Seminar Sponsors (l-r): Jim Becker w/PAFC, Lisa Sullivaqn & Margaret Franckhauser w/Next Fifty Initiative, Janine Vanderburg w/Changing the Narrative, and Jason Morgan w/A Little Help
Next Fifty Initiative and the Rose Community Foundation in collaboration with Partnership for Age Friendly Communities of Northern Colorado (PAFC) and A Little Help sponsored a seminar on age discrimination, aka Changing the Narrative in December at the Chilson Center in Loveland. Over 50 people of all ages attended the three hour seminar!
Ms. Janine Vanderburg, instructor for her 45th seminar, provided lots of facts and information on making Colorado age friendly in workplaces and volunteer groups. By 2035, older adults are projected to outnumber children in the U.S. for the first time in history per the U.S. Census Bureau. Colorado’s 65 plus population is expected to be 77% larger than in 2015 from 719,000 to over 1.27 million and is ranked as the third fastest growing population in the U.S.
One important fact is Colorado adults age 50 and over make up 32% of the population and provide 42% of economic contributions to the state’s gross domestic product per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Other key facts about older adults:
1) better for society when remaining in the workforce
2) healthier and less dependent than previous generations
3) very entrepreneurial
4) better educated and tech savvy
5) twice as likely to start a new business
6) provide $78 billion in economic benefits
The World Health Organization defines ageism as “the stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of their age.” Robert N. Butler, a psychiatrist and strong advocate for older adults, was the first person to coin the term ageism in 1969.
Ageism can be directed against people of any age, e.g., when people stereotype all millennial employees as “entitled,” they are being ageist.
When directed at older people, ageism often involves assumptions that they are less capable, unwilling to learn new things, digitally incompetent and more. Research shows that this ageism become institutionalized, affecting hiring decisions, medical care, and social policy.
Research also shows that ageism has a range of negative impacts on people’s health and financial security. And it also affects communities. When a group of people is excluded from participation because of their age, their strengths and talents are no longer available to benefit the community.
How prevalent is ageism?
In a survey of people 60 and older, 80 percent reported experiencing ageism—such as other people assuming they had memory or physical impairments due to their age and almost two-thirds of workers say they have seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace per past survey reports.
“Changing the Narrative” is this year’s ageism awareness campaign to increase our understanding of ageism and to change how Coloradoans think about aging. Ageism is the discrimination or being biased against our older population. Unfortunately, ageism is alive and well, despite our current laws to protect people over 50 years of age. Someone who is biased tends to regard older persons as debilitated, unworthy of attention, or unsuitable for employment.
According to a recent study conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, researchers sent over 40,000 resumés to apply for 13,000 jobs posted online in 12 cities. The study concluded older adults over 50 received less responses than younger or middle-aged adults. According to a Tulane University professor, the bias towards age was prevalent over skill level.
In a survey by American Psychological Association of people 60 and older, 80 percent reported experiencing ageism such as other people assuming they had memory or physical impairments due to their age. Almost a third of older people state that they have been ignored or not taken seriously because of their age.
Janine said the Changing the Narrative is a Colorado pilot program of a national effort to make the public and employers aware of the ageism issue, why it is happening, and how to prevent it.
Janine explained common terms as Silver Tsunami, baby boomers, and seniors are not preferred terms with today’s older population. Another study on evaluating ageism conducted by the Frameworks Institute determined how the public thinks about the older population between 50 to 80 years old. The study concluded the older population is considered lonely and depressed, has health problems, relies on Social Security, doesn’t have enough money to survive, needs better instruction, not active, and feels it’s us versus them attitude. The public has cognitive holes on ageism and their social detriments.
The study also indicated society tries to have intervention to improve on ageism issues. The following items were prevalent from the study:
1) Ideal situation versus reality were quite different
2) Us versus them attitude
3) Individualism, where the public thinks it’s their fault for not doing well
4) Nostalgia of the good old days which isn’t reality today
5) Public feels this need on finding better solutions for the older population for them making better choices
The study recommended reframing our opinions on ageism. It recommended making choices on what is said and what is not said! By doing so, the study discovered
1) positive attitude towards aging
2) making Us Versus Them awareness
3) support expanded opportunities and policies for the aging
4) decreases bias against older adults
What methods work in shifting our opinions on aging? Providing effective story telling methods help to change opinions and generate solutions against aging. Janine gave several examples of story telling. The first story tells about confronting injustice, how an older person received discrimination of their age, and possible solutions in overcoming ageism. This story finds the older person is deemed less competent, less attractive, and less active than their younger counterparts. Workspace discrimination can be used in this story or using Facebook to post ads for younger peers, which explains implicit bias against the older population.
Not surprising, 77% of the younger generation prefers to work with younger people as evidenced in newer startup companies run by younger CEOs
Multiple solutions to overcome ageism include eliminating dates on applications, training managers on ageism, and changing public policy on ageism.
The second story discusses embracing the dynamic. Bring ingenuity as Americans are problem solvers and can seize the opportunity to reduce ageism. Replacing outdated practices with new ways of resolving issues is the key to using our nation’s ingenuity and experience. We should be trying new innovative concepts to improve how our society supports older people and respond to the aging issues.
The last story builds on momentum. Older adults build on experiences, thus contributing to our society’s workforce. As we all age, we should remember not to be opinionated on the younger or older generations. Everyone can contribute and lead a meaningful life in the workforce.
Five methods to avoid ageism include
1) the super senior, which depresses both young and old in the workforce
2) Sympathetic senior which can resonate with others
3) Ageism versus civil rights, which increases biases and legal issues
4) stories without solutions
5) outdated terminology including Silver Tsunami, elders, and seniors
It is recommended that older Americans retrain themselves by attending classes on the latest methods or technologies in improving their skill level, have a positive attitude, and network in their desired industry. Overall ageism can be overcome if the public changes their thinking about older adults and older adults change with the times. For more information on ageism and how you can help, please visit http://changingthenarrativeco.org/.