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Ageism in America Report Cards
I N T E R N A T I O N A L L O N G E V I T Y C E N T E R - U S A
Contact:
Megan McIntyre
Communications Manager
212-606-3380,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Report Details Discrimination of Older Adults in United States
International Longevity Center Publishes Report Cards on Ageism
NEW YORK (December 12, 2005)— Ageism, or discriminating against people purely on the basis of their chronological age, is deeply embedded and widespread in American society says International Longevity Center-USA (ILC-USA). In a new ground-breaking report, Ageism in America, the ILC-USA documents the innate prejudices held against older Americans.
As a preview to the completed report, to be issued in February 2006, the ILC-USA has released seven report cards highlighting several categories in which age discrimination is strikingly evident in the United States. The ILC-USA choose to publish the report cards early, as leaders gather at the White House Conference on Aging, in Washington, D.C., in the hopes to bring attention to the extent in which ageism exists in America.
"As we age, we crave the same respect and consideration that we garnered in our adult years," says Dr. Robert N. Butler. "We must work together-as a society-to promote positive attitudes and portrayals of older people. We must not fail to respect and protect the rights of older people."
Dr. Butler, president and CEO of the ILC-USA, first coined the term “ageism” in 1968 when he was chairman of the Washington D.C. Advisory Committee on Aging.
The report cards in Ageism in America include facts and statistics on the treatment of older adults in our society. Examples include:
Elder Abuse: 1 million to 3 million Americans 65+ have been injured, exploited or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depend for care or protection.
Workplace Discrimination: To improve job prospects, 63 percent of applicants say they would leave dates off their resume to hide their age and 18 percent say they would get plastic surgery.
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Health Care Discrimination: Only 10 percent of people aged 65 and above receive the appropriate screenings for bone mass, colorectal and prostate cancer and glaucoma, compared to 95 percent of five-year olds who are up-to-date on their immunizations.
Discrimination in Nursing Homes: 9 out of 10 nursing homes lack adequate staff.
Ageism in Media: Less than 2% of primetime television characters are age 65 or older, whereas this group comprises 12.7% of the population
Marketing to Older Adults: In 2001, Advertising Age magazine concluded that of $8 billion spent in TV’s upfront and scatter market, 55% targeted the 18-to-49 group. The remainder went to children (under 18) and adults 25-to-54. Those 55+ were excluded.
Emergency Services: 60% of the victims identified from hurricane Katrina were age 61 or older. They did not receive aid or attention due to their age.
In an effort to transform the culture and personal experience of aging in American, the ILC-USA will publish the full report, Ageism in America, in February of 2006. Including in the report will be a call to action to legislators at the local, state and federal level to provide legal protection against age discrimination, incorporating age in Civil Rights Title 7 which already protects Americans against sex and racial discrimination.
“Documenting the extent of prejudice with respect to age can lay the groundwork for efforts to change social attitudes and expectations, and strengthen legislation and enforcement to achieve a cultural and personal transformation with respect to age,” concludes Dr. Butler.
To view the complete report cards on ageism visit www.ilcusa.org/pub/books.htm.
The International Longevity Center-USA is a research policy organization in New York City and has sister centers in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. Led by Dr. Robert N. Butler, a
world renowned physician specializing in geriatrics, the Center is a non-for-profit, non-partisan
organization with a staff of economists, medical and health researchers, demographers and others who study the impact of population aging on society. The ILC-USA focuses on combating ageism, healthy aging, productive engagement and the financing of old age. The ILC-USA is an independent affiliate of Mount Sinai School of Medicine and is incorporated as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity. More information on the ILC-USA can be found at www.ilcusa.org
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