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Ageism In Healthcare

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The aim of this essay is to explore the impact of ageism within healthcare, on patients, safety, quality and healthcare teams. Strategies, principles and theories to help combat the negative outcomes caused by ageist behaviour will also be discussed. Butler defines ageism as prejudices and stereotypes that are applied to older people based on their age (2012) Ageism, like racism and sexism, is a way of pigeonholing people and not allowing them to be individuals with unique ways of living their lives (Hunter, 2012). Ageism within healthcare can lead to social withdrawal, Isolation, depression and decline in quality of lifestyle and health (Perry, 2012).
Ageism is defined as treating somebody based on their age in a negative way (Hunter, 2012). Society has preconceived prejudices and stereotypes that are applied to older people, not allowing them to be individuals. Many times these prejudices and stereotypes are a protective factor based on fear and anxiety of death (Hunter, 2012). Negative stereotypes related to ageing and older people include the …show more content…

Adults aged over 65 visit doctors 12 times a year on average (Schonberg, Davis, McCarthy, & Marcantonio, 2011). Patients are entitled to care that is individualised to their function, state of health, life expectancy, and personal preferences. These visits are vital to promote holistic care, psychosocially and physically (Schonberg et al, 2011). Ageism within healthcare is seen in areas such as, age discrimination when assessing access to health care services, e.g. rehabilitation, medical, stroke and cardiac services. Rather than seeing symptoms as treatable conditions, they are often dismissed due to old age. Memory loss, balance, depression and confusion are commonly disregarded symptoms (AASW,

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Common Stereotypes Everyone at one time or another will stereotype a person or persons based on other opinions and statements about individuals, through their lifetime. The elderly are associated with negativity and that they are not part of society as functioning. The stereotype of the elderly are that they are senile, have memory lapses, irritable, cranky, boring, grumpy, physically and mentally weak, debilitated and cognitively impaired. Stereotypes of Color, Race, or Ethnicity-Related Because cultures are different, individuals of color, race or an ethnic background are thought to be the same and value the same things. Stereotypes of race seem to belittle the population no matter the age or accomplishments.

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Lots of people can then be treated very unfairly. And sometimes in the health sector there may a time where the staff or doctors and nurses may not even want to work with each other. Examples of stereotyping: Age stereotyping: Age stereotyping could happen with elderly patients in the hospital may not get the treatment depending on the illnesses they have. Some staff may not even give the treatment to the patient just because of their age. This is because the staff may assume that the patient is too old to be looked after in the hospital.

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Health care practitioners most see things from the older person’s perspectives by showing compassion when delivering care to the patient along side emotional support

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