There’s no getting around aging, and for most of us, there’s no avoiding the ageism that often confronts us- whether it’s at the doctor’s office, the workplace, or in society at large. Most of us beyond a certain age are well aware of everyday ageism, but for those who are not, and for younger folks, today, October 9th, is Ageism Awareness Day, an occasion started by The American Society on Aging (ASA) to shine a light on the impact that ageism has on individuals, organizations, and the broader society. It’s a chance for all of us- old and young (who also face prejudice or discrimination because of their young age), to recognize that someone should not be judged or characterized, or excluded, merely because of their chronological age. As the ASA makes clear, “Aging is a rich and varied experience, but one that unites us all, and offers an opportunity to build a society that works for us all- once we get past ageism.”

According to a fact sheet from the World Health Organization, 1 in 2 people worldwide are ageist against older people. And ageism is estimated to cost billions of dollars annually in the US. Whether it’s feeling bad about yourself because you are an older adult (internalized ageism), to being excluded from social events or workplaces due to ageist stereotypes, or even being spoken to in a patronizing way because you visually appear to be older, the destructive effects of ageism are all around us and can be harmful to our physical and emotional well-being. For example, consider “elderspeak,” the intentional use of language- whether well-intended or not- that speaks to an older adult as though they were a child or with a level of familiarity or intimacy that is not appropriate for the relationship. The inappropriate use of terms of endearment- like “sweetie,” “honey,” or “we” instead of “you,” or some other terms- can be detrimental to those who are clearly capable of understanding and making decisions for themselves. A recent article by Kaiser Health News reports that “elderspeak” is quite common in long term care settings, but with training, staff can be educated about its harmful impact, and residents are more likely to be cooperative when spoken to in a more normal way. A recent post in The Guardian sums it up well, with an older adult responding to the patronizing words of elderspeak,” I have come to understand that elderspeak generally originates from a place of kindness…but it still stings to be on the receiving end of even benevolently ageist language.”

Perhaps nowhere is ageism and ageist behavior more commonplace- and still tolerated these days- than in the workplace, an environment where many older adults continue to exist, either due to financial reasons or because many older adults are putting off retirement well beyond the age of 65. Even those who are not yet 65, however, experience the sting of ageism in their workplace and lose out on social activities, promotions, or additional training opportunities merely because of their age. In fact, according to Glassdoor, complaints about ageism in the workplace have skyrocketed, with reports of ageist tactics up 20% in the 3rd quarter of 2025 compared to 2024. Whether trying to get a foot in the door for an interview (where AI algorithms will exclude older applicants based on language in a resume) or to the culture of the office setting, where older adults often feel disrespected or less well paid than their younger colleagues, ageism appears rampant in many workplace environments. In fact, in a recent survey conducted by MyPerfect Resume, of 1000 workers over the age of 40(!), 99% of respondents reported ageism in their workplace. 86% said older employees are targeted for bullying in the workplace, and 92% said they felt pressure to hide their age and downplay their experience to avoid negative stereotyping about themselves. For one Boomer’s attempt to find a job despite sending out over 3000 applications over the last seven years, read here.

So how can you combat ageism, whether experienced in employment or at the coffee shop? One basic strategy is to just politely request that you be spoken to – and treated- as the wisened older adult that you are. Next Avenue recently published a post to help you prepare for snarky or ageist comments you may encounter when trying to apply for a position. Among the suggestions? Make sure your appearance on Zoom is well-lit and flattering to your face; If confronted with the concern that your salary request may be too high or you may be too “experienced” for the position, have a ready response that you are interested in more than money- that you are excited the company aligns with your values, or your focus at this stage of your career is just doing good work.

If you’re currently employed and concerned about ageism in the workplace culture, there are ways you can combat those biases: By championing inclusivity, educating those around you about ageism, emphasizing the value of diverse team members or, if necessary, reporting experiences of ageism to your employer or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. While it’s notoriously difficult to win a legal case due to ageism, those around you need to see that ageist behavior will not go unchallenged. For more resources to help you respond to ageism- or to help others become more aware on this Ageism Awareness Day, hold your head up high and look here.