Ageism and its impact on societal views of older adult clients.
Due to the increasing percentage of older adult clients in the U.S., it is imperative that healthcare providers assess and confront their own attitudes and perceptions toward older adults.
In your initial post, address the following:
Describe ageism and its impact on societal views of older adult clients.
Explain how ageism can influence the healthcare provisions of older adult clients.
As a healthcare provider, how can one best assess and confront attitudes, perceptions, behaviors, and biases toward older adults?
Respond to at least one of your peers who has different perspectives than your own.
Sample Solution
Ageism is a type of discrimination based on one’s age, usually referring to prejudice and stereotyping against older adults by members of other generations. It can involve negative attitudes towards aging, viewing the elderly as helpless or dependent and assuming that all people over a certain age are the same (Washington & Thomas, 2017). This form of discrimination has serious implications for how older adults are treated in society, including within the healthcare system.
In terms of social views, ageism often leads to younger individuals underestimating their capabilities and denying them opportunities for growth such as employment or education regardless of their qualifications or experience (Heron et al., 2019). Additionally, stereotypes associated with aging like increased frailty may lead others to overlook or even devalue their contributions to society which can result in feelings of isolation and loneliness. In extreme cases this form of prejudice can have direct effects on an individual’s health due to decreased access to resources needed for living a healthy lifestyle like medical care or proper nutrition (Racine et al., 2020).
The impact that ageism has on healthcare provision is particularly concerning as it affects not only access but also quality. Due to negative perceptions surrounding aging some seniors may be less likely seek out treatment when necessary out fear that they will be viewed as burdensome patients who should just accept death quietly instead being offered effective care (Bano & Maben 2015). Such beliefs may even limit the types of therapies made available making it more difficult for them to receive appropriate treatments depending on their condition. Furthermore existing stereotypes may influence providers decisions resulting in inadequate assessments leading clinicians make incorrect diagnoses particularly when symptoms overlap with those associated with normal ageing such as memory loss (Kastanakis et al., 2018).
In conclusion, ageism is an issue that greatly affects both how older adult clients are viewed socially as well as how they are cared for medically. Healthcare professionals must recognize these biases so they can identify any potential discrepancies between concerns raised by patients compared with those suggested by evaluation results allowing them provide better care throughout every stage patient life regardless of their age.
