Ageism is pervasive and harmful, even when it's subtle. Ageism — which involves stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination based on age — manifests in everyday interactions, language and systemic policies, often in ways that you don't even notice.
Negative age beliefs degrade physical and mental health. Internalizing ageist stereotypes or experiencing age-based prejudice is linked to serious health consequences, including depression, cognitive decline, chronic stress and even reduced life expectancy.
Your mindset directly impacts your aging process. Adopting a positive attitude and sense of purpose as you age can actually improve cognitive and physical function. People with a positive outlook are more likely to stay physically active, maintain social connections and follow medical advice.
Getting older comes with distinct benefits. Aging doesn’t imply inevitable decline. Studies show that emotional and social intelligence improve with age, while impulsivity decreases. Older adults often experience a deeper sense of meaning and self-understanding.
You can actively combat ageism in your everyday life. Actionable strategies can shift your perspective and reduce ageist attitudes, such as using neutral language, practicing self-reflection, finding inspiring role models and applying the "ABC method" (awareness, blame and challenge).
Despite recent strides in anti-discrimination policies and cultural attitudes, ageist beliefs and behaviors persist. Although rarely considered a priority by legislators and other leaders, ageism is incredibly common — half of participants in an International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health study were found to possess “moderate or high ageist attitudes.”
This mindset remains pervasive, but is it truly a problem? As you’ll see, the impacts of ageism are not only harmful but also rooted in normalized actions that we, as individuals, may not even be aware of.
This article will talk about the power of mindset through the lens of ageism, plus methods for combating these stereotypes, starting with personal attitudes toward getting older.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “ageism refers to the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) toward others or oneself based on age.” Ageism persists across nearly every aspect of life, from the workplace to social programs to personal behavior, and it is experienced by every age group, young and old.
Manifestations of ageist attitudes aren’t always obvious, but stereotypes remain pervasive. The WHO provides the following common examples of ageism in everyday life:
Oftentimes, stereotypes are so ingrained that people hardly notice they’re perpetuating them. Normalized signs of age discrimination include:
Making tacky comments or jokes about age
Holding older or younger people to different standards
Denying opportunities to those of a certain age
Dismissing health concerns or illness
The adverse effects of perpetuating stereotypes are well known, but the impact of ageist attitudes goes beyond direct acts of discrimination. Not only does ageism impact mental and physical health, but one study concluded that those who reflect a positive outlook toward getting older “lived 7.5 years longer than those with less positive self-perceptions of aging.” Further research originally published in Geriatrics confirms that such deep-seated “ageist messages, interactions and beliefs [are] associated with negative health outcomes.”
When individuals face age-based prejudice or internalize negative stereotypes, it initiates a cascade of psychological, behavioral and physiological reactions that degrade overall well-being. Examples include:
Depression and anxiety
Cognitive decline
Reduced life expectancy
Chronic stress
Slower recovery
Underrepresentation in clinical trials
Additionally, according to the WHO’s Global Report on Ageism, ageism is a “major barrier to enacting effective policies and taking action on healthy aging.” This leads to further lack of access to equitable health care for certain age groups — particularly older adults — directly impacting their quality of life.
The WHO’s report summarizes these implications succinctly: “Ageism ... can change how we view ourselves, can pit one generation against another, can devalue or limit our ability to benefit from what younger and older populations can contribute and can reduce opportunities for health, longevity and well-being while also having far-reaching economic consequences.”
Does mindset really matter to your health as you age? As it turns out, yes, your mindset influences virtually every dimension of wellness, from physical to psychological health.
A separate Geriatrics study concluded that participants who adopted more positive age beliefs were “more likely to show improvement in both cognitive and physical function.” Similarly, The New York Times reports that, “as you age, a positive mind-set — including optimism and a sense of purpose — can benefit your health and longevity, too.” This is because a person who feels like they have something to look forward to is more likely to:
Follow medical advice.
Get more physical activity.
Maintain social connections.
