Anti-Ageism Quick Guide: Changing the Conversation

Terms At LeadingAge we believe in promoting the individuality and worth of older people through our language and actions. We do this by shifting the way we talk and write about older adults and the aging experience with a focus on person- centered values. • Ageism: Stereotyping and discriminating against individuals, or groups, on the basis of their age; a tendency to view older persons as debilitated, unworthy of attention, or unsuitable for employment. • Person-Centeredness: A way of thinking and doing things geism perpetuates powerful and that strives to put the person pervasive stereotypes that demean first. Person-centeredness, or the individual and impact quality of person-directedness represents A a shift from a medical model to a life. However, aging services professionals are relationship-based model. in a unique position to positively influence When we talk about person-centered language, it is important to reflect perceptions about aging in a variety of ways. not only on the words we use, but also on our attitudes and behaviors This quick guide is designed to help toward older adults to ensure we organizations and individuals be mindful of are being inclusive and honoring the individuality, wisdom, abilities, and the language and messaging they use around dignity of each person. aging, and take steps toward eliminating ageist attitudes, behaviors, and words from our vocabulary.

March 2018 Quick Tips Be Mindful Taking Steps toward a Vision • Avoid stereotypes and Person-centeredness requires us to Ageism challenges the daily work generalizations, both in the be mindful of the ways we choose of LeadingAge by creating barriers negative and positive extremes, to see and connect with others. to advocacy, inhibiting workforce in language and images (e.g. The more mindful we become, the recruitment, and negatively image of a 100-year-old running better we are able to identify and impacting the quality of life of a marathon). interrupt ageism in our professional elders. That’s why the LeadingAge • When describing individuals, use and personal lives. So, rather than Board of Directors adopted the the noun before the adjective offering a long list of dos and don’ts, vision, An America Freed from (e.g. person with a disability vs. we invite you to pause and consider Ageism. disabled person). how your words influence beliefs and behavior. This aspirational vision doesn't • Avoid language and images that change our work, but rather offered equate young with positive and When we are striving for person- a new lens through which to see old with negative (e.g. she’s centeredness, we ask ourselves: what we do every day. 70-years-young). • How is what we are doing/saying • Avoid words or phrases that accessible for all? connote institution (e.g. facility). • How are we honoring the dignity • Embrace the entire spectrum in others? of the lived experience through • How are we valuing/honoring words and images (e.g. show the unique qualities and people using assistive devices experiences of individuals? and those without visible Conversely, how are we feeding physical disabilities). into stereotypes and blanket assumptions, including that all older adults are frail or have disabilities? • How are we (ensuring that we are) open to the lessons that live within all who are around us?

Please join us in taking steps toward An America Freed from Ageism. Visit our website to learn more at www.LeadingAge.org/ageism