Advanced age is not a disease or moral failing. Including for a president.
As Americans gear up for a grueling election year, we keep seeing articles about “how old is too old” to be president of the United States, and whether there should be an age limit on those who hold presidential office. But how old is “too old” when it comes to running for public office, holding a job, managing a company, driving a vehicle, or even raising a child?
As the median American age increases, fewer people retire in their early or mid-60s. Many are working, remain physically active, and are involved in their communities. The fallout from this demographic change is causing tension with younger workers and revealing blatant age biases. And as two men near 80 or older compete for the U.S. presidency, we might contemplate our nation’s compulsive negative perceptions of older Americans’ competency, abilities and skills.
Why are there so many adverse reactions to Biden’s and Trump’s ages?
Didn’t age once connote experience and wisdom? Instead, the assumption, I believe, is that older Americans are forgetful, doddering, unable to make clear decisions and out of touch. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is promoting term limits and mental competency evaluations for politicians over 75, as if 75 is a magic number that chronologically reflects every person’s mental and emotional competence, or incompetence.
Ageism, like racism, homophobia and antisemitism, is another form of bigotry deeply ingrained in societal perceptions. Media often perpetuate stereotypes that associate aging with decline, frailty and obsolescence. It is crucial to challenge these stereotypes and promote a more nuanced understanding of aging that recognizes the diversity and resilience of older individuals.
Even allegedly positive comments contribute to ageism. We use words or phrases like “spry,” “still has all his marbles,” and “sharp as a tack” exclusively when describing older adults, as if we’re shocked when someone older remains vibrant, viable and vigorous.
I understand the urge to generalize. Some older adults are out of touch with pop culture, social media and today’s technology. They may drive or walk more slowly. And Alzheimer’s and the many types of dementia-related illnesses afflicting primarily older adults are terrifying and approaching epidemic status, regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.
Age is not a disease or a moral failing. It’s a long way from forgetting a name or word — which afflicts most of us over 50, from time to time — to deeming someone incompetent or unable to perform important duties. More often than not, ageism reflects a lack of context, perspective and
“If anything, disrespect toward seniors often is based on ignorance and fear, not reality.”
understanding. In fact, based on my experiences as a specialist in adult education and lifelong learning, older Americans, by and large, are smart, capable, wise, energetic, interesting, dynamic and most often taken for granted.
If anything, disrespect toward seniors often is based on ignorance and fear, not reality. I know this, because I run the Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning. or OLLI, a 50-and-over educational and social program at the University of Connecticut in Waterbury. We offer hundreds of classes annually covering a wide range of topics, and also have an urban garden, staffed entirely by OLLI volunteers, that yields thousands of pounds of produce every year that is donated to local food banks.
OLLI has more than 500 active members who share the Uconn Waterbury campus with traditional-age undergraduates. But other than the abundance of gray, white and occasionally pink hair, a few canes and slower gaits, you cannot separate the young from the old when it comes to chatter, energy, enthusiasm and social dynamics.
In fact, building bridges between generations is essential to combat ageism. Intergenerational programs foster mutual understanding and appreciation. Through shared experiences and conversations, stereotypes can be dismantled and a sense of community can be strengthened.
In a society that obsessively celebrates youth and vitality, ageism has become an ingrained bias that permeates all aspects of our lives. Discrimination based on age undermines quality of life for everyone, young and old. It is time to challenge these stereotypes and recognize the value that individuals of all ages contribute to our communities and our country.