Ensuring Enabling and Supportive EnvironmentsImages of aging
Understanding of how images, including stereotypes and negative language, of older persons influence and are influenced by attitudes and understanding of ageing is needed. All educational efforts in ageing should incorporate understanding of images of ageing and how they are formed and the impacts they have on older persons, care providers and the community generally. The extent to which negative stereotypes of ageing can influence care provision and design of policies and programs must be recognized and combated at all levels. More positive images of successful ageing need to be promoted in practice settings.
Research
- Evaluation of strategies that are efficient in changing prejudice, ageism, stereotypes and negative attitudes about older persons is needed.
- Research into various media in which inappropriate images of ageing are displayed needs to be done to raise awareness and to apply fair and accurate language and images to older people.
Education
- Constructive views of old age and ageing should be encouraged through public media as well as in medical and other professional training programs.
- Education of realistic view of age and ageing should be done at several levels.
Policy and Practice
- Governments should develop national and comprehensive strategies to stop abuse of older people. This should include a supportive legal framework, public information and awareness campaigns, involvement of older people to promote their empowerment, and incorporating programs to deal with causes and effects of abuse and neglect in the community’s long-term care system.
- The Office of the Commission of Human Rights should establish a task force to report on how best to promote action to prevent abuse and neglect at regional levels.