Older adults are commonly subjected to a variety of negative stereotypes – bumbling, helpless, cranky, unapproachable, child-like, to name a few. Ageism has real mental and physical health consequences, including a decreased will to live, less desire to live a healthy lifestyle, an impaired recovery from illness, increased stress and a shortened life span.
“Ageism remains one of the most institutionalized forms of prejudice today,” according to Todd Nelson, Ph.D., professor of psychology at California State University, Stanislaus. In the June issue of American Psychologist, Nelson argues that most people don’t view stereotypes about seniors the same way they may view negative portrayals of racism or sexism. And this article in the Huffington Post shows at how some compliments can be considered ageist.
[For more of this story, written by Liz Seegert, go to http://healthjournalism.org/bl...lth-of-older-adults/]
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