COVID-19 and Quarantine, a Catalyst for Ageism

Abstract

In February 2021, France had more than 76,000 deaths due to COVID-19 and older adults were heavily affected. Most measures taken to reduce the impact of COVID-19 (quarantine, visit ban in nursing home, etc.) significantly influenced the lives of older adults. Yet they were rarely consulted about their implementation. Exclusion of and discrimination against older adults has been accentuated during the COVID-19 pandemic. While many articles discussing COVID-19 also mention ageism, few actually incorporate the perspectives and opinions of older adults. Our research aims to assess the ageism experienced by older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted interviews with older adults (63–92 years, mean age = 76 years) in an urban area of France. Participants reported experiencing more ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic, including hostile and benevolent ageism from older adults' families. Despite reports of experiencing ageist attitudes and behaviors from others, however, older adults also identified positive signs of intergenerational solidarity during this COVID-19 crisis.

Ageism in the COVID-19 pandemic: age-based discrimination in triage decisions and beyond

“…Indeed, as happens with other social identities such as women, elders do not constitute a uniform demographic group (Berkhout & Richardson, 2020). This group characterization leads furthermore to the "formation of stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination" against older adults (Barth et al, 2021). It also obscures the structural context of inequalities that permeates aging.…”

“…This disproportionate messaging has shaped the social view and identity of older adults as a highly vulnerable group. Furthermore, the media coverage has also promoted cases of older adults that have altruistically refused the use of ventilators to give the chance of survival to younger people (see Carriere et al, 2020;Barth et al, 2021). The irreflective promotion of these examples runs the risk of extending simplistic views about the very difficult bioethical topic of whether there is a "duty to die" (see Hardwing, 1997) when one is old and when one competes about scarce healthcare resources with younger patients.…”

“…Thus, ageism fosters discrimination based on age from a problematic group homogenization. However, older adults should not be considered as a homogenous group (Barth et al, 2021). Indeed, as happens with other social identities such as women, elders do not constitute a uniform demographic group (Berkhout & Richardson, 2020).…”

“…Older adults have predominantly experienced ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic (Barth et al, 2021). These experiences have been prompted by negative social perceptions about the older population that include prejudices, false beliefs, or inaccurate stereotypes.…”

The “Vulnerability” Discourse in Times of Covid-19: Between Abandonment and Protection of Canadian Francophone Older Adults

“…Language used such as "boomer remover" (35)(36)(37) suggested that the lives of older people were not as valuable as the lives of younger people. "Compassionate ageism, " also termed "caremongering" (38) or benevolent ageism (39), contributed to the association of chronological age with stereotypes of frailty, burden, and vulnerability, which undermined older people's agency and ability to care for themselves. Interestingly, while older adults were the focus of the news media and political decisions (40), their voices in the public discourse appear to be limited.…”