Perceived Ageism among Older Adults

A growing concern is perceived ageism, which affects the psychological wellbeing, sense of dignity, and sense of inclusion among older individuals. Although ageism is something that is on the radar, there is a dearth of knowledge about how older people experience and interpret ageism in their daily lives. While this qualitative study investigates perceived ageism among older adults, it is acknowledged that older men and women may have differing self-perceptions of ageism, and experiences with social inclusion or exclusion. This study explores the participants’ self-perceptions of being treated differently as they have aged and how such experiences of aging affect their sense of worth, dignity, and recognition in social, family, and community settings, by using semi-structured interviews. Participants are allowed to reflect about how they see themselves socially including or marginalized, how much participants feel their opinions are valued, and to what degree they felt involved in decision-making. As data collection continues, reflections from participants will uncover nuanced perspectives about how older adults are referencing or internalizing societal attitudes and whether they are experiencing subtle or direct age-based differentiation. The implications of internalized attitudes about aging will also be discussed as it relates to participants’ concept of identity and how they represent themselves in interactions with younger generations. The aim of this study is to highlight the lived experience of perceived ageism and how this experience connects to social inclusion and self-perceived worth in later life by amplifying the voices of older persons. The outputs from the study are anticipated to broaden our understanding of the management of aging as a socially constructed identity that is shaped by respect, recognition and the desire to continue to be valued citizens and biological process.