- Organisation
- ZDUS - Zveza društev upokojencev Slovenije
- Table of contents
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- Dementia related ageism
- Keywords
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- Ageism and images
- Stereotypes
- Sterotypes and discrimination
- Global campaigns
Do people with dementia face ageism?
There is still a strong misconception that dementia afects “only the old”, so people with dementia are pictured as being old or ageing.
Examples of visual ageism:
Paying special attention to the images we use when speaking about people with dementia is important. If you see an image of a lonely old person or of old wrinkly hands, this is visual ageism: negative and stereotypic ways people with dementia are portrayed.
There is still a strong misconception that dementia afects “only the old”, so people with dementia are pictured as being old or ageing.
Examples of visual ageism:
Such images enforce stereotypical believes on physical, social and psychological abilities of people with dementia. Ageism related to dementia is when we look at people through the eyes of their physiological age and medical condition and not them, as a person with an identity.
Ageism can be defined as stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) we direct towards other people based on their age. Ageism intersects with other disadvantages and stigmas. Ageist attitudes undermine participation of people with dementia in society. They deepen their exclusion and social invisibility and reduce the quality of their life.
Adult educators have an important role in addressing ageism people with dementia face. They can create incentive for learners to join several global campaigns on ageism and fighting dementia related stigma and help spread awareness:
Ageism can be defined as stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) we direct towards other people based on their age. Ageism intersects with other disadvantages and stigmas. Ageist attitudes undermine participation of people with dementia in society. They deepen their exclusion and social invisibility and reduce the quality of their life.
Adult educators have an important role in addressing ageism people with dementia face. They can create incentive for learners to join several global campaigns on ageism and fighting dementia related stigma and help spread awareness:
- Let’s Talk About Dementia
- Ageism through the ages: Global Campaign to Combat Ageism
Do people with dementia face ageism?
Have you ever payed special attention to the images you use in your teaching materials about dementia? Have you, as an adult educator, seen any teaching materials about dementia that use images of a lonely old person showing despair or an image of old wrinkly hands held by a carer, rather than the whole person?
Such and many others are widespread examples of visual ageism - depersonalizing, negative and stereotypic ways people with dementia are portrayed. As there is still a strong misconception that dementia is a normal part of ageing and that “dementia only affects the old”, people with dementia are often portrayed as being old or ageing.
Such and many others are widespread examples of visual ageism - depersonalizing, negative and stereotypic ways people with dementia are portrayed. As there is still a strong misconception that dementia is a normal part of ageing and that “dementia only affects the old”, people with dementia are often portrayed as being old or ageing.
Examples of visual ageism in the media:
Using such visuals enforces stereotypical believes and views on physical, social and psychological abilities of people with dementia. By seeing an image of an old person with dementia sitting in a wheelchair, presumed physical incapabilities strike out, such as: the person is frail, can’t do anything by themselves, is dependent on others … If you see an image of an old person with dementia sitting alone with nobody around, it socially emphasizes that they can no longer contribute to the society, that they can’t socially engage, have no more friends. Also such images reinforce stereotypes that dementia psychologically leads to passiveness and resignation.
This is what ageism related to dementia is about, when we look at people with dementia thought the eyes of their physiological age and medical condition and not through the eyes of the person, their identity and personal characteristics.
Ageism can be defined as stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) we direct towards other people based on their age. As such, ageism intersects with other disadvantages and stigmas. People with dementia already face the stigma related to dementia itself, but the latter can be topped with ageist stereotypes as stated above.
The consequences of ageist attitudes in practice undermine participation of people with dementia in society and have a discriminatory impact on their lives, deepening their exclusion and social invisibility. Research also show that negative aging stereotypes increase the amount of dementia worry. We must be aware that such ageist attitudes of dementia create barriers and may prevent early diagnosis and reduce the quality of life of people with dementia.
As adult educators you play a crucial role in actively and proactively addresing discrimination, stigma and ageist prejudice people with dementia face. You are the driving force in changing perceptions and narratives on dementia. So what to do? Create incentive for your learners to join several global campaigns on ageism and fighting dementia related stigma and help spread awareness:
This is what ageism related to dementia is about, when we look at people with dementia thought the eyes of their physiological age and medical condition and not through the eyes of the person, their identity and personal characteristics.
Ageism can be defined as stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) we direct towards other people based on their age. As such, ageism intersects with other disadvantages and stigmas. People with dementia already face the stigma related to dementia itself, but the latter can be topped with ageist stereotypes as stated above.
The consequences of ageist attitudes in practice undermine participation of people with dementia in society and have a discriminatory impact on their lives, deepening their exclusion and social invisibility. Research also show that negative aging stereotypes increase the amount of dementia worry. We must be aware that such ageist attitudes of dementia create barriers and may prevent early diagnosis and reduce the quality of life of people with dementia.
As adult educators you play a crucial role in actively and proactively addresing discrimination, stigma and ageist prejudice people with dementia face. You are the driving force in changing perceptions and narratives on dementia. So what to do? Create incentive for your learners to join several global campaigns on ageism and fighting dementia related stigma and help spread awareness:
- Let’s Talk About Dementia
- Ageism through the ages: Global Campaign to Combat Ageism
For stimulating your learners to properly communicate with and about people with dementia, you can refer to the MYH4D “Be connected” MOOC: Module 3 – Communicating in daily and community life with people with dementia.
Have your say:
- Do you have any ideas how to address dementia related ageism?
- Do you know examples of positive dementia framing?
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