Healthcare for All: Age

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is one of 27 Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Psychologists who work with older adults — known as geropsychologists — assess mental functioning, depression and other problems and provide psychotherapy. They also help design policies and services to enhance the quality of life of older people and their caregivers.

Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic brain disease that gradually erodes an individual’s memory, intellectual abilities, and personality. During the early stages, the most obvious symptom is an inability to learn and remember new information. In advanced stages, the ability to think, speak, or perform such basic tasks as getting dressed or eating is severely impaired. The time between diagnosis and death typically ranges from seven to 10 years.

Language and images convey meaning, which feed assumptions and judgements that can lead to ageism. The way we frame communications also affects how people think, feel and act towards different age groups. This short guide, produced as a part of the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, aims to help you improve your communication efforts by avoiding ageism in the messages and images you use.