- Campaigners from the Centre for Ageing Better are urging the public to stop using common "everyday ageist phrases" such as "over the hill" and "stuck in their ways," citing their significant detrimental impact on older people.
- Research by the Centre for Ageing Better, based on a January survey of 4,000 UK adults, indicates that even individuals in their late 40s and early 50s frequently encounter such ageist language.
- The survey revealed that one in ten respondents aged 45-54 had been called "over the hill," nearly a quarter were told they were "stuck in their ways," and 8 per cent had heard the phrase "old dogs can’t learn new tricks."
- Ageist language also affects older demographics, with 9 per cent of those aged 65 and above being labelled a "dinosaur," and 13 per cent of over-75s dismissed as "past their sell-by date"; additionally, 18 per cent of all adults admitted using "mutton dressed as lamb."
- Harriet Bailiss and Katherine Crawshaw from the Centre for Ageing Better warn that these phrases, though seemingly harmless, entrench ageism within society, eroding personal confidence and leading to prejudice that can negatively impact individuals' work, health, and relationships as they age.
IN FULL
Campaigners want you to stop saying people are ‘stuck in their ways’. Here’s why
