We have all heard it said ‘You are only as old as you feel’ Therefore it is important that we all keep ourselves active and engaged in society on a regular basis. Otherwise we will get hit by that terrible word Ageism.
Ageism refers to how we think (stereotypes), feel (prejudice) and act (discrimination) towards others or ourselves based on age. Ageism refers to the harm done through how we think (stereotypes), how we feel (prejudice) and how we act (discrimination) towards others or ourselves based on age. Ageism can be conscious or unconscious.
Ageism occurs when people interact with one another (interpersonal), when organisations interact with individuals (institutional) and when people direct ageism towards themselves (self-directed).
How many times have you told someone “I am retired now” and they will reply “ Sorry to hear that” Retirement is the time in your life when your work has been done, your Contribution to society measured and now your pension fund (Hopefully) will allow you to enjoy your senior years. Now while on this subject, Which term describes our cohort correctly ‘Older Persons Council’ or ‘Seniors Forum/Council’ When you close your eyes what type of person do you see? They both describe pictures that are completely different. My opinion ‘Seniors forum’
Ageism is one of the most pervasive prejudices across human society. Ageism characterises and divides people in ways which are unjust, and which lead to disadvantage and the undermining of human rights.
Age is one of the first things we notice about other people. Ageism arises when age is used to categorize and divide people in ways that lead to harm, disadvantage and injustice and erode solidarity across generations.
Ageism damages our health and well-being and is a major barrier to enacting effective policies and taking action on healthy ageing, as recognized by World Health Organization (WHO) Member States in the Global strategy and action plan on ageing and health and through the Decade of Healthy Ageing: 2021–2030. In response, WHO was asked to start, with partners, a global campaign to combat ageism. The Global report on ageism was developed for the campaign by WHO, the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, the United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the United Nations Population Fund.
Age equality is the opposite of ageism. Age equality involves making a conscious, active effort to overcome stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination based on age, in order to remove all age-related barriers to equality of outcome for older people.
Age equality promotes policies and laws that address discrimination and inequality based on age.
Twilight’s educational activities, including self-directed learning, to enhance understanding and empathy about ageing, promotes Age equality and to transmit knowledge and skills to overcome ageism
Twilight’s intergenerational activities promotes Age equality, where people of all ages interact, to contribute to mutual understanding and cooperation between people of different ages.
