When I was a little kid I really believed my parents were indestructible. Who else can cure scratched knees, fix the Barbie who’s head fell off, or help you solve those difficult multiplication tables? But I’m not a little kid anymore. I’m 22. And as much as I would like to believe differently, my parents aren’t indestructible. My Dad has increasing health problems, and my mom now needs glasses to read the things she used to. They aren’t the only ones. The 2006 Canadian census revealed one in seven people are over the age of 65 ("2006 Census: Portrait of the Canadian Population in 2006, by Age and Sex: National portrait", 2006). With increased age, comes an increased likelihood of physical disabilities, including vision loss, hearing loss, and amputations. According to an article by Beverly E. Holland and Donna R. Falvo (1990), “disability increase with age by about 3 ½ times” (p.32).
However, despite the fact disabilities increase with age, the services and rehabilitation offered to the aging has been shown to decrease. Compared to young people with physical disabilities, the elderly are significantly overlooked (Holland & Falvo, 1990, p.32). I believe this has a lot to do with the ageism underlying the formulation of social policies. For example, in the United States, 85% of amputations occur in the elderly section of the population mainly due to “arteriosclerosis or diabetes” (Holland & Falvo, 1990, p.32). However, rehabilitation services for this section of the population were largely rejected based on the false assumption that “older individuals would be unable to learn how to use the prosthesis properly, even though there was no evidence to substantiate this claim” (Holland & Falvo, 1990, p.32).
Age, like disability can be recognized largely as a social construction. In Old Age and Ageism, Impairment and Ableism: Exploring the Conceptual and Material Connections, Christine Overall argues that the way we see disability, like the way we see age, is only “an impairment due to the social environment in which we live” (Overall, 2006, p.131). In Canada, and the United States, there remains an underlying assumption that worth decreases with age. This causes paternalistic attitudes set in as we think we need to care for the elderly like we care for children- with totally disregard for their autonomy or rights. This ageism, especially coupled with the physical disabilities of many elderly, leads to the creation of many social policies which force retirement or institutionalize of those elderly with physical disabilities instead of focusing on services and rehabilitation which would see them regain their potential (Holland & Falvo, 1990, p.32).
This is a scary reality. As my parents get older I would hate to think their chances of accessing services will be significantly lower than those who are younger. The elderly population is a vulnerable section of this country, and I believe advocacy must be done to raise awareness at provincial and federal levels of government for the need of more services to those elderly who are physically disabled. Increased age should not automatically be associated with increased dispensability .
-Erin Roche
Bibliography:
Holland, B. E. & Falvo, D. R. (1990) Forgotten: Elderly Persons With Disability - A
Consequence of Policy. Journal of Rehabilitation, 56, 32-35.
Overall, C. (2006). Old Age and Ageism, Impairment and Ableism: Exploring the
Conceptual and Material Connections. NWSA Journal, 18, 126-137.
Statistics Canada. (2006). 2006 Census: Portrait of the Canadian
Population in 2006, by Age and Sex: National portrait. Retrieved from
I agree with the points you made Erin, in regards to the general population overlooking the needs of seniors with disabilities. Could it be because society has unintentionally given up on seniors? You could argue that the reason more attention is on young people with disabilities, is due to the fact of their age, and not because they’re any better or worse then seniors as a person. Young people are perceived as having their whole lives ahead of them, so investing in their needs at a young age will, and should have a greater rate of return in future productivity, as opposed to a senior, whose productivity in the labour force may be at an end. Seniors have contributed to society all their lives, and if others are lucky enough to reach that age, shouldn't we have a moral obligation to take care of them?
ReplyDeleteSeniors looked after our generation, it’s only respectful that we look after them, and the new generation that follows. That’s how it is and should be in Canada, helping those who are unable to help themselves.
-Rocco Scarcella
Good point! I think because we live in a society that is very market driven we tend to see people in terms of their market value, rather than their inherent worth. As a result those who cannot actively participate in our capitalist society are often marginalized- like the aging population.
ReplyDelete-Erin Roche
Hello Erin, I agree that there are not enough services for the elderly in our societies. I did some work with elderly in nursing/retirement homes. This work was more based around social barriers for the elderly but it shows the wide range of needs not being met properly. It is upsetting to hear about the lack of services that are provide to the elderly with disabilities and how they feel that amputations are in the better interest of elderly people because prosthetics are too difficult for them, unbelievable. We are coming to a time where there are going to be more of an elderly population then younger individuals. These attitudes towards the elderly need to change, in order, to give them a better quality of life. I agree it’s scary to think of our own parents in these conditions and one day ourselves.
