'Fear ageism, not aging': How an ageist society is failing its elders IDEAS producer Mary Lynk explores what is the purpose of a long life? Traditional cultures often place older people at the top of social hierarchy, but in modern Western societies there's been a profound loss of meaning and vital social roles for older adults. What happened? And what role can we reimagine for older people now? Social Sharing CBC Radio · Posted: Apr 07, 2021 6:33 PM ET | Last Updated: April 7 In Canada, 81 per cent of all COVID deaths occurred in long-term care. Age critic and theorist Margaret Morganroth Gullette calls what happened 'eldercide.'(Andrew Lee/CBC)