Stereotypes about older people

Ageism towards older people is a form of discrimination based on simplistic and biased beliefs about aging that have nothing to do with reality. This attitude is closely related to how we understand old age, how we establish intergenerational relationships, and how we perpetuate stereotypes about older people.

The three most common forms of ageism towards older people are:

• Infantilization: when we adopt a position of power towards an older person when interacting with them, responding to them, or treating them.
• Depersonalization: when we do not take into account the uniqueness of each person, their needs and preferences, and treat them all as a collective and in a homogeneous way.
• Dehumanization: when empathy is lost in dealing with the person, we do not respect their privacy, their autonomy, their participation in decision-making.

The media and advertising play a very important role in perpetuating stereotypes about older people, as they tend to highlight only illnesses or the most pathological aspects of aging and impose aesthetic standards that glorify youth and reject the symptoms of old age (wrinkles, gray hair, age spots, etc.).

Ageism towards older people is a form of discrimination based on prejudices about aging that have nothing to do with reality and that contribute to the rejection of growing old.

But in reality, we all contribute to this discrimination in some way , with "unintentional" attitudes and behaviors stemming from preconceived and mistaken ideas about the aging process. Let's begin, then, by breaking down these myths and false beliefs surrounding old age. Perhaps in this way, we will not only gradually eliminate age discrimination, but also lose our fear of growing old.

Some stereotypes or preconceived ideas about old age are:

1. Older people are frail, dependent, or ill.

FALSE. It's a stereotype to believe that older people are unhealthy, need care, or are dependent. Not everyone experiences unhealthy aging; a significant percentage of people age in good health.

2. Older people are a burden on the economic and health system.

FALSE. To claim this is to obscure the role older adults play in families and society at large, as we simply equate retirement with being productive or unproductive. We must also consider that people have different needs at different stages of life, and that older adults have already contributed and continue to contribute to the economy.

3. Older people do not adapt to change.

FALSE. We all find it difficult to adapt to change and step outside our comfort zone, as it requires effort and letting go of automatic habits. But this doesn't depend on age, but rather on each person's personality. We age according to how we've lived, so our character remains consistent throughout our lives.

4. Older people lose interest in sex.

FALSE. Health can affect a person's sexuality, but age does not. Older adults maintain sexual and emotional relationships just like anyone else. Furthermore, sex is not only related to the sexual act; there are many other ways to enjoy it.

5. Older people are boring.

FALSE . Having fun doesn't depend on age. Older people want to have fun and enjoy life, and they have more and more options to do so. Obviously, this activity will depend on each person's physical and mental health. Furthermore, according to the ageist stereotype, a bored older person is one who stays at home, not doing anything. But we also have to ask ourselves: What is boredom? Is being bored bad?

6. Older people are grumpy and difficult to deal with.

FALSE. There is a common misconception that older people are grumpy, moody, and always complaining. This stereotype, perpetuated by many characters in movies and stories, oversimplifies complex situations such as social exclusion, unwanted loneliness, and health problems, among others. A person's attitude toward life is not related to age, but rather to their personality and circumstances.

When we infantilize an older person, we adopt a position of power over them, thinking that they are not capable of making their own decisions.

7. Older people are like children

FALSE: The problem is that this infantilizing view has an underlying sense of power toward the elderly person, whom we perceive as less capable of making their own decisions. Furthermore, it's an expression used to describe all those annoying childhood behaviors that are then transferred to older adults.

8. Older people lose intellectual capacity.

FALSE. Intellectual functions do not decline with age, but some faculties slow down, such as memory, concentration, and mental agility. Although the pace changes, the capacity for learning does not.

9. Older people are more depressed and sad.

FALSE. There's a misconception in society that older people have little desire to live and are sad, but this isn't true. Older people still have a zest for life and enjoy it.

10. Older people are alone.

FALSE. Unwanted loneliness is a subjective feeling that can affect people at all stages of life. In fact, it has become a social problem that increasingly affects young people, linked to urban development, the rise of individualism, and the use of new technologies.

11. Older people are wise.

FALSE: The idea that older people are wise is an example of a positive stereotype, in which we again homogenize a segment of the population based on their age. In fact, there is no direct relationship between wisdom and being older, but there is a relationship between being older and having experience.

12. Older people are stubborn and inflexible.

FALSE. Sometimes, what happens is that when the environment is very paternalistic and, despite wanting what's best for the person, it can go against what's important to them. Standing firm and making decisions isn't easy, but it's something we learn throughout life. On the other hand, accepting that we need help or that a decision isn't really the best for us isn't easy either.