Why does ageism matter?

Age discrimination affects our health and shortens our lives.
In a study of adults aged 60 and up, 80 percent indicated they had encountered some type of ageism, and nearly a third claimed they had been ignored or not taken seriously because of their age.
Individually, ageism causes anxiety, melancholy, reluctance about seeking treatment, and even lower life spans. Because of stereotypes, older people often do not receive the best care, which can be harmful. 
Disorders such as cognitive impairment induced by complex treatment regimens, for example, are not as routinely detected or treated in older persons. Our thoughts around aging can even influence how long we live. According to one study, persons who had unfavourable attitudes toward aging lived 7.5 years less than their peers who had more optimistic attitudes.

Ageism harms our workplaces and neighbourhoods.
Negative beliefs about older people affect hiring decisions, community activity, and government legislation, all of which impact society as a whole. Ageism is widespread in the workplace, with more than 60 percent of employees reporting having witnessed or experienced it. 

Data suggest that inter-generational teams outperform single-generation teams and that having older members in inter-generational groups tends to increase the productivity of others around them.