Participating in a mix of aerobic exercise (i.e., cardio), strength training (i.e., lifting weights) and balance practice (i.e., yoga) is the general recommendation for older adults. Like Fielding, Dr. Storer recommends progressive resistance training (PRT), where workout volume is gradually increased as performance improves.
Recruit a qualified medical professional to assist you in developing the right regimen for your lifestyle.
To change your attitude about what it means to get older, it helps to internalise the positive aspects of aging. Of course, aging isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but it can be, and sometimes it is!
In fact, some studies show that people actually get better with age. A study by Dr. Becca R. Levy, PhD, a professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Yale School of Public Health, found that 45% of adults aged 65 and older showed measurable improvement in cognitive function, physical function or both over time.
What is it that makes life better as you age? Consider the following factors:
More life experience tends to make people less emotional and more thoughtful, which means fewer impulsive decisions and behaviors.
An article from Columbia University Irving Medical Center suggests that emotional and social intelligence improve with age.
Additionally, many older adults report that they no longer “sweat the small stuff,” instead turning their emotional attention to relationships and the aspects of life that truly matter, making life more meaningful.
As you age, you also become more in tune with your personal style and taste, in addition to acquiring the wisdom and freedom to be yourself, which can lead to a more fulfilling lifestyle.
As author Alicia Colombo states in her article for the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, “You can’t stop the march of time, but you don’t have to dread it.” In the piece, Colombo consults with Dr. Becca Levy and Regina Koepp, a psychologist who specializes in aging, to compile a list of strategies for changing your perspective on getting older. For example:
Changing your attitude begins with addressing your own feelings about being a certain age. Try age-belief journaling, which involves writing down various portrayals of older (or younger) people that you’ve gathered from movies, social media or conversations. Then, identify if that representation is positive or negative, and whether that person or character could have been presented differently or more favorably.
If you’re anxious about getting older, you’re not alone — but it’s unhealthy (not to mention unnecessary) to hold onto that anxiety. Work to confront these feelings by unpacking your worries and whether they’re truly something to get hung up on.
One suggestion from Dr. Levy to reframe the process of getting older is to find aging role models who inspire you to age gracefully. “[Come] up with five older people who have done something you deem impressive or have a quality that you admire,” she advises. “Shift your attention — look around for role models, see who’s doing it well.”
Dr. Levy’s ABC approach can also be helpful in adjusting your personal feelings about ageism. In this methodology:
People tend to perpetuate stigma unknowingly through microaggressions that materialize subtly in their choice of vocabulary. The WHO’s Quick Guide to Avoid Ageism in Communication recommends avoiding the use of phrases and terms that may be regarded as stigmatizing, and those that are “used in a pejorative sense” or tend to be associated with lower competency. Examples include words such as “elderly” or “juvenile,” and platitudes such as “granny” or “old man.”
When it comes to changing your attitude about aging, where you live makes all the difference. The environment of a Life Plan Community (sometimes known as a continuing care retirement community or CCRC) can actually be a medical benefit, not just a lifestyle benefit.
Life Plan Communities are an excellent example of the "C" in Dr. Levy’s approach — places where residents actively challenge stereotypes every day by taking up new hobbies or reaching new physical milestones. Campuses are intentionally designed to support the holistic wellness needs of its residents, offering numerous opportunities to nurture every dimension of personal and social health.
And one of the best parts about Life Plan Community living? It’s not a one-size-fits all proposition; communities cater to virtually every type of person, centering on the passions and pursuits of the people who live there. There’s no right way or wrong way — there’s only your way.
No matter how old we are, we can all do more to combat ageism stigma. Anti-ageism doesn’t just aim to establish a new, healthier norm, because research shows that a positive attitude toward getting older can actually help you live longer (and better). This mindset is not about being positive all the time; it focuses on instilling a sense of resilience that enables you to push through and pursue the future.
Remember, it’s all about the environment you immerse yourself in. Ensure you are surrounded by healthy, positive opportunities, and you will be more inclined to engage in these experiences.
To explore more ways you can shift your mindset and inspire your best life, check out A Holistic Guide to Senior Wellness.