‘I find it quite insulting’: Nova Scotia seniors fight ageism

A quiet, and often subtle, form of discrimination callD is ageism sImproving the daily lives of many older Nova Scotians.

Bill VanGorder calls this the last acceptable bias.

“We make assumptions about age that lead to stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination,” he says.

“It’s only -ism that sTill now seems acceptable.”

VanGorder is the director of advocacy and education for the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP). He says ageism manifests in subtle, daily encounters that make seniors feel rejected, ignored and stripped of their dignity.

This “subtle discrimination” is often hidden behind the veil of help, he says.

For Judy Bonnell, a blind senior in Halifax, this often takes the form of a mentor voice.

She says that when people call an older person “dear”, it makes them feel even older – as if “you can’t think anymore and you don’t have anything worth saying.”

Brooks Field, 81, who worked for decades in film and television, says people often talk about him.

“They’re simple when they talk to you. ‘Yes, dear,'” she says.

“I’ve been traveling around the world for a long time, you know, and I don’t need anyone to talk to me like that. I find it quite insulting.”

In the workplace, ageism can have a direct impact on older people’s ability to care for themselves.

VanGorder says the cost of living means many seniors will have to keep working past so-called retirement age.

He says that the determining factor as to whether someone can do a job or not should not be age but ability.

VanGorder says seniors also fight against the perception that they are keeping younger workers from entering the workforce.

“This is a big misconception,” he says. “There are employment problems in the younger age group and there are employment problems in the older age group as well.

“It’s not cause and effect.”

He says being pushed out of the workplace or made to feel like a burden can have a profound impact on the mental health of senior citizens.

in health care, Senior citizens report their medical concerns have been dismissed With a general explanation.

“One thing that really bothers me is if I’m having a problem and someone says to me, ‘It’s because of your age,'” says Bonnell.

“Explain to me what’s happening because of my age. Tell me what’s causing it – not just because I’m old.”

Technological ageism is a growing concern for many senior citizens who find themselves without access to services.

As governments and businesses move services online, many senior citizens have been left behind.

VanGorder says a large percentage of older Canadians are not comfortable or proficient with new technology.

Bonnell feels this intensely.

“I don’t like using the Internet. I don’t do my banking online because I’m nervous about it,” she says.

“Give me a phone number where someone will actually answer the phone.”

Faced with this challenge, senior citizens find strength in community and advocacy.

Alison Davis, executive director of Spencer House, a seniors’ center in Halifax, explains that her approach is to actively combat ageism.

“We give seniors a voice and take the time to listen and care,” she says.

“We value people who are older and have built our communities. They have life wisdom and experience.”

On a broader level, organizations like CARP work to challenge systemic discrimination.

VanGorder says that when his organization sees examples of discrimination in media portrayals, business or government, they bring it to their attention.

For Bonnell, overcoming ageism requires a change in how society views its older members.

“Take what we’ve learned throughout our lives,” she says.

“We have a lot of experience in many areas and we use it to improve the lives of everyone, not just older people.”

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