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This ad for Better Me’s '28 Day Walking Challenge' is wildly offensive: ageist, sexist, and stuck in a bygone, white-lady era. I’m happy to report that it encountered a lot of pushback, including the tweetstorm described in this Everything Zoomer article about “How a Cringe-Worthy Twitter Ad Sparked a Conversation Around Ageism in Advertising.”
"I'll be 45 in a few years so guess I'll start making plans to get rid of my squat rack and weights and find a cane somewhere so I'll be ready for the transition," one person tweeted.
Another responded, "I'd keep up with the weights because you'll have to be ready carry a cat everywhere you go in another decade or two."
I’m stocking up on cardigans.
Draft Recommendation: Screening for Anxiety in Adults | United States Preventive Services Taskforce
Re. this recent release of the US Preventive Services Task Force recommending anxiety screening only for people under 65. The reason: "The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for anxiety in older adults.“Â
Given the importance of social connections and the impacts of loss particularly for those 85+, it seems that olders should be asked about anxiety along with everyone else. Comments are being solicited on this proposed recommendation through October 17. Is this recommendation ageist?
It’s worse than that: According to the New York Times, the task force didn’t recommend screening patients aged 65 and up "because anxiety symptoms are similar to normal signs of aging, such as fatigue and generalized pain.” This is shockingly ageist and ableist--and ignorant above all. Shame on the Dept. of Health & Human Services. I hope you’ll comment accordingly.