Opinion: There are hopeful signs in our ongoing fight against ageism

Age Discrimination Awareness Day takes place on Wednesday, October 9th in the United States. It is deeply relevant to those of us at Serving Seniors who work with older adults every day and see the pervasive, insidious impact of ageism on their lives.

But finally, those of us on the front lines of the fight against ageism are seeing hopeful signs of positive change.

Ageism is defined by the World Health Organization as “stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) toward others or ourselves based on age.”

There are still significant negative portrayals of older adults in popular culture. Two-thirds of older adults reported regularly seeing, hearing or reading offensive jokes about older people. Age discrimination can be so widespread that it goes undetected.

Our efforts are finally paying off. A new AARP study shows a positive change in how adults over 50 are portrayed online over the past five years. Negative depictions in online media and marketing images have fallen from 28% in 2018 to 10% in 2023. Our efforts are finally bearing fruit. It's high time!

The population over 50 is considered to be more active and independent, has less anxiety and is more likely to use technology. This reflects the growing recognition of older adults' active lifestyles and valuable engagement in society.

Positive improvements include:

• Aging is more active: Evidence shows that more older adults are maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. The portrayal of aging is shifting from decline to vitality: 26% of people over 50 are depicted as physically active in images, up from 15% in 2018
• Technical use: In 2023, a third of images showed older adults using technology devices, up from just four percent in 2018. Data shows that 89% of adults over 50 own a smartphone. Finally, we challenge outdated stereotypes.
• Fashion ahead: In 2023, 80% of images featured older adults in current, fashionable clothing, up from just 47% in 2018. This shift reflects a growing appreciation for style consciousness and challenges outdated stereotypes about aging.

Is there a better example than the current 76?^Th Emmy Awards, where several veteran artists shine in the spotlight. The 14 major nominations for actors over 50 resulted in four wins.

Jean Smart, 74, Hiroyuki Sanada, 63, Jodie Foster, 61, and Liza Colón-Zayas, 52, all won acting awards for their work, and all four starred in shows that won major awards, including “Hacks” and “True.” “Detective,” “Shogun,” and “The Bear,” popular with fans of all ages.

Other acting nominees: Carol Burnett, 91; Christopher Lloyd; age 85; Christine Baranski, 72 years old; Gary Oldman, 66. Dick Van Dyke's nomination for a guest role on Days of Our Lives set a record. He is 98 years old.

Challenges remain, especially in the professional environment. Depictions of adults over 50 in the workplace remained rare. Despite making up over a third of the workforce, only 14% of images show adults over 50 at work, unchanged from 2018.

Age discrimination in the workplace remains a serious problem. A comprehensive 2023 AARP survey found the following:

• Over 40% of workers ages 40 and older said they have experienced age discrimination in the workplace in the past three years.
• Workers over 50 are unemployed three times longer than their younger counterparts due to age-related barriers.
• A ZipRecruiter study found that one in four employers would choose a 30-year-old over a 60-year-old if both candidates were equally qualified.

When someone loses their job at age 55, they often lose their health insurance as well. The inability to regain employment triggers a downward spiral of economic hardship, sometimes leading to eviction and homelessness. This is undoubtedly fueling the homeless crisis in the San Diego region.

The most recent Point in Time count found that 30% of homeless adults in San Diego County were over 55 years old. The Serving Seniors Needs Assessment report identified loss of income as the leading cause of homelessness among older adults. When people can't find a job, they face mounting debt, which often leads to eviction. Suddenly they are homeless.

As CEO of Serving Seniors, I have worked with older adults for over three decades, and as a member of this demographic myself, I know firsthand how pervasive ageism can be.

Many clients we support were once dynamic, productive professionals. Suddenly they are shocked because they no longer have any resources. If an older adult loses their job, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to replace their job after age 50, especially in youth-oriented careers such as information technology or marketing.

As San Diego leaders struggle to find solutions to our homelessness problem, consider whether our attitudes toward age and ageism alone can help solve this problem. It costs nothing to be more inclusive in your hiring or to stop falling for jokes or stereotypes.

On Ageism Awareness Day, take a moment to think about how you would like to be treated when you get older. Ageism is a form of discrimination that we all face if we live long enough.

Paul Downey is CEO of Serving Seniors, a San Diego-based nonprofit that helps older people in poverty live healthy, fulfilling livesS.