Q1. You’re in the opticians and the salesperson calls the previous customer a ‘sweet old lady’. Do you:

A. Mentally agree, she did look sweet, and old!

B. Think that’s pretty patronising, but say nothing.

C. Think that’s so wrong, and point it out to the salesperson. 

Q2. When a woman and her adult son visit the dentist together, should the dentist address:

A. The son, he’s probably the decision maker, helping his mother out.

B. The Mother. 

C. Both of them, there’s a reason they came together.

Q3. Your car is involved in an accident with an older driver. Do you think:

Senior Englishman driving a car in the right side and looking very happy

A. Typical — older people should be banned from driving, they are a total liability on the roads.

B. Oh dear, they have clearly had a bit of a ‘senior’ moment.

C. Older drivers are statistically safer drivers  than younger ones, it’s probably my fault.

Q4. You are house hunting in a nice area with good schools. The houses are very large and many seem to be inhabited by older adults. Do you:

Photograph courtesy of the Centre for Ageing Better’s fee image library.

A. You think the government should legislate to ensure older homeowners vacate large properties when they no longer need the space.

B. Wish they would consider downsizing to give the space and houses over to young families, but mentally decide you will need to look further afield. 

C. You think, how inspiring I hope I get to that point when I am that age.

Q 5. An older couple kiss and cuddle in a restaurant in public. Do you:

One of the few photographs we could find of older people kissing.

A. Think ‘Argh my eyes!!!’

B. Find you are surprised that passion still happens when you are older.

C. Say ‘I’ll have what they’re having!’

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Answers.

You answered mainly As.

Well, there’s nothing accidental about your ageism. It’s time you reassessed your stereotyping of older adults because your ideas are totally out of whack with what’s real.

You answered mainly Bs.

While not a totally raging ageist, you do need to have a little word with yourself. Older people are safer drivers, don’t all get dementia, are not ‘sweet’ and don’t appreciate society expecting them to be less able, less active or less worthy than any other age group in society.

You answered mainly Cs.

Go you. You are an in touch, evolved human being open and ready for an intergenerational world. Totally future-proofed you!

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Whilst this survey is tongue in cheek and undoubtedly full of subconscious age bias, ageism is a serious and potentially deadly discrimination.

According to the World Health Organisation half the world’s population is ageist against older people and, in Europe, the only region for which data is available on all age groups, younger people report more age discrimination than other age groups.

Ageism can change how we view ourselves, can erode solidarity between generations, can devalue or limit our ability to benefit from what younger and older populations can contribute, and can impact our health, longevity and well-being while also having far-reaching economic consequences. For example, ageism is associated with earlier death (by 7.5 years), poorer physical and mental health, and slower recovery from disability in older age. Ageism also increases risky health behaviours, such as eating an unhealthy diet, drinking excessively or smoking, and reduces our quality of life. In the United States, one in every seven dollars spent on health care every year for the eight most expensive conditions was due to ageism (US$ 63 billion in total).