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Discrimination
Some people treat the elderly as if they all possess
the same characteristics. This is called "ageism"
and attributes negative characteristics to the elderly
as a population group. For example, some might say that:
- The elderly have trouble remembering things;
- The
elderly are hard of hearing;
- The elderly are rigid
in their thinking;
- The majority of the elderly have
outlived their interest in sex; or
- The elderly are
not as mentally sharp as those who are younger
in age.
The problem with applying such global attributes is that
it permits discrimination. If we think the elderly are
basically all the same then we do not need to interact
with them as individuals. They can be treated as less
than fully human. That is, we might take their welfare
less seriously than we do that of younger persons. The
end result of this kind of discrimination is that people
get treated as if they were of inferior ethical status.
Their dignity is threatened. We have all heard elderly
persons spoken to as if they were small children. Health
care providers also may address elderly patients as 'honey',
'dearie', and 'sweetie'. These forms of address are not
terms of respect; rather, they are demeaning and fail
to honor the dignity of the elderly. |
