Evidence of ageism in society in hospital stay

“@DAISY9000, very good comment and all too true, as Don Shaw has said, there us a lack of respect. I have just read a comment posted on the letter about automated checkouts, the person responsible refers to being held up by some "old codger trying to figure out where to put the tokens". Such comments are common, and I have witnessed such people verbally attacking an elderly person for taking his time at a checkout. The thing these agiest individuals fail to realise that, one day, they will be old and end up on the receiving end of the sane prejudice they are dishing out.

When we look at other societies such as those in the far east, the elderly are greatly respected and their knowkedge and experience is valued, whilst here in the West, we tend to firget that we are all growing older.”

“By Daisy9000 Very well put and I have to agree Agisim does exist even in the big companies.
Very RAecently I applied to office care on pride park for an Administrators position (I am in my Fifties) Ihave worked within Administration for over 25 years so did have the qualifications and experience required, when I arrived I was Interviewde by a woman possibly 10 years younger than myself and after approx 15 minutes of being Interviewde for the post I was informed that the job had been taken but there was a position for a domestic instead if Interested
I must admit I was annoyed and i am sure this showed and said to the interviewer why wasn't i informed thet the post had been filled to save both of us the trouble of the interview going ahead.
When i left the office i had a gut feeling that my age had something to do with it so when i got back I rang the office under a different name to ask if the position was still available and was put through to the woman who had interviewed me to be told yes and and gave me details to apply online, I then went on to say that she had just interviwed me and told me the post had gone and she put the phone down on me.”

“Old people: What are they for, where do they come from, why are they so different from normal people, why are they still here using up resources? No matter what this country says, in the sub conscious mind of many of us lays this terrible contempt that Don Shaw describes.
Ageism is instilled into us when we're children, we are told in many manners and forms that the elderly aren't good for much because they're worn out and take up a lot of room. We call ourselves human do we? How can we have so much disrespect for ourselves? It's as if we won't become old ourselves and we are totally unrelated to the elderly. Respect for those who have suffered life much longer than us should have automatic respect.
How on earth can we address issues like racism and other "isms" if we can't deal with age in a humane way? Of course ageism doesn't confine itself to those over the pension age; try getting a job when you're over 40. Even the youngsters who interview older candidates for jobs talk down to them as if they're sub-human – RESPECT? I'd be surprised if they had ever heard of it.”