ReplyDeleteNicole G
I found this post very captivating. I think I found this topic so intriguing because of my grandmother, whom is the last of all my grandparents living. Recently I have been very absorbed by the fact that my time with her is running out. Because she has seen so much and because of our age gap I don't think I can even begin to fathom with the pool of knowledge she has. She tells me about her life at my age and the mile stones in her life, this simply displays how vastly society has changed and continues to change. She is an essential part of our family history and these stories really make me want to utilize any time left I have with her. Years from now I do not want to just begin to appreciate her experiences and her contribution to our family as well as to our nation. My hope is that in the near future a common respect of the aging population can be established. If the younger generations and the aging generations can get to know each other’s experiences we can all become closer and look out for everyone’s best interest. Maybe this in turn will enable us to appreciate the differences between us.
ReplyDelete-Brooke Davison
This blog reminds me of the commercials about elder abuse. So many people treat elderly people like they are a waste of space. Its sad to see that people treat others with disabilities the same way. I've noticed a change in my grandparents as they get older too. They can't open or lift things like before. Even though age isn't really a "physical disability" it still causes the same barriers.
ReplyDeleteBrittney M
As we talked about in class, I think the reason why seniors are disregarded in Canadian policies is because, often, they do not fight back, and it is easy to "win" against people that do not fight back. Most of them cannot go out and march around the city protesting the same way young people can, if they have a physical disability.
ReplyDeleteI do not understand why society does not have more respect for seniors and their rights. Not all people will have physical disabilities, but all people will become seniors. You would think more respectful policies would be in place for seniors because of this. Everyone wants to be treated with respect no matter what there age is. Great point in your blog Erin, I really like the personal stories!
-Avery F
This struck me the value or undervaluing of the aged/elderly. One of our other Professors talked about how the Canada War Museum was collecting memories and experiences from War Veterans who served in World War I as they are all getting older and passing away and without their stories, an important part of Canadian history and experiences would be gone too. The knowledge and contributions of the older population should be acknowledged and appreciated and they should not be viewed as less than because thay are now aged and are no longer "contributing" in the same way. It is scary Erin, the thought that if we get older there won't be enough services for us when we need it.
ReplyDeleteI just posted that comment. I forgot to put my name.
ReplyDelete-Priscilla
Hi Erin.I really liked how you started your post by referring to your percieved indestructibility of your parents when you were younger. This really caught my attention as I am often somewhat startled every time I look at my parents and realize that they are not the same young strong people that they were 20 or even 10 years ago. The thought of them not recieving proper care and respect as they age is sickening and frightening. It has made me really think about the idea of having an older parent move into my home when they can no longer look after themselves. Unfortunatley, the research that we have done in this class really makes that prospect look like a difficult one to realistically carry out. Great post, it kind of mad me sad though.
ReplyDelete-Crystal M.
Crystal, your post reminded me of an experience I had last year. In a conversion between some women one explained how she was planning on travelling to China, and the other woman had said she just arrived from China. One of the women explained cultural ideals, conventions etc. of Canada and the other fabricated the same descriptions except in reference to Chinese conventions. One of the comparisons that stuck in my mind was how family oriented Chinese are in comparison to Canadians. The women from China seemed shocked that many older adults in Canada live alone or in old-age care homes. Having older parents live with a child, usually with a family of their own, was a conventional lifestyle in China. Hearing this comparison made me a little embarrassed of the way older adults are treated in Canadian society.
ReplyDelete-Brooke Davison
Erin and Rocco made great points, that age has become a socially constructed prejudice. They associate a certain age with weakness and accept this as inevitable, and why put in extra policies if they won’t be around much longer anyway. I think that our society has change from a time when our grandparents lived with their children, to where their kids but them in institutions where they won’t see them on such a regular basis. There is almost this accepted segregation of older adults once they’ve reached certain age or inability. You can see the extent that the government undervalues seniors as voters and contributing citizens when in the 90s the government tried to reduce old age securities.
ReplyDeleteHolly