Articles of the Month

Giving Respect Where It Is Due

"Hello, young man!" How old is the person being spoken to? Eight years old? Twenty? Forty? Think again. It seems the older you get, the more you're treated as a child.

It is denigrating to treat elderly people in this way. If it's true that we see ourselves as others see us, this self-portrait must not be very gratifying. Ageism undermines self-confidence and makes people believe that they cannot make their own decisions, think clearly or continue to work. Elderly people are being affected by our attitudes, whether we are their children, their grandchildren, a woman selling shoes, or the young student at the corner store.

Who are these "obsolete" people? Canada has a lot of them. In fact, according to the demography department at the University of Montréal, people 65 years of age and over will represent 25% of the Canadian population by 2016. We have started to get the message out to health professionals and social service providers, but we still need to educate everyone else. Although some may think contrary, senior citizens don't just hang around with healthcare providers. If elderly people are to live free of prejudice concerning their age, we have to practice respect, reject ignorance and understand the value of this group, for they deserve to be treated with dignity and given equal opportunities. We have to ensure 15 years down the line, one out of every four people is not neglected, forgotten and mistreated.

With a new perspective, we could see these people as individuals who have experience in the workplace, in family relationships, in love and in life! They are still active and are often busy volunteers. They contribute to a balanced society even if some don't see it that way.

Our attitude toward elderly people is no joke. The majority of societies don't treat them as we do. Instead, they are listened to, cared for and consulted. The decline in religion in this country shouldn't mean the demise of our values. We treat our children like royalty; let's make a point to treat our elderly with respect.