In the shopping mall, a security guard sees young children as trouble and assumes they will frighten the older woman.
Do you think ageism is a problem in the UK?
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I feel that "ageism" is something that has probably been around for a very long time and nothing new. It's natural for the younger people to feel as if they know it all and are much bigger/stronger then their older/elderly peers. I was in that same position once upon a time. I can remember thinking that I knew better then my parents/tutors etc. I don't think I would have ever been accused of "ageism" though because it simply wasn't a recognised word or condition back then.
I think the proper term nowadays should be a lack of respect for your elders. I suppose that sadly that's always been around as well. I can remember kids knocking on doors and running and when the door was answered by anybody over the age of 20 the kids would shout old witch or similar.
To some degree there is a lack of respect where the wishes of the very elderly are concerned when their welfare is questioned. I've only just watched the programme where Leonard and Kath's story has been told and I have to say that it broke my heart. It was so very sad but I can understand Kath's fear of not wanting to go into a care home and despite her failing mental health etc......she is adamant and that alone says a lot about this lady.
I'm 63 this year and have recently undergone major surgery for bowel cancer. I was left incapacitated for a short time and I didn't like it one little bit. I had my surgery on Tuesday and was kicked out of hospital on Saturday evening. It was a struggle getting in and out of bed for a couple of weeks but 5 months down the line I am back looking after my 2 year old granddaughter and doing all the stuff I did before my op. I am probably considered as "old" by many younger folk but with 4 children under my belt and 4 grandchildren as well I bet I can out run all of them.
Ageism suggests a crime of some sort but I think it's a natural thought process of those who are young and fresh and don't think they will ever get old.
For most younger people they will have a healthy respect for their elders.......or I would like to think so.
Sadly though there is an increasing awareness of the bullies in life who take a job "caring" for the elderly and who abuse the trust that vulnerable people have in them. This aspect of our "care in the community" system disgusts me. My own mother in law was abused by ignorant and un-trained "carers" who were sent to her as part of a care package. They knew she was suffering from dementia so they took full advantage of it. She was supposed to have 4 visits per day. Breakfast which included getting her out of bed, showering her, changing her bedding and clothes and providing her with breakfast. Lunchtime which was supposed to provide a hot and freshly prepared (home cooked meals in the freezer) meal along with toileting/changing etc. Tea time which was supposed to be sandwiches etc and changing of pads/toileting. Finally at about 8pm a carer was supposed to visit and prepare my mother in law for bed.
We found out that breakfast/help out of bed and washing etc often didn't happen at all so mother in law was left in bed in her own excrement until lunch time!!! We don't know if lunch happened or not but the kitchen was always a filthy mess with unwashed dishes etc!
Tea time often didn't happen either and often it was 11pm before the carer bothered to turn up to feed and bed her! Also money was stolen from the house but proving it was the carers was almost impossible! Mother in law eventually went into a care home after 18 months of fighting for this! The council simply didn't want to know because there wasn't a house to sell to pay for her care!
By the time she went into nursing care she was in her early 70's but because of a series of strokes her mental capacity was seriously challenged and she was more then happy to be warm and cared for with company if she wanted it.
It was the right decision for her and we were involved as the family but we had to fight tooth and nail for it. Her home care was a total joke and provided by thieves and liars who had no respect for the elderly at all. Having said that they were young people being paid the basic low pay and probably being forced to do a job they didn't want to do.
Looking after old people isn't for the young unless they want to do it. Forcing them to do it will only bring resentment and all that goes with that.
In every walk of life there will be those that abuse the elderly and also the elderly who abuse the younger people!!
I think that my motto in life has always been.....do unto others etc and so far it seems to have worked.