Abstract
An increase in concern with ageism, which involves negative attitudes toward older adults, can be attributed to the aging of people in the United States, and the industrialized world in general. The number of older adults is increasing and will continue to increase more rapidly than the rest of the population for the foreseeable future. As the number of elderly increases exponentially, so does public concern with federal spending on retirement and medical care. This spending is, in the minds of many, further tied to the growing and “disproportionate” political power of the elderly. Ageism also has other ramifications, which makes it an important ethical and social issue. On an individual level, ageism can result in physical and mental decline as well as loss of self-esteem. On a societal level, ageism deprives society of a whole sector of productive creative older individuals who are pressured to retire. Ageism negates the value of knowledge and wisdom that is gained by individuals over the years.
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Sherif, B. (2003). Age Bias, Older Adulthood. In: Gullotta, T.P., et al. Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0195-4_23
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0195-4_23
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