Overcoming Ageism & Rediscovering Life Purpose

Michael Faber

Grand Rapids Community College

THE PROBLEM:

AGEISM

AGEISM

AGEISM

What Is It?

As with the isms of racism and sexism, ageism is a set of beliefs, attitudes, social institutions, andacts that denigrate individuals or groups basedon their chronological age. The components ofageism represent stereotypic views of differentage groups and theoretically could apply toteenagers as well as to older persons. However,for all practical purposes, ageism is used as aterm referring to stereotyped views of olderpersons.

What Is It?

The negative feature of ageism is that, like otherstereotypes, it involves makingovergeneralizations about individuals based onoutward characteristics that they possess.Frequently these older persons then becomevictims of acts, behaviors, and statements thatdemean them. Hence they become victims ofdiscrimination in employment, education, andgovernment. They therefore become judged notby their abilities but by their age.

CAUSES OF AGEISM?

The Perpetuation of Myths and Stereotypes of Aging by:

– Society…a learned behavior

– Older persons themselves…a self-fulfilling prophecy

– Well meaning educators and professionals

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS?

A paradigm shift brought about by:

• Education of society

• Aging individuals…accept and embrace aging as a dynamic, productive part of the life cycle – the power of the Baby Boomers as a change agent

• The impact and role of professionals

THE ROLE OF THE PROFESSIONAL

Questions for self-reflection:

• Do I hold any stereotypical views of aging and older persons?

• In my work, words, and actions do I dispel or perpetuate ageist myths and stereotypes?

• What can I do to create societal change?

Do You View Aging Like This…

Or Like This…

Helping Older Persons to Re-discover their…

Life Purpose

“To be successful in the aging process one needs

purpose in life; whether one finds that in faith-

based organizations, political activity, involvement

in the arts and humanities, or in volunteerism.

Purpose resonates with health and creativity.”

Aging Today, September/October 2006

Jim Emerman, former researcher with the American Society on Aging said:

Purpose is Defined As:

Purpose is a result, end, aim, or goal of an action intentionally undertaken, or of an object being brought into use or existence, whether or not the purpose was a primary or secondary effect. It is possible that an intentional act may have multiple purposes, only one of which is a primary intention while the remainder are secondary intentions.

From Wikipedia

What Is Life Purpose?

• It is the primary reason for one’s existence

• It is what one is here to DO while they are alive

• It is the 'overarching meaning of one’s life' that shapes them and all that they do (as expressed in all areas of one’s life, not just a few areas like a job or primary role)

• It’s one’s own personal Mission Statement

• A sense of well-being that comes from living with purpose and joy

• The ability to deal effectively with life’s dangers and challenges

• Sustaining positive, meaningful, and dynamic relationships

• The ability to rekindle the passions of one’s youth, which were reduced or lost because of pressures of parenting and jobs

At the center of a person who is aging successfully with life purpose is:

Yale University Study 660 persons age 50+

(AARP March/April 2007)

People who viewed aging positively lived an

average of 7.5 years longer than those without a

positive view of aging…they focused on the good

things of life such as wisdom instead of their

aches and pains.

Yale University Study 660 persons age 50+

(AARP March/April 2007)

The role of personality in life’s trajectory cannot

be overstated. Optimism, good humor, curiosity,

energy and intellectual involvement are

associated with healthy aging.

Yale University Study 660 persons age 50+

(AARP March/April 2007)

One should think of their possible selves…think

of the ideal that they hope to be and have a plan

to fulfill that image.

Beyond the Myths of AgingPeople Need People:

Social factors play an equally significant role in aging as does exercise and good nutrition.

Unmarried males with less than 6 friends or relatives who do not participate in community networks are at increased risk for death from heart disease, stroke, accidents and suicide.

Those with social networks live longer after cardiovascular episodes.

Those with strong relationships have less mental decline and live more active, pain-free lives without physical limitation.

Harvard Public Review (2000)

People Need People:

Elderly people who live alone, have no friends, or have poor relationships with their children are 60% more likely to develop dementia than those with satisfying social contact.

Social connectedness is among the most important predictors of health and independence as we age…almost as strong as not smoking or being overweight.

Experts speculate that social isolation may create a chronically stressful condition to which the organism responds by aging faster.

The authors of Successful Aging agree “human beings are not meant to live solitary lives…talking, touching, and relating to others is essential to our well-being.”

Harvard Public Review (2000)

Study Links Seniors’ Loneliness to Higher Risk of Dementia

According to Dr. Robert Wilson of the Rush

University Medical Center in Chicago, in a study

of 323 eighty year olds, those who described

themselves as lonely were twice as likely to

develop dementia.

USA Today (2/6/07)

The Value of Friendship

• Friendship is important to maintaining the health of older persons.

• Having a strong circle of friends is good for the heart and can strengthen the auto-immunological system.

• People who have one or more good friends have better health than those who have casual or no friends.

• One close friend can help relieve stress, depression, and isolation, as well as provide emotional support.

• However, if one wants to have a friend one must be friendly. One must get involved.

Social aptitude or emotional intelligence rather

than brilliance or genetics or wealth leads to a

well-adapted old age.

He also found that healing relationships are

facilitated by a capacity for love, gratitude and

forgiveness.

George E. Vailiant in his book “Aging Well” found that:

Aging WellAging with Enthusiasm & Life Purpose(Aphorisms and Proverbs on Aging…Ignore them at your peril)

• People retire. Minds don’t.

• Why you age is up to nature. How you age is up to you.

• Anger management prevents unkind words from developing into a life sentence.

• Retirement is more a state of mind than a stage of life.

Aging WellAging with Enthusiasm & Life Purpose(Aphorisms and Proverbs on Aging…Ignore them at your peril)

•It’s a matter of fact that we positively age. It’s a matter of choice that we age positively.

•Optimists age like wine. Pessimists age like milk.

•A fundamental flaw in modern medicine is doctors don’t get paid unless you are sick.

•Life-span is how long you can live. Life expectancy is how long you’re likely to live.

Aging WellAging with Enthusiasm & Life Purpose(Aphorisms and Proverbs on Aging…Ignore them at your peril)

•If you cannot change your life, then why not change the way you live it?

•If you won’t try until you’re absolutely ready, all you will ever achieve is a state of readiness.

•If you don’t start somewhere you will end up nowhere near anywhere.

•The best way to preserve your youth is to preserve your sense of curiosity and wonder.

Aging WellAging with Enthusiasm & Life Purpose(Aphorisms and Proverbs on Aging…Ignore them at your peril)

• If you are smart, you answer the question. If you are wise, you question the answer.

• What you don’t know can hurt you.

• Planning makes retirement work.

• Successful retirement depends on what you retire to, not from.

The old adage remains

true…

If You Fail to Plan

Then You Plan to Fail

LIFE DIRECTION EXERCISE

• Purpose Statement (Should incorporate one’s values/guiding principles)

• Short Term Goals (6 to 12 months)

• Action Steps (necessary to meet short term goals)

• Long Term Goals (3 to 5 years)

• Action Steps (necessary to meet long term goals)

“Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most of

us have gears we never use.”

Charles Schultz

How Do You Measure Up?