REUTERS
NEW YORK - Many older adults report being discriminated against due to their age, according to a new study.
One third of British people in their 50s and above said they had experienced age discrimination, researchers reported in the journal Age and Ageing. That included being treated with less courtesy or getting poorer service at restaurants and hospitals. “We know from other work that many older people feel that they are discriminated against,” lead researcher Isla Rippon, from University College London, said.
But these rates were surprisingly high, she added. “Perceived day-to-day discrimination can affect both physical and mental health,” she told Reuters Health. Frequent perceived discrimination may be a chronic source of stress and build up over time, leading to social withdrawal and reluctance to go to the doctor, Rippon said.