Reflections on Another Day Older: a resource for ageism awareness and action

ABSTRACT

We are all aging amid a cacophony of messages from the world around us as to what aging means. The challenge is that the significant portion of these aging messages are negative and incorrect. Negative attitudes based on chronological age are called ageism and they include prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination. They can be interpersonal and systemic, and many are internalized toward oneself. The consequences of ageism can include decreased quality of life, a shortened life span and increased mental, physical, social, and spiritual health challenges. Changing attitudes and behaviours about this universal life experience, aging, begins with awareness. Overcoming ageism is a life-long journey during which we have opportunity to reflect on our own implicit biases, name the cultural messages we have internalized, observe our interpersonal interactions, and find ways to disrupt the larger ageist systems around us. The resource Another Day Older provides a framework for a small group process of self-reflection, opening an awareness of the challenges of ageism and providing some tools to overcome it. The resource can be used in secular settings, but also includes opportunities to consider the topic using scripture from the Judeo-Christian traditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Ageism
• aging
• aging and spirituality
• implicit aging bias

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).