Age Discrimination and the Greying Population

Age Discrimination and the Greying Population
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Age Discrimination and the Greying Population
Introduction
Discrimination against older individuals is a pervasive issue documented in the United States and abroad. Age discrimination is often characterized as an act or instance of treating a person or group of people differently based on their age. This type of discrimination can take many forms, including, but not limited to, hiring, firing, demoting, harassing, and denying benefits.
Age discrimination is a problem that has been increasing in prevalence as the population continues to age. The greying of the population in the United States and other countries has resulted in a larger number of people who are at risk of experiencing age discrimination. A great deal of research has been conducted on age discrimination, and this review will summarize some of the key findings from that research.
The first section of this paper will provide an overview of the definition of age discrimination and discuss the various types of discrimination that older individuals may experience. The second section will describe the impact of age discrimination on older individuals. The third section will discuss the prevalence of age discrimination in the United States and abroad. The fourth section will explore the various factors that contribute to age discrimination. The fifth section will provide a summary of the key points from the paper.
Overview of Age Discrimination
Age discrimination is defined as an act or instance of treating a person or group of people differently based on theirs. Age discrimination can take many forms, including, but not limited to, hiring, firing, demoting, harassing, and denying benefits. Age discrimination is a problem that has been increasing in prevalence as the population continues to age. The greying of the population in the United States and other countries has resulted in a larger number of people who are at risk of experiencing age discrimination.
Age discrimination is prohibited by law in the United States. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) is a federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on age. The ADEA applies to employees over the age of 40 and those under the age of 40, but it protects employees more effectively over the age of 40. The ADEA prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on age in several ways, including, but not limited to, hiring, firing, demoting, and harassing.
Description of the Impact that Age Discrimination can have on Older Individuals
Ageism is pervasive in many areas, including health and social service providers, the workplace, media, and law enforcement. There is the widespread use of healthcare rationing based merely on one's age. In 85% of the 149 articles included in the 2020 comprehensive review, age was a determining factor in who got certain medical procedures or treatments (Ageism Is a Global Challenge: UN, 2021). Access to specialized training and education is greatly reduced as one age, a problem affecting both older and younger workers. When it comes to jobs, health care, housing, and politics, younger people's opinions are frequently ignored or relegated to the background. Anti-youth and anti-older-people attitudes are widespread, unacknowledged, and unquestioned, with far-reaching ramifications for our society and economy.
People's health and well-being are adversely affected by ageism. Increased social isolation and loneliness, more financial instability, and worse quality of life are all linked to ageism in the elderly. Ageism is believed to be responsible for an estimated 6.3 million incidents of depression worldwide each year (Kita, 2019). It negatively influences people's health and well-being because it interacts with and exacerbates other types of prejudice and disadvantage, such as bias based on gender, race, and disability. The epidemic has to light the vulnerabilities of the elderly, particularly the most disadvantaged, who frequently suffer discrimination and hurdles, such as poverty, disability, being a single woman, or being a member of a minority group living independently.
Millions of dollars are wasted each year because of ageism. According to 2020 research in the United States, unfavourable age stereotypes and self-perceptions result in an annual cost overrun of US$63 billion for eight of the costliest health issues due to ageism in the country (Ageism Is a Global Challenge: UN, 2021). One dollar of every seven dollars spent on these conditions by Americans over 60 for a year translates to a dollar of savings.
In Australia, it is estimated that if 5% more persons aged 55 and older were working, the national economy would benefit by AUD$48 billion each year (Ageism Is a Global Challenge: UN, 2021). Ageism's economic implications are presently poorly understood, and more study is required, especially in nations with low and intermediate incomes, to comprehend them better. Ageism is harmful to both the young and elderly alike. In many cases, we don't realize how damaging it is to our dignity and rights since it's a commonplace and accepted in society.
Prevalence of Age Discrimination in the United States and Abroad
As many as two-thirds of employees aged 45 and older have experienced age discrimination in their workplaces. In addition to financial security, most Americans over the age of 50 continue to wor...