The report includes the most effective strategies known to reduce ageism and provides three core recommendations for action. The timely 200-page report also presents the latest evidence on how the Covid-19 pandemic has caused ageism to gain greater relevance.

Purpose of the ageism report

The goal of the report is to change how people think, feel and act towards age and ageing. WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commented at last week’s news release, “As countries seek to recover and rebuild from the pandemic, we cannot let age-based stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination limit opportunities to secure the health, well-being and dignity of people everywhere. This report outlines the nature and scale of the problem, but also offers solutions in the form of evidence-based interventions to end ageism at all stages.“

The scale and impact of ageism

The report is directed at policymakers, practitioners, researchers, development agencies and members of the private sector and civil society. WHO estimate that every second person in the world is believed to hold “moderately or highly” ageist attitudes against older people and anticipate that such stark findings will generate some positive changes in society, as ageism can cause detrimental impact to those affected by it.

Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said “ageism harms everyone – old and young. But often, it is so widespread and accepted – in our attitudes and in policies, laws and institutions – that we do not even recognize its detrimental effect on our dignity”.

For older people, ageism can reduce quality of life, increase social isolation and is associated with a shorter lifespan and for younger people, it can reduce their commitment to the organisations that they work for.

Strategies to reduce ageism

The report details three strategies, which are all more effective when combined together, to reduce ageism:

• Policies and laws

• Educational interventions

• Intergenerational contact interventions

Recommendations for action against ageism

WHO and UN strongly advocate implementing the recommendations together, to combat ageism:

• Invest in evidence-based strategies to prevent and tackle ageism.

• Improve data and research to gain a better understanding of ageism and how to reduce it.

• Build a movement to change the narrative around age and ageing.