Aging and Disability Worksheet Eth 125

Aging and Disability Worksheet

Aging and Disability Worksheet

Part 1

Identify 2 or 3 issues faced by the aging population.

1. Ageism, being discriminated against.

2. Social isolation.

3. Retirement.

1. What is ageism? How does ageism influence the presence of diversity in society?

Schaefer (2012) stated that ageism refers to, “prejudice and discrimination against the elderly.” A more in depth description of ageism is the discrimination that seniors face, such as jokes about them not being able to hear, drive slow, can hardly move around, etc. Ageism influences the presence of diversity in society in the workplace, senior may not get hired or moved up a position are even laid off because their considered “old”. I believe that by not including the elderly people in everyday activities such as work is discrimination. My grandparents are able to work and my grandma does not plan on retirement soon. Just because you are ageing does not mean you are unable to perform tasks that younger people can perform.

2. What is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)? How does the ADEA address issues for the aging population?

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is a law passed in 1968, that allows workers 40 years and older the protection that they cannot be fired because of their age or to be replaced with a younger aged worker (Schaefer, 2012). The ADEA works to protect older people in the workforce watching how long it takes for them to find employment, if they have a wage loss due to being older, and the court size awards to those due to age discrimination. The ADEA states that employers cannot mention age when they are hiring. Also employers are not able to set age limits on training programs, and cannot lay off older workers for economic reasons. They also protect against age discrimination by protecting them from being fired, laid off, forced to retirement, and from obtaining promotions.

3. What is being done to address the...