This short SlideShare presentation highlights examples of how ageism manifests itself in our daily lives and impacts older adults and those who work in aging services—and ways LeadingAge members can change the conversation about aging and take steps toward eliminating ageism.

1. By now you’ve
heard that we
adopted a bold
new vision

2. An America freed
from ageism

3. Dictionary.com defines
ageism in the following
way

4. 1. discrimination against persons of
a certain age group.
2. tendency to regard older person
as debilitated, unworthy of attention,
or unsuitable for employment.

5. While the primary focus
of our work is the impact
of ageism on older
adults…

6. …ageism affects
people of all ages

7. And we are
ALL aging

8. You can
already
identify
ageism
when you
see it

9. It’s in
the
greeting
card
aisle

11. It’s in the words
we use

12. I’m having a
senior
moment!

13. It’s in
advertisements

15. Research
tells us that
ageism has
a powerful
impact at
the
individual
level

16. Older people with
positive age bias are
44% more likely to
recover from severe
disability
This Association Between Positive Age Stereotypes and
Recovery from Disability in Older Persons, JMA, 2012:308 (19):
1972-1973. Levy, Slade, Murphy and Gill

17. Elders with positive
self perceptions of
aging live 7.5 years
longer than elders with
less positive self
perceptions of aging
Longevity Increased by Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging," Becca R. Levy and Martin
D. Slade, Yale University, Suzanne Kunkel, Miami University of Ohio, and Stanislav V.
Kasl, Yale University; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 83, No. 2.

18. But what
about
when the
rubber
meets the
road?

19. Ageism
inhibits
workforce
recruitment
and retention

20. Ageism creates
resistance to seeking
services, supports, and
housing

21. Ageism clouds
the public view of
aging services

22. Ageism
inhibits
philanthropy

23. Take a Stand
Against Ageism
Ageism
creates
barriers to
advocacy

24. We know that elders are a
dynamic resource within our
society

25. So we have a unique
opportunity to disrupt ageism

26. LeadingAge members
are already taking steps
everyday

27. Hosting community conversations
with staff, elders, and boards of
directors

28. Changing language
• Older person
• Elder
• Older adult
Elderly
• Community
• Name of the
organization
Facility

29. Partnering with academic
institutions to conduct
research

30. Infusing
intergenerational
connection into
the daily life of
organizations

32. Please join us!

33. leadingage.org/
ageism