In his encyclical The Gospel of Life, the late Pope John Paul II defended the rights of older adults when he wrote, “Thanks to the rich treasury of experiences they have acquired through the years, the elderly can and must be sources of wisdom and witnesses of hope and love.” Yet ageism still exists.

Ageism can be seen in multiple ways, from “Granny-bashing” to “Elderspeak.” The former can be seen when individuals blame society’s current economic and political woes on older adults, and the latter can occur when individuals communicate to older adults in a slow tone, pronouncing each syllable slowly because they believe the elderly can’t understand the language. Ageist behaviours are also found in the work place. Stories are often heard about employers coercing older employees into early retirement or not wanting to hire a worker because of his or her age.

In Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, he quotes from the second book of Maccabees in the Old Testament: “Old age is characterized by dignity and surrounded with reverence.” However, modern society is structured around the idea of youthfulness and beauty as the most noteworthy traits, and the importance of experience and wisdom is often demeaned. People are drawn towards the idea of looking younger.

The media encourages this by marketing products and services that reduce the physical effects of aging: hair colour products, facelifts and anti-wrinkle creams to name a few. Many people are keen on the idea of removing several years or even decades off their aged bodies, and as a result the cosmetics industry is booming.

People pay too much attention to their physical appearance and forget the importance of the inner-self. It is imperative for society to view aging in a much more positive light.   

There are ways to eradicate ageism in society. As Catholics, applying the Golden Rule is essential. One must heed to the social appeal of the elderly and recognize myths and negative behaviours pertaining to the elderly. It is important to listen to seniors who have experienced ageism first-hand, and speak out against abuse of older people and ageist behaviours.

Growing old is honourable. It should not be seen as a time of mental decline, but a time where older adults can share their experiences with younger generations. And hopefully, in the near future, this will become a reality, not just an unheard wish.

(Gagliano, 19, is a life sciences student at the University of Toronto.)