Ageism A Social Perspective About The Elderly Essay

Ageism is a term that refers to a set of beliefs about age. Ageism is a type of stereotyping that relate to prejudgment or discrimination against any particular age group and is viewed as a negative perspective about the elderly. Ageism supposes that the elderly is no longer able to contribute to society in a meaningful way, and drain the broader society’s resources because of a continuous decline in health and well-being. (Women s Health Encyclopedia, 2011) Studies like the Census Bureau statistics challenge this belief. Reports revealed that a rather small number of the elderly are in nursing homes, and that these individuals tend to be the very oldest. Other reports indicate that being separated with other aged people and having limited opportunities for making decisions, which leads to the decline in function. Although health and social policy believes that aging defines function, it does not. (Women s Health Encyclopedia, 2011) The Discrimination Act of 1975, protects against the mistreatment of the elderly. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 guides programs or activities receiving U.S. federal financial assistance. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, places distinctions on the different stages of aging. The childhood stage known as dependent status and adulthood stage is the age of consent or majority, with variation by societal norm or law. For example, adulthood stage is considered to be the time of onset of puberty, becoming a parent, entering a career,Show MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Ageism On The Delivery Of Nursing Care For The Older Person1736 Words   |  7 Pagesprovide the audience with an understanding of ageism in healthcare by critically analyzing the impact of ageism on the delivery of nursing care for the older person. 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