Resources: Old School

A rich and diverse source for resources to fight ageism

Image: Cristofer Jeschke - Unsplash

Below is a selection of the COVID-19 related resources from the Old School website :

Academic article: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of the world, including how older persons are treated. We believe that research evidence from the behavioral sciences of aging can help address the pandemic in ways that can benefit the health and well-being of individuals across the life span. https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/doi/10.1093/geronb/gbaa051/5820621

YouTube: COVID-19 is no excuse for ageism - nothing is! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdMJRZAvlK8&feature=youtu.be

Resource: Current information on the challenges the pandemic poses for older persons, all vulnerable people and society as a whole. https://www.age-platform.eu/coronavirus-covid-19

YouTube: The fatal intersection of racism & ageism in the time of Coronavirus: https://soundcloud.com/intersectionality-matters/10-age-against-the-machine-the-fatal-intersection-of-racism-ageism-in-the-time-of-coronavirus

Magazine Article: Avoiding ageist bias and tragedy in triage.  https://www.tikkun.org/avoiding-bias-and-tragedy-in-triage

Academic Article: The COVID-19 Pandemic Exposes Limited Understanding of Ageism. During the COVID-19 pandemic, justification for orders to shelter in place have emphasized the vulnerability of older people. Although other at-risk groups were sometimes men- tioned, the emphasis on older people could have effects on attitudes about aging and older people for decades to come. This essay provides a comprehensive biopsychosocial descrip- tion of ageism and discusses the pandemic as a “focusing event” that exemplifies the extreme social consequence of ageism for the entire older population. It suggests revisions to the Elder Justice Act and utilization of programs such as the Reframing Aging, Age-Friendly University, and Ageism First Aid initiatives to reduce ageism in the wake of the pandemic. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/08959420.2020.1772003?needAccess=true&

Toolkit: Age Demands Action: Campaign toolkit to challenge ageism in the time of COVID-19. This toolkit provides step-by-step advice on how to analyse the situation and plan a campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.helpage.org/what-we-do/coronavirus-covid19/toolkit-to-challenge-ageism-in-the-time-of-covid19/

Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on older persons. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing untold fear and suffering for older people across the world. As of 26 April, the virus itself has already taken the lives of some 193,710 people1, and fatality rates for those over 80 years of age is five times the global average.2 As the virus spreads rapidly to developing countries, likely overwhelming health and social protection systems, the mortality rate for older persons could climb even higher. https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un_policy_brief_on_covid-19_and_older_persons_1_may_2020.pdf

Academic Article: Recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Focus on Older Adults. As we look toward recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we overview challenges to be minimized, including economic setbacks, health and well-being effects, and highlighted ageism, racism, and classism. We articulate opportunities to be seized, including increased comfort with technology and online platforms; stronger family and intergenerational connections, renewed energy to combat social isolation; more respect for self-care and time management; increased awareness about the importance of advance directives; and, potentially, increased interest across disciplines to work on issues of aging society. Ongoing efforts to improve policies and programs for longer, healthier lives might now be more productive, as we communicate to consumers, public officials, and everyday citizens who may be more aware of what isn’t working, what is at stake, and what might be improved. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08959420.2020.1759758

Guide: Understanding Ageism and COVID-19. The Gerontological Society of America. Even though people 65 and older are at greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, people of all ages are profoundly affected by the pandemic, whether through infection itself, economic impact, or social distancing measures—especially those that are responsible for physical distancing of family and friends for the safety of all. Addressing ageism is an additional layer of concern during the pandemic. Ageism can lead to undervaluing the lives of older people and neglecting the range of long-term services and supports that shape their lives. Ageism can also mean propagating myths about older people that don’t hold up to facts. To help challenge ageism, we’re presenting the facts. Acting together to prevent further spread of the virus will help support people of all ages, including the lives of older people who are particularly at risk. https://www.geron.org/images/gsa/reframing/AgeismInfographic_final.pdf

[Source: Old School, Anti-Ageism Clearing House, https://oldschool.info]