By Helen Hirsh Spence
Estimated read, 2:20 min
Image: McKinsey Global Institute

For the past several years, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time conveying a re-framed narrative of ageing – a more positive one. I’ve participated in campaigns in Canada, the UK, the US, Australia, and many other countries. The message that it’s great
to grow old is beginning to get out, but it’s far from mainstream.

It’s more important than ever to understand why. Ageism is NOT disappearing and it is more widespread than ever.

Here are some reality checks from a report by the McKinsey Global Institute, Dependency and depopulation? Confronting the consequences of a new demographic reality.

• Fertility rates are on the decline. Two-thirds of humanity live in countries below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman.
• Age structures are moving from pyramids to rectangles. In the US, the population of 18-year-olds will peak in 2025 and will be downhill from here on.
• By 2050, one-quarter of global consumption will be by persons over age 65. This is great for the longevity economy, but most people and businesses are still not focused on the future economy.
• Current economies cannot support existing income and retirement norms. Something has to give, many older adults will need to work longer.
• Younger people will “inherit lower economic growth and shoulder the cost of more retirees, while the traditional flow of wealth between generations erodes”.
• In advanced economies, 3/5 of countries have annual deaths that exceed births.
• Past levers, such as high productivity, more work per person, migration, and high fertility rates can no longer be relied upon.
• Today’s demographic shift upward is due to improvements in global health initiatives, welfare and general prosperity.

I don’t think any of us want future generations to resent today’s older population, do we?

One of the major issues holding many back is ageism. As expressed in a report by the Age Without Limits campaign in the UK recently, “Ageism can have a detrimental impact on people’s job prospects or healthcare treatment, leads to a relentlessly negative depiction of ageing in advertising and the media, can cause older people to be marginalized from society and can lead everyone to think negatively about their own futures. “

So, I ask you, how good are you at noticing ageism? Do you counter healthcare providers who patronize older friends or family? Do you use expressions that perpetuate the myth that “old dogs can’t learn new tricks”? Do you continue to buy birthday cards that mock older people? Do you subscribe to magazines or media that promote “anti-ageing” messages? Do you question whether you are still capable of working? Do you dress and style your hair “age appropriately”?

We all have a responsibility to ensure that ageism, not unlike racism, sexism and other forms of bigotry is eradicated. Everyone has to try to harness the energy and opportunity that the experience and expertise of older populations have to offer but aren’t using.