Ageism needs to be combated
A right to legal protection against ageism is in the works
September 14, 2009
The Associated Press
By Kenneth D. Adkins
LifeStream Services CEO
Ageism. You might not recognize the word by itself, but you might know or have experienced these attitudes based on age: perceived fragility; not worth training; not fit to perform a job; not taken seriously; ignored; dependent; helpless; unproductive; demanding; undeserving; unworthy of attention, or debilitated.
When those attitudes are based on age — either young or older — they are all a form of ageism, a real and serious issue.
Ageism is defined simply as discrimination against a person of a certain age group. The term “ageism” was not in existence until 1969 when Robert Butler, the first director of the National Council on Aging, created it. He equated this type of discrimination against the elderly to discrimination on the basis of gender, creed, or ethnic identity.
Examples of ageism include such things as elder abuse; discrimination in health care, nursing facilities, emergency services, or workplaces due to age and negative representation in media and marketing. It also includes jokes in poor taste that further stereotypes of aging, and it includes shunning or treating aging adults in a different way because of their age.
You can also help combat ageism by joining our grassroots e-mail list for advocates. Just let us know and we will be happy to add your name to the list of people who want to make a positive difference in our world. Send your e-mail to mail@lifestreaminc.org or call us at (800) 589-1121.
Kenneth D. Adkins is president and CEO of LifeStream Services Inc. in Yorktown.
Abridged
SOURCE: The Herald Bulletin
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