Final answer:
The most common consequence of ageism is the disrespect for older adults, which spans across different areas such as professional and medical environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the most common consequence of ageism. Ageism includes stereotyping and discrimination against individuals based on their age, particularly older adults. A widespread ageist attitude is that older adults are incompetent, physically weak, and slow. Given the context including the widespread nature of ageism in U.S. culture, the most common consequence is likely to be disrespect for older adults, which can manifest in various domains of life including the workplace and healthcare.