The quiet currency of age - A phenomenological study of older adults' roles in reverse ageism in senior living facilities

Abstract

Ageism is often viewed as a one-way street, with older adults as the primary victims. But what happens when the roles are reversed? This study explores the less examined phenomenon of reverse ageism within senior living facilities, drawing on the lived experiences of older adults to examine how age-related dynamics shape interactions, autonomy, and caregiving roles within senior living facilities. Through semi-structured interviews with 20 older adults across four senior living facilities, analyzed using Moustakas' transcendental phenomenology and the Modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method, four key themes emerged: the quiet currency of age, the push-pull of care, ethical tensions in caregiving, and social fragmentation versus emotional security. Age operates as a silent channel of authority, enabling older adults to exert authority in caregiving relationships, at times influencing dynamics that may challenge the professional autonomy of younger caregivers and shift traditional power balances. Controlling small but significant choices may diminish caregivers’ role, introducing ethical complexities, emotional friction, and shifts in caregiving authority. This push and pull between authority and vulnerability shows that ageism is not a one-directional phenomenon. These findings offer actionable insights for caregivers, facility managers, and policymakers, advocating for systemic changes such as policy shifts and intergenerational training to enhance teamwork, reduce isolation, support cognitive resilience, and rebalance authority in senior living facilities.