Aging: A Case Study

One important aspect of ageism is that the stereotