"This report shows that ageism is prevalent, ubiquitous and insidious because it goes largely unrecognized and unchallenged. Ageism has serious and far-reaching consequences for people’s health, well-being and human rights and costs society billions of dollars. Among older people, ageism is associated with poorer physical and mental health, increased social isolation and loneliness, greater financial insecurity and decreased quality of life and premature death. Ageism, in younger people has been less well explored in the literature but reported by younger people in a range of areas including employment, health and housing.
Across the life course, ageism interacts with ableism, sexism and racism compounding disadvantage.