Ageism is silently impacting economic productivity and mental health

As many people may know we have an ageing population. However, new research from the Centre for Ageing Better reveals the specific impacts of age discrimination on older people. In fact, figures from the charity show that half of adults aged over 50 in England have experienced age discrimination in the last year. In response, the Centre for Ageing Better is today (16^th January) launching Age Without Limits, a hard-hitting new campaign launched tackling widespread and damaging ageism.

For people in their 50s and 60s who experienced discrimination because of their age in the past year, this happened most commonly in work (37%), followed by social media and television, movies or news reports (32%). For people aged over 70, age discrimination was most felt on social media, television, movies or news reports (44%) and even in health or social care settings (29%).

This then leads into how the public view older people. Only 30% of people think the treatment of older people is good and over half the public think older people are less visible than younger people in society.

Aston spoke to Dr Carole Easton, chief executive at the Centre for Ageing Better.