Addressing Ageism in Rural Healthy Aging Programs

Ageism, which involves drawing conclusions solely based on an individual's age, can harm older adults' physical and mental well-being.

Rural program implementers can make deliberate efforts to avoid and address ageism. This may include training staff and educating communities on appropriate language to use when addressing older adults and discussing issues related to healthy aging. Steps to avoid or address ageism may include the following:

• Learning about ageism, what it is, and how it can be harmful.
• Practicing self-reflection to be conscious of one's assumptions.
• Using whole-person terminology to refer to older adults participating in rural programs. For example, it is preferable to use the terms, "older adults," "older individuals," or "older persons" instead of "elderly" or "seniors."
• Using neutral or strength-based terms and avoid language that focuses on the negative aspects of aging. For example, program implementers can avoid using words like "struggle" or "battle" and instead refer to "aging experiences."
• Avoiding elderspeak, an overly-simplified way of speaking to older adults that can sound infantile.
• Incorporating the perspective of older adults in program design and implementation to identify assumptions and address ageism. (See more at Incorporating the Voices of Older Adults into Rural Health Aging Programs.)