There are stereotypes surrounding most groups of people. Even the positive ones can be harmful. Aging stereotypes are particularly interesting, as they’re perspectives that we grow up with, ones that we learn from the society around us.
These stereotypes often go unquestioned. We tend to view seniors as somewhat frail and dependent, as individuals who don’t have the same cognitive or physical abilities that they had earlier in life.
Oftentimes, seniors are considered old first and foremost. Other aspects of their identity almost get lost in the shuffle. So, as people age, they find that they are increasingly identified by their age and not by other factors.
The Little Behaviors Add Up
Stereotypes contribute to behaviors and attitudes. A key example is nurturing language.
This is a tendency to use terms like honey or sweetie when talking to a senior. Most people who do this aren’t being mean. They have good intentions and are often simply being kind.
Even so, the behavior can be incredibly demeaning. It’s basically a way of talking to adults like they were children.
Something similar happens in medical situations. If there’s someone else in the room, like a caregiver or a friend, doctors will often talk to them first (or exclusively), rather than to the senior. Sometimes the senior is almost completely ignored. This is similar to what happens when a young child sees a doctor with their parent.
The problem is that seniors aren’t children.
Some will have cognitive issues or perhaps require assistance in some areas, but that doesn’t mean this should be the first assumption.
There’s no reason that a doctor should be talking to the caregiver first unless that need has already been made clear.
One other example
The Dangers of Senior Stereotypes
The way that we view seniors directly affects the way that we interact with them – and even how they view themselves. When we start to treat people as if they are incapable, their self-esteem can often plummet. In many cases, seniors will also start to believe the concept themselves.
Both patterns create a type of feedback loop, where the belief that a senior is dependent serves to reinforce related behaviors. Seniors who believe they are less capable may be less willing to try new things or to put faith in their own ability.
There’s a flipside too.
Positive perspectives on aging can have the reverse impact. When seniors believe in their capabilities, their physical function is often improved as a result.
What Caregivers Can Do
It may seem difficult to find solutions to senior stereotypes. After all, people do face more physical challenges as they age. Many will need support in different areas.
Even so, there are approaches that you can take to reduce stereotyping and help to promote healthy aging.
A key aspect is to promote independence wherever possible. If your family member is able to do some things without assistance, then it’s important for them to do so. It may also be worth finding things that they can do to foster a sense of control.
For example, it’s often beneficial to give seniors decisions about things, like what time something is done or what they would like to eat. Even little decisions can help to promote a degree of control and authority.
It’s also important to remember that seniors are adults, not children.
They’ve lived a full life and do still have many things to teach. Even if they need help in many areas, they’re never going to be the same as children, nor should we treat them as such.
Making this shift mentally is an important aspect of changing behavior. Many of the things we do are based on our core beliefs. If we can make changes at that level, it can have significant impacts on the way we treat others.
This topic also suggests the importance of changing attitudes early in life. For example, teaching children the positive aspects of aging and reducing stereotypes can be hugely important for future generations.
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