Ageism refers to stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination directed toward others or oneself based on age. There are well-documented social, economic and health impacts of ageism.

• Ageism in healthcare is prevalent. Older adults face age-based biases and barriers to diagnosis and treatment that effectively ration healthcare delivery. Older adults are too often excluded from research. In a 2021 study, researchers found that one-third of U.S. respondents ages 50 and older reported the healthcare system “never,” or only “sometimes,” considered their care preferences, which is magnified among those who are lower-income or identify as a minority group. This can lead to older patients engaging less in the healthcare system or not seeking medical care altogether. Any reluctance to use health services has serious implications for older minority populations suffering from chronic conditions.
• Ageism in our culture. On TV (where only 1.5% of characters are older adults), in advertising (where older adults are 7 times more likely to be portrayed negatively in online ads), in housing (where elders face age-based screening and discrimination) and in education (in which there are ageist funding and other structural barriers)—are all out of sync with the reality of today’s aging society.
• Ageism in our laws. From how they’re made to how they’re implemented, arbitrary, chronological age–based laws, regulations and policies permeate all three branches of government. Congress uses ageist language in law and avoids investing in older adults; the Judicial Branch undervalues older judges, and the legal system is fraught with age-bias; and the Executive Branch promulgates ageist regulations and policies with arbitrary, chronological age–based laws.

Make our laws age-inclusive

• Encourage the United States to advance and join the UN Convention on Rights of Older Persons (PDF).
• Reform U.S. age-discrimination laws to level the evidentiary playing field.

Invest in anti-ageism efforts that work

• Expand budget, enforcement and reporting requirements for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor related to age discrimination.
• Improve the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to promote the employment of older individuals.
• Invest in anti-ageism and multigenerational federal education initiatives to create greater cross-generational understanding.

Ensure the government understands the impacts of ageism

• Conduct a GAO analysis of how ageism permeates regulations and policies to the detriment of older adults to monitor and track ageism in a range of key agencies, particularly among healthcare and long-term care workers, in the housing sector, in the legal system and during emergency management, and implement actions plans for change.
• Invest in more ageism research from the NIH and other related federal agencies on the impact of ageism in healthcare and long-term care.
• Ensure age is part of federal DEI initiatives, including adding age advocates on advisory boards, requiring age-related training and certifications (such as for all healthcare providers), to increase knowledge of the aging process and teach people how to work with older adults.