Ageism in society

-

 

 


Ageism in society has been around forever, although it seems to be worse now. Most folks used to equate age with wisdom. Of course, that’s not always the case. Just because someone is retired doesn’t mean they know everything. But it also doesn’t mean their brains are shrunk and useless. Well, let’s think about this.

Ageism in the workplace exists, but companies don't admit it. Why don’t they like folks over sixty? It could be that they are making more money than someone who was just recently hired.

Ageism in healthcare

 Another myth is that older folks have more health problems than younger people. I don’t think there is any evidence to back that up. Now, some companies cherish older workers because of the knowledge they have acquired over the years. Those are the companies you want to stick with.

It isn’t just a problem at work; being in public can also have its challenges for senior citizens. Being slower can make some folks roll their eyes while waiting for you to move up in a grocery store checkout or crossing the street. I use a cane to walk because of my Meniere’s disease, and I try to hurry as fast as possible so as not to hold up folks who are in a hurry. Fortunately, most have patience with my mobility, but not everyone.

Some cultures honor older people. Japan has a special day called Respect for the Aged Day. That’s pretty good! Japan has a different way of looking at getting older. This is important because 25 percent of their population is over 65.  From Population ages 65 and above (% of the total population) - Japan | Data

Other countries, such as Italy, China, Brazil, and Iran, have shrinking birth rates as well. 

So hopefully the stigmatization of the elderly will be diminished.


 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Starting out...

-
  Starting out... I am in the dreaded Elderly category. I’m almost 67, and I feel it. But then again, it might be the assorted ailments that I deal with, like Parkinson’s disease, Meniere’s disease, and depression. I’m trying to deal with all this the best I can.  Maybe this blog thing will work out. Although my physical ability has decreased, I don’t think my cognitive skills have dropped much. My short-term memory is a little shaky, though. For example, why am I in the kitchen, and what would I look up on Google? Everybody gets those moments, I think. What will I do about all these problems (should have said challenges)? I read, write, and try to push myself. I hope that works. Over the past few years, I've self-published fiction books , which helped shape my cognitive skills. I never made much money from them; I probably broke even, but I enjoyed writing them anyway. I’m now writing short stories and submitting them to online magazines. Writing, for me, has alw...
Read more

Thoughts about diet and exercise

-
What’s holding me back from improving things in my life? Well, me, I guess. I can blame the health issues till I’m blue in the face, which makes matters worse.   I’ve found that being negative about everything in life is easier than trying to find happiness and contentment somewhere. Change can be difficult. It’s difficult for me as well. I’m attempting to change my diet to include more fiber. Reece’s cups do not have fiber. Never do chocolate ice cream or potato chips. I’ve never loved fruit , but I add an apple or an orange daily.   As well as low-fat yogurt. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a start. I’m also walking a little with my wife. It's not much, maybe 15 minutes, but it helps. I’ll increase the distance as I feel more comfortable with it. I have found some stretching exercises that seem helpful. You must start somewhere. Just don’t overdo it. If you do, you might injure yourself or get frustrated and quit entirely. You don’t want to do that. I’ll ...
Read more

Senior Citizen Isolation

-
Image
  Not everyone has a large family or many friends to share time with. Isolation is a problem for senior citizens. I have many relatives, but they live far away from me. I see some of them on Facebook, but that’s it.   I’ve always been a bit of a loner, so I don’t have friends in the Atlanta area. (I know this is sounding a little whiny) It’s a problem because isolation ties into developing dementia . I’m not sure how I can change this. I am lucky that my wife and son are supportive of me. So that is a positive. Human interaction is powerful in the fight against health issues for senior citizens. Many places have activity centers for senior citizens. You should investigate that or even go to church if you’re comfortable with religion. It’s always good to talk to someone about anything, really. As I might have mentioned, I’m also hearing impaired. But that’s enough complaining. Here is an excellent link from the National Institute of Aging. Loneliness and Social Isolat...
Read more