On the occasion of August 28th, National Day of Older Adults in Mexico, we share with you some of the advantages of having them in your work group and some of the concepts with which it is convenient not to refer to this sector of the population.
From 1998 the National Day of the Elderly was instituted in Mexico.this date works for recognize the rights of this population group that has 60 years of age or older. In our country there is the National Institute for the Elderly (Inapam)which commented in 2020 that this day is not only to congratulate them, it is also a day to "to give them recognition for their current and potential contributions to the cultural, social, economic and political development of our society".
A real inclusion of older adults is based on the following principles of nondiscrimination and nonstigmatization. For this purpose, it is necessary to provide independence, protagonism and autonomy in the activities they perform.
In 2025, the National Population Council (CONAPO) estimates that there are more than 17 million people who are 60 years of age or older in Mexico.representing the 12.8% of the population total.
However, projections point to the fact that this figure will continue to grow as birth rates have declined and life expectancy has increased.. According to data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (Inegi), the life expectancy for Mexicans is, on average, of 75 years in 2025.
Advantages of having seniors in my organization
There are several benefits of having senior citizens in a company. The first and perhaps the most relevant is its experience. Recall that the time a person works provides you with knowledge that enables you to have a strategic vision and a extensive problem-solving skills.
In other ComproDiverso articles, we have mentioned that it is relevant to have a diversity in the ages of the members of a work team. The intergenerational coexistence is vital, as it can generate a mentoring relationship between a young person and an older adult, who can pass on their knowledge and values.
In this regard, Patricia de la Guardiaretired chemical engineer, we commented the following in a private training for ComproDiverso affiliates:
"The coexistence of different ages is very enriching for us as well as for the young people, because it helps them learn how to treat the elderly. If the possibility of coexistence of different generations could be generated from an early age, it would be very beneficial".
In addition, another advantage is that the people who are older women can be an example and inspiration for other generations, because have an adaptability which has allowed them to spend several years in the work environment.
How not to refer to older adults
Socially, we have normalized many words, stereotypes, mockery or jokes that may be stigmatizing and offensive to the elderly. To take examples we have 'vejete', 'abuelo', 'pensionado', 'senil', 'fósil', 'personas de la tercera edad', 'viejita', 'geriátrica', 'anciana', among others.
On this topic, Patricia de la Guardia he commented:
"In the street they see an elderly person and many times they even push us aside. Or, because of some small oversight, they say to us: "Oh, it's because she is old. That is an insult. Simply that anything is justified because 'she's old' is offensive".
The above words do not portray with dignity to this sector of the population. That is why some suggestions of how to refer to them are:
- senior citizens
- elderly population.
The language is very powerful and allows us to combating prejudice to older adults. The University of Utah comments that ageist language is often used in everyday conversations and we have it so normalized that sometimes we do not notice it.
Some tips that the University of Utah gives include:
- Avoid talking to older adults with terms such as 'elderly'.for this conjures up images of fragility and dependence.
- Don't address them in a childish way or as if you were could not understand what is being said to them.
- Recognizes your capabilities to make decisions and to understand complex situations.
- It is important to not stereotyping what an older adult looks like. There is a large diversity in agingMany people are still active, working and doing physical activities at this stage of life. In other words, there is no one way in which an older adult should be viewed.
Discrimination experienced by older adults in the work environment
To put into perspective the situation of the elderly in Mexico, between 2012 and 2020, the National Council for the Prevention of Discrimination (Conapred) qualified 242 files. as alleged acts of discrimination to this population group.
Relevant is that the 42.7% of the cases occurred in work settings.. Some of the The most frequently mentioned rights that were violated were dignified treatment and equal opportunity..
The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation points out in its document Age as a factor of discrimination in the labor market that discrimination is usually related to some stereotypes:
"Discrimination is often supported by stereotypes or stigmas associated with age, for young people: inexperience or poor skills or lack of expertise; for older people: lower productivity, lack of adaptation to change, difficulty adjusting to flexible decisions or less responsiveness."
Returning to the case of Patricia de la Guardia, she will be 72 years old in 2025 and lost some retirement benefits because she was not allowed to complete her 28 working years. She was forced into a 'voluntary' retirement at the company where she worked. In this regard, she commented:
"The 'voluntary' retirement is a very violent experience."
Having empathy with older adults in work and non-work settings is vital. This will make it possible to build a more humane and respectful society.where no one has to be made invisible because of his or her age.
Did you know the relevance of the National Day of the Elderly in Mexico?
With information from Government of Mexico, Conapo, INEGI, Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, Conapred, Gabo Foundation y University of Utah
Research and editing by José Manuel Ríos and Mildred Pérez de la Torre
