Senioritis

Speaking loudly, exaggerating facial expressions, offering to help climb stairs: Each of these could indicate kindness and sympathy—or, depending on the situation, they could be a sign of ageism. “People quickly judge others,” says Kathy Black, an associate professor and gerontologist at USF Sarasota-Manatee. “Unfortunately, it’s done very superficially—mostly based on visual stimuli.” Assuming an elderly person has bad hearing or difficulty climbing stairs might be offensive to a vital, engaged senior or to someone who works to maintain health in old age.

This is especially an issue in a popular retirement destination like Sarasota and Manatee, where more than 30 percent of the population is 65 or older. “All businesses should be concerned about this,” says Black. If an older customer repeatedly feels like he or she is being treated condescendingly based on age, that experience will affect the company’s reputation. No adult wants to be treated like a child or suffer the humiliation of having someone assume they are weak or incapable because of age. Customers and clients return most frequently to places where they are treated with dignity and respect; Black commends local Publix stores for training employees to be considerate and helpful without being condescending.

Ageism can run in both directions. The elderly treat each other condescendingly just as often, says Black, and older people can also jump to conclusions about younger people based on appearance. “The most important thing is politeness and respect,” she says. No matter how old you are.

Steps for confronting ageism in the workplace