AGEISM: For the purposes of this discussion, ageism will refer to stereotypes, discriminatory and oppressive practices towards the older population, individuals over the age of fifty. Public policies, health careers, and social programs within the contextual framework of our society's norms are influenced by negative attitudes toward aging. The definition of ageism is: “stereotypes that are generalized beliefs or opinions based on individual experience, often produced by irrational thinking. Stereotypes, whether direct or subtle, are generally inaccurate and emotional impressions and are not based on objective information” (Hillier and Barrow, 2011, p.32). Some stereotypes claim that older people are poor, in poor health, and incapable of learning new technologies. For example, “Detroit syndrome is a media term that describes an older person as obsolete” (Hiller and Barrow, 2011b, p. 12). . Beyond generalization, attitudes such that older people are narrow-minded, fixed, slow to think, untrainable, and constitute ageist attitudes. Stephen J. Cutler, PhD, professor of sociology at the University of Vermont ...