Ageism in the Family

The problem of ageism in the family can be understood through the lens of larger social structural factors that shape intrapersonal and interpersonal relations in families. While research on the negative consequences of ageism is well established in the workplace, media, and in healthcare systems, ageism within the family has not yet been well studied. We propose a tripartite model of ageism, specifically how cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of family members, in combination with internalized age beliefs held by older people, undermine family dynamics and may worsen the health and wellbeing of older adults. The paper concludes with implications for further research and clinical social work practice.