Why We Need to Stand Up Against Ageism in Healthcare
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association tackled the question, "What is the prevalence of everyday ageism among US older adults, and is it associated with health?"[1]
The concerning answer - 93.4%.
Ageism is a real issue in the healthcare industry.
What is ageism and why should we care about it?
Ageism is the discrimination against people because of their age.
It can manifest as treating older adults differently than younger adults, or portraying them in a negative light in the media and in everyday life. Ageism is often considered to be a form of prejudice, and it can have serious consequences for older adults’ mental and physical health.
One of the biggest problems with ageism in healthcare is that it leads to a lack of proper care for elderly patients. Many times, these patients are not seen as worth investing in, and as a result, their health can suffer greatly.
The effects of ageism on older adults
Ageism has a significant impact on the lives of older adults. It can result in reduced access to healthcare, poorer quality care, and negative attitudes and stereotypes. In 2021, the World Health Organization published a report that recognized ageism as a global health challenge that costs economies billions each year.[2,3]
“As countries seek to recover and rebuild from the pandemic, we cannot let age-based stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination limit opportunities to secure the health, well-being and dignity of people everywhere.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
Older adults are often seen as being less capable and less valuable than younger people. This can lead to them being ignored or marginalized by the healthcare system. They may be less likely to receive preventive care, and more likely to be discharged from the hospital sooner.[4]
Many elderly patients are not taken seriously by our current system and are often treated like they are no longer capable of making decisions for themselves. This can lead to serious health complications and even death in some cases. We need to address the issue of ageism in healthcare head-on and make sure that our elderly patients are getting the care and respect they deserve.
A study conducted by a team out of Yale looked at whether older patients received medical care or not. 85% of the 422 studies they assessed found necessary care denied to aged patients, and 92% showed indications of discrimination in the decisions of healthcare providers and medical students.[5]
When patients see their healthcare provider, they trust that an objective decision is going to be made. Reports like these fracture trust in our medical system and increase the hesitancy of an already vulnerable population to seek out medical care.
We saw these attitudes pushed to the forefront during the pandemic years. Dismissive sentiments centred around the disproportionate number of elderly patients struggling with the virus were everywhere.[6]
It's only targeting old people.
This is why it is so important that we stand up against ageism in healthcare. We need to challenge the negative attitudes and stereotypes that exist and ensure that older adults receive the care and respect they deserve.
How to stand up against ageism
There are various ways that we can stand up against ageism in healthcare. We can challenge the negative attitudes and stereotypes that exist, and we can make sure that older adults receive the care and respect they deserve.
We can start by raising awareness about the issue of ageism and how it affects older adults. We can talk to our friends, family, and healthcare providers about the issue and share our experiences. We can also write to our elected representatives and let them know that we are concerned about the impact of ageism on older adults.
All levels of government and healthcare need to address the negative attitudes and stereotypes towards older people. Without this kind of concentrated effort, it can lead to them being treated with less respect and dignity, making it harder for them to access the care they need.
A report assessed tens of thousands of people to understand what factors contribute to high ageist attitudes. Young males with lower education were the most likely to have high ageist attitudes, so this helps groups combatting ageism identify who they might be talking to.[7]
We can also take action to make sure that older adults receive the care and respect they deserve. We can volunteer with organizations that provide services to older adults, and we can advocate for changes in the healthcare system. We can also make sure to treat older adults with respect and dignity in our own lives.
Examples of successful campaigns against ageism
One of the most successful organizations is known as Help Age International. In 1983, five organizations in the countries of Canada, Colombia, India, Kenya and the UK came together and focused their energies and resources. They support inclusive humanitarian action, work to lobby government agencies to revisit pension programs and run digital inclusion training programs.
AGE Platform Europe is the united front of an extensive network of various non-profits combatting ageism throughout the European Union. Their network understands that our extended longevity is one of humanity's greatest achievements. They have specific programs that help support marginalized groups within the ageing community.
You can do more.
Ageism is a real and pressing issue that deserves our attention. It can take many different forms, from the dismissive attitudes we saw during the pandemic years to the denial of necessary medical care to older patients. Even reviews of medical charts and patient records show that age-based disparities are rampant.[8] Seminars and training around appropriate care for our aging populations is not optional if we want to reduce these disparities - it is essential.
Oftentimes, working with a licensed ND helps mitigate some of the challenges and barriers faced by aging patients. Initial appointments are typically an hour and a half which permits the patient plenty of time to discuss their health concerns. The ND can then establish a plan to tackle chronic issues and refer some of your more acute concerns to the relevant specialist. Issues like joint and muscle pain, foggy memory, appetite and overall energy are just some of the issues we see.
References
Allen, Julie Ober, et al. "Experiences of Everyday Ageism and the Health of Older US Adults." JAMA Network Open 5.6 (2022): e2217240-e2217240.
World Health Organization. "Global report on ageism: executive summary." (2021).
Levy, Becca R., et al. "Ageism amplifies cost and prevalence of health conditions." The Gerontologist 60.1 (2020): 174-181.
Williams, Phoebe Weaver. "Age discrimination in the delivery of health care services to our elders." Marq. Elder's Advisor 11 (2009): 1.
Chang, E-Shien, et al. "Global reach of ageism on older persons’ health: A systematic review." PloS one 15.1 (2020): e0220857.
Ayalon, Liat, et al. "Aging in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: Avoiding ageism and fostering intergenerational solidarity." The Journals of Gerontology: Series B 76.2 (2021): e49-e52.
Officer, Alana, et al. "Ageism, healthy life expectancy and population ageing: how are they related?." International journal of environmental research and public health 17.9 (2020): 3159.
Wyman, Mary F., Sharon Shiovitz-Ezra, and Jürgen Bengel. "Ageism in the health care system: Providers, patients, and systems." Contemporary perspectives on ageism. Springer, Cham, 2018. 193-212.