A World For All Ages

“The impact of ageism should not be underestimated. Ageism is the root of the marginalization, social exclusion and isolation of older persons. It is also intimately linked to violence and abuse against them in public and private spheres as scapegoating and stereotyping nourish subconscious motives.”- Rosa Kornfeld Matte. Older persons must feel a sense of belonging and worth. Our society like most societies tells us that the old and ageing are not as important as those in the category of youth. The voice of the older person and their opinions are oftentimes muted; unfortunately in many societies the older person is voiceless. Sadly, in some instances older persons are ridiculed. Regardless of our age we all should feel a sense of value. The beauty industry is a billion dollars business whereby many individuals seek the fountain of youth whether by dying our grey hair and or using hair replacement implants in order to blend in with the younger population. Growing old is a natural process. An older person is defined by the United Nations as a person who is over 60 years of age. However, families and communities often use other socio-cultural referents to define age, including family status (grandparents), physical appearance, or age-related health conditions. We cannot change our chronological age, even when we have multiple birth certificates. What we can do however is to interrogate the concept of discrimination in all its forms. Discrimination robs the society of the contribution and service of a significant portion of the society who feel a sense of not belonging. Discrimination strips one of one’s sense of worth. It opens the door to self-doubt and mental health issues. Discrimination is judging someone based on how they look or sound or what they believe in. Ageism is one of many forms of discrimination which are rooted in cultural differences. Ageism refers to how we think (stereotypes), feel (prejudice) and act (discrimination) towards others or ourselves based on age. Jamaica’s National Policy for Senior Citizens Jamaica’s National Policy for Senior Citizens (2018) reflects the commitment of the Government of Jamaica to pursue social development for all its citizens and to put in place the dynamic enabling environment to achieve such development. In Jamaica the programmes and initiatives for the senior citizen have been governed by the landmark National Policy for Senior Citizens (1997), which is administered through the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) under the governance of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS). The National Policy for Senior Citizens over the decades has seen significant shifts in the social and economic landscape that have impacted the lives of senior citizens. Jamaica’s National Policy for Senior Citizens states the cohort 60 years and older is the fastest growing demographic segment, but life expectancy for men and women has increased, with concurrent longer years in retirement and improved overall health status. The policy environment must therefore shift to address the changing dynamics within the society, meet new expectations, ensure responsiveness to emerging issues, and strengthen the alignment with development objectives. Jamaica’s population is approximately 2.7 million with an average annual population growth rate of 0.2 per cent, according to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, (2015). As at 2015 Jamaica’s elderly population comprised 51.9 per cent females and 48.1 per cent male. This compares with 50.5 per cent females to 49.5 per cent males in the general population structure for that year. The 2011 Population and Housing Census for Jamaica confirms an estimated population of those aged sixty years and above at some 323,500 persons, constituting 11.9 per cent of the total population, compared with 10.1 per cent in the 2001 Census. In 2015, the cohort was 341,200 persons, which is 12.6 per cent of the population (ESSJ 2015). In 1997 the population was approximately 158,000; in 2013 this was almost doubled numbering 324,000. Some 31.8 per cent of households today have at least one member who is 60 years or older. Of all households, 69.1 per cent had a head who was 60 years or older. According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, the cohort is expected to grow to about 500,000 by 2030. Anti-discrimination laws According to the World Health Organization (WHO) numerous high- and middle-income countries have implemented anti-discrimination laws to combat ageism in the workplace. For example, for countries within the European Union, the Employment Equality Framework Directive 2000/78/EC aims to combat discrimination in the workplace that is based on disability, sexual orientation, religion and age, and all European Union member states are required to implement this in their national laws. The United States, which has one of the highest rates of labour participation among people older than 65 years, has some of the strongest antidiscrimination laws and enforcement; for example, the 1967 Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits employment discrimination against people aged 40 years and older. Other countries, such as the Netherlands, have gone so far as to proactively screen vacancy announcements to prevent age discrimination. Ageing Gracefully We all grow old. Ageing is that time in one’s life to share the wisdom and life experiences one would have experienced over the years. It is time to be bold yet not arrogant. The Centre for Ageing Better states we can all play a role in removing ageism from our lives. We must change the conversation around later life. Instead of seeing ageing as a burden on our society, let us identify the opportunities this can bring to society; increasing participation in our communities, more experience in the workplace, new business and consumer opportunities. The Centre for Ageing Better added that instead of airbrushing older people out of the media (only 1.5% of characters on television in the US are older), let’s illustrate the diversity of experience and move away from the ‘doddery but dear’ stereotype. And instead of putting up barriers that prevent people from living life to the full, let’s introduce flexible working patterns to support those with caring responsibilities or health needs, and design our homes and towns to allow maximum accessibility. Ageing has a gendered component. In most societies older men are seen as wise and symbolize a reservoir of information while older women are not viewed in such a favourable light. The United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs Ageing declares older persons who have faced specific and differentiated challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to require an informed, inclusive and targeted response as we move towards a post-COVID19 era. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an immeasurable toll on the older population. The time is now to look ahead and plan for life in post COVID-19 world in which the older population has a place. We need to connect the opportunities provided by demographic ageing, by changing the prevailing narrative on old age whereby older persons are considered a burden to society, towards one that recognize their contributions, realize their right to participation, and identify areas where older persons could further support recovery efforts if given the appropriate conditions. The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a platform for a background for discussions; this expert group meeting will bring together international experts, representatives of member states and relevant stakeholders to explore and propose some specific recommendations on how to ensure that ageing and older persons are adequately addressed, included, and actively engaged in post COVID-19 recovery efforts. Jamaica joins the international community on March 18 to combat ageism and embrace a culture of A World 4 All Ages. In the words of C.S. Lewis, you are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo #AWorld4AllAges ©