‘Intergenerational solidarity’ the key to addressing ageism, experts claim

The number of Australians aged 65 or older will double in the next four decades while the number of those aged 80 or older is forecast to triple.

It’s figures such as these and the fact that as the Australian population grows older, ageism has proliferated – shortening life spans, contributing to elder abuse, and pushing willing employees out of the workforce- that have prompted calls for those of all ages to unite against ageism.

While many may overlook ageism as it does not impact them yet, experts warn that the future of older and younger Australians is connected and pitting generations against one another will have dire consequences for all.

Age discrimination commissioner Robert Fitzgerald and World Health Organisation campaign consultant Marlene Krasovitsky recently stressed the need for a united front against ageism while acknowledging the inequities between different age demographics in a recent joint address at the National Press Club.

“The consequential failure of our generation to deal with one of the most significant economic problems impacts both young people and us as old people,” Fitzgerald said.

“This is a generation who has continually failed to fix the tax system over 30 years, and the consequence of that is that we are a low-taxing, high-spending nation.”

The result of such failures is worsening housing affordability and rising education costs for young people, while older Australians face higher co-contributions for aged care, Fitzgerald explained.

Today: Robert Fitzgerald AM, Age Discrimination Commissioner & Dr Marlene Krasovitsky, Consultant to the World Health Organisation’s Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, Addressed the National Press Club of Australia on “Why Australia needs Ageism Awareness Day!”. Watch the replay… pic.twitter.com/LAOXuEt730

— National Press Club (@PressClubAust) September 25, 2024

Krasovitsky highlighted that there is a shared interest among age groups and addressing ageism together will benefit everyone.

“Today’s younger people are tomorrow’s older people … our futures are intertwined,” she told the press club.

“We’re not about cementing the privileges of old people at the expense of younger people … we cannot continue to define each other by age then pit ourselves against each other.

“Intergenerational solidarity brings great benefits.”

While Fitzgerald believes the Federal Government’s recent aged care reforms will address some aspects of ageism, he states that such measures would be stronger if they included enforceable rights for older Australians.

According to the Council of the Ageing (COTA), ageism can present itself in three main ways:

Internalised ageism occurs when older people limit themselves based on their perceptions of age.

Benevolent ageism – seen in aged care or health services – happens when those who try to help inadvertently remove people’s agency.

Systemic ageism is particularly evident in areas such as employment, where one in six organisations will not consider hiring people 65 or older, and banking, where older people often struggle to get loans.

-with AAP.