AUSTRALIA: New Bid to Amend Old Terms

BRISBANE (Bayside Bulletin), November 28, 2005: Preventing stereotypes by using appropriate terminology when addressing older people was recommended by the fourth National Conference for Emerging Researchers in Ageing. The Conference suggested avoiding use of words such as "old, pensioner, self-funded retiree, frail, elderly, geriatric, senile," and "grandmother or grandfather" out of context when addressing older people. Using such words can prove to be discriminatory towards seniors. How should we address older people, without causing offence? It's an age-old question that has got some seniors, gritting their teeth, and their younger counterparts scratching their heads in bemusement. That very topic was the basis of a research paper presented at the fourth National Conference for Emerging Researchers in Ageing, held at Brisbane last month. Given that words are a powerful tool, it was important appropriate terminology was used to prevent stereotyping or sounding judgemental, according to James Cook, lecturer in Asian studies and Japanese language at Australian Catholic University, Banyo. "Lumping older people together as'the aged'is arbitrary and inappropriate, as people in this group live healthy active lives for 20 to 30 years after retirement", he said. The Council of the Ageing of Victoria recommends avoiding words such as "old, pensioner, self-funded retiree, frail, elderly, geriatric, senile," and "grandmother or grandfather" out of context, said Mr Cook. While the term "older people" was preferable, a search of the internet revealed high frequency use of the word "senior", he noted. New words being coined to denote a range of lifestyles of older people include the American term "zoomers" - baby boomers living in retirement villages offering an active lifestyle. Using non-ageist terms could "help forward the quest for a better quality of life for older Australians". © Bayard 2006