COVID-19 and Ageism: Twin Crises Facing Older Adults
Coronavirus: Isolate the Elderly was the message on a freeway sign I passed twice each day as I commuted to work at a busy medical center. I worked in a Geropsychiatry Outpatient Clinic, providing teletherapy to older adults and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic, and each time I saw that sign I felt a pang of discomfort.
Since the pandemic began, I’ve received numerous emails from people worried about the older adults in their lives. One that stuck with me came from a college professor who was alarmed that her father, a physician, had come out of retirement to return to clinical work during COVID-19. She was so upset she phoned his practice to complain.
There have been countless ageist remarks and attitudes expressed since coronavirus emerged. Even when they come from good intentions, ageist assumptions and actions often do more harm than good for older adults.
Consider the freeway sign—Coronavirus: Isolate the Elderly. Although intended to protect older people from infection, this message actually increases their vulnerability. It runs counter to the American Psychological Association’s recommendation to “encourage social distancing, not social isolation.” The APA notes that while physical distancing is essential to limit viral spread, social isolation among older adults raises the risk of premature mortality, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline. Residents of long-term care facilities are particularly susceptible to the damaging effects of isolation.
What Is Ageism?
The APA Committee on Aging (APA CONA) defines ageism as “stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups based on their age.” This includes prejudicial attitudes, discriminatory behaviors, or institutional policies and practices that reinforce negative age-related stereotypes.
Ageism can take on many forms
As described in a recent article from Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, ageism often appears in three overlapping forms:
- Hostile ageism is the overt, abusive form: physical, financial, or verbal mistreatment and the belief that older people are a drain on resources. Examples include calling the aging population a “Silver Tsunami” or the disparaging social media hashtag “boomer remover.”
- Neglectful ageism renders older adults invisible by overlooking their contributions. Early in the pandemic, some younger adults downplayed precautions because they perceived COVID-19 as a danger mainly to older or immunocompromised people, which exacerbated risk for those very individuals.
- Benevolent ageism is a paternalistic form of stereotyping that assumes all older adults are uniformly frail and in need of protection—precisely the attitude behind signs like Coronavirus: Isolate the Elderly. Benevolent ageism undermines autonomy and self-efficacy, as when family members try to control elders’ choices out of misplaced concern.
What Can We Do About Ageism?
Recognizing that ageism is harmful, what practical steps can individuals, families, caregivers, and health professionals take to confront it? Below are recommendations from APA CONA alongside a few strategies I use in my clinical work and public outreach.
Be self-aware. Ageist attitudes and language are deeply embedded and often unconscious. Start by noticing your own assumptions and behaviors. Useful approaches include:
- Engaging in regular self-reflection to explore beliefs and fears that might fuel ageist thinking.
- Taking an implicit bias assessment such as the Harvard Implicit Association Test to uncover unconscious biases about aging.
- Acknowledging the privileges associated with being younger and how those privileges shape perspectives and decision-making.
Recognize diversity among older adults. Older adults are not a monolithic group. Age intersects with race, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, and sexual orientation, creating compounded risks for some individuals. Policies and care should reflect this complexity and focus on each person’s needs rather than relying on chronological age alone.
Speak up when you see ageism. Many ageist expressions are unintentional. Offer constructive feedback when language or policies marginalize older people. In my work I address ageist assumptions on my Psychology of Aging podcast, in blog posts, and in presentations to caregivers and health professionals.
Shift your perspective. Actively replace stereotypes with counter-stereotypes. For example, balance alarming headlines about nursing home outbreaks with stories of resilience and recovery—such as centenarians who have survived COVID-19—so your mental image of aging includes strength, purpose, and active lives. Also seek opportunities to spend time with older adults who are healthy and engaged rather than only those who are ill or frail.
Share accurate information. Spreading reliable facts about COVID-19 and older adults helps ensure policies and care decisions are evidence-based and inclusive. Health workers, policymakers, and administrators should be reminded that older adults are a heterogeneous group and that those facing multiple forms of marginalization may need targeted support.
Positive change can start with small shifts in language and policy. I was encouraged recently to see the freeway sign updated to Coronavirus: Protect the Vulnerable—a more accurate and less stigmatizing message.
Dr. Regina Koepp is a Contributing Author for Psychology Today, where this article was originally published on 6/22/20
