By Lindsey P. Horvath and Barbara Meltzer
October marks Ageism Awareness Month, and here in Los Angeles County, we are shining a spotlight on one of the most common yet least recognized forms of discrimination. Ageism is everywhere: in workplaces, healthcare, media, birthday cards, certificates and in the everyday comments that suggest being older means being less capable, less relevant, or less deserving of respect.
As a supervisor, I see how systemic ageism shows up across policies and institutions. As a commissioner, I hear directly from older Angelenos who experience it in their daily lives. Judging someone simply for their age is deeply harmful – it denies their individuality, dismisses their abilities and diminishes their worth.
Together, we know this is not just a matter of hurtful words or attitudes. Ageism impacts health, limits opportunities and even shortens lives. Research shows that older adults with positive self-perceptions of aging live seven-and-a-half years longer than those who internalize negative stereotypes. This is literally a matter of life and death.
We also know that age does not and should not limit what a person contributes. LA County is home to one of the largest and fastest-growing populations of older adults in the nation. They are caregivers, workers, volunteers, artists, mentors and neighbors. Their contributions power our communities and inspire generations. When we erase or diminish them, we all lose. When we celebrate and include them, we all gain.
That is why our Board of Supervisors has proclaimed October as Ageism Awareness Month. This proclamation is a commitment: to challenge stereotypes, to build intergenerational connections and to ensure that people of every age are valued. But it is also an invitation. It is our collective responsibility to build a more inclusive and age-friendly community where people of all ages are respected and valued as capable, competent, and effective.
Our work here in LA County is part of a broader movement championed by the American Society on Aging, which provides national leadership and resources to confront ageism wherever it exists. Each of us has the opportunity to reflect on our own actions and behaviors – whether that means rejecting patronizing “elderspeak,” supporting workplace inclusion for older employees or simply pausing to reflect on how we view our own aging.
Just as we work to dismantle racism, sexism and ableism, we must confront ageism. These efforts begin with awareness and grow through action. This month, we ask you to look closer at the assumptions you carry, to listen to older voices in your family and community and to join us in building a county where dignity has no expiration date.
Aging is not someone else’s story – it is all of ours.
More information can be found at ad.lacounty.gov.
Lindsey Horvath is a member of the LA County Board of Supervisors, representing the 3rd District. Barbara Meltzer is a 3rd District commissioner on the LA County Commission for Older Adults.