Long Beach’s newest holiday is one that people of all ages can get behind.
Every Oct. 7 will be recognized as Ageism Awareness Day, educating residents about the harms of discriminating against people based on their age, whether for being too old or too young.
The term was coined by geriatrician Robert Butler in 1969, and research on the phenomenon has revealed that ageism can damage local economies, people’s health, housing opportunities and more. The Long Beach Gray Panthers requested that the City create Ageism Awareness Day to combat harmful stereotypes and impact local policies by recognizing the issue.
“Our older adults are an invaluable asset to our city,” said Councilmember Mary Zendejas, who authored the item. “They contribute tremendously to the growth, diversity and community advocacy in Long Beach.”
More than 25% of Long Beach’s population is made up of people ages 50 and older, according to staff reports.
Karen Reside, president of the Long Beach Gray Panthers, gave a presentation highlighting some of the ways ageism has been normalized in everyday life, and debunking ageist stereotypes.
“There are stereotypes that everybody is going to end up with dementia and in the nursing home at the end of life, that old people deserve to sit in front of the TV all day because they’re old and useless,” Reside said.
Only 3% of seniors in the United States end up living in a nursing home, according to a U.S. News Report. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, 2% of the population develops dementia.
Reside urged the City Council to begin including mentions of ageism in public policy to create equity among people of all ages.
A study done by Yale University researchers found that on average, people who have a positive perception about getting older tend to live seven years longer than those who have a negative perception on aging. The American Association of Retired Persons estimated an $850 billion loss in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to involuntary retirement, underemployment and unemployment among older adults.
“It’s super important that we protect our elders and recognize the value they bring into our community, and one of the things is knowing ageism can be deadly,” said Vice Mayor Cindy Allen. “It can be found in education, housing, health care. What we’re doing here today is the first step.”
