by old and young worldwide. In the UK, around one in three people report experiencing age prejudice or age discrimination. According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s National Barometer of Prejudice and Discrimination, more people of all ages say that they experience ageism than any other form of discrimination. A global study by Ipsos Mori, looking at attitudes to ageing across 30 countries, revealed Britons are "overwhelmingly negative" about ageing, with just 30% of UK adults saying they are "looking forward to getting old".

We know from our research into ageism that age discrimination can have a negative impact on older adults. Stereotypes see older adults as ‘high warmth’ but ‘low competence’ which can lead to feelings of pity. Older workers are seen as having lower levels of performance, and less ability to learn, leading to lower levels of employment. In health settings, this attitude can lead to over or under medication for pain management, as well as older people being less likely to be referred for treatments like talking therapies.

Ageism has taken a nastier turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen some vicious rhetoric to talk about older people – from commentators reassuring one another that ‘only’ older people were at risk from the disease to one journalist arguing that the virus might benefit the economy by “culling” the elderly. The crisis has lifted the lid on many disturbing attitudes to age. It’s crucial that we tackle these head-on.

Older adults have been consistently referred to as ‘vulnerable’ throughout the crisis. While age is undoubtedly a significant risk factor of coronavirus, there are huge differences in the health status of those in this age group – and the overwhelming majority are neither frail nor vulnerable.

We have also seen the pandemic turned into a generational fight with no winners. The economic consequences of lockdown are seen to fall only on younger people. And yet older workers are at greatest risk of long-term unemployment. Two out of five older workers say that they are concerned that their finances will get worse as a result of the pandemic.

The speed of the vaccine roll-out offers hope to us all, after a year in which we have largely been advised to ‘stay at home’ and large parts of the economy have been shutdown.

We welcome the recommendations in today’s report to invest in evidence based strategies to tackle ageism, and the use of data and research to improve understanding.

At Ageing Better we have been working to examine how ageing and demographic changes are talked about in society, with the aim of shifting to a new, more realistic and positive narrative. Our two initial reports have examined the evidence behind and the pervasive nature of stereotypes and how the language used by different sectors shapes and reinforces negative attitudes to ageing.

Later this year we will produce guidance on language and imagery to support charities, media and advertising to change the way they frame ageing in our society.

Ageism has broad and far-reaching negative consequences. It can have a negative impact on physical and mental health, financial security, and people’s sense of self-worth. This global report highlights just how powerful these impacts are.

Ageism can be combatted. And it must be, if we are to come together to rebuild our lives in the wake of the global pandemic.