Ageism's impact and effect on society: Not just a concern for the old

Ageism, or discrimination against individuals because of their age, is a pr oblem for both the individual and society. This article examines ageism as a prejudice against older persons (those age 65 and older) from the perspec tives of social work, sociology, psychology, and human communication. An ex planation of how ageism is manifested and communicated is offered in an att empt to provide an understanding of its impact on the individual, on societ y, and on service provision. Implications for social work as we enter the n ext century are provided, especially in relation to the changes anticipated in demographics.