Ageism

Just the Facts, Please

Posted by: Anti-Ageism Task Force

November 1, 2009 —Monsignor Charles Fahey, chairman of the board of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), and James Firman, NCOA’s president and CEO, penned a compelling article titled "Ageism and Health Care Reform: Older Adults Deserve Straight Talk" in the October 21, 2009 issue of Roll Call, the newspaper of Capitol Hill.

Fahey/Firman hark back to the Vietnam war to remind everyone just how long the the term "ageism" has been in effect, and who coined the term:

In 1968, when Vietnam and political protest created a cultural generation gap in America, the Pulitzer Prize-winning gerontologist, psychiatrist and founding director of the National Institute on Aging, Dr. Robert Butler, identified another kind of generation gap. He dubbed it “ageism,” the tendency to dismiss older people as interchangeable, less than competent, diminished by age. Today ...ageism is creeping into the health reform debate. ~ Fahey/Firman, Roll Call

The authors speak candidly about the dangers of using scare tactics and/or putting glosses on the pros and cons of health reform. They call for providing older adults with specific information about how the new proposals will benefit them (or not) with regards to caregiving, care for chronic illnesses, and the "growing epidemic of elder abuse."

Do you feel like you're getting the hard facts in the health reform debate? Our recent snap poll shows 46% of our readers support reform and 35% are opposed. As always, we encourage you to join the conversation.

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reform

By Unknown on Mar 24 2010 at 6:54 PM

I am concerned about the impact of health care reform on the aging population

With record numbers of Americans eligible for Medicare every day, how will the system sustain itself. While Medicare taxes are rising, there are less people working. And, with the new plan, incentives to work are reduced by lower cost insurance for all, despite employment.

I think employment, and hard work each day, are what keeps America going.
Not sure how this will play out in terms of Medicare.

RE: Health Care Reform & Seniors

By Unknown on Mar 26 2010 at 8:03 AM

I agree with anonymous. The government already wants to cut funds from Medicare, Medicaid, and have already indicated that seniors won't even be getting their COLA for social security again next year--and doubtful about thereafter. This is being done to supposedly fund the new system. Where WILL the funds come from to support these programs in view of health care reform? Also, will seniors also be subjected to the new insurance rules as other Americans will--except for the administration, that is? Something is not right about this picture. I have heard that many doctors will leave their profession when this is enacted, so what will the effect/consequences be for the elderly?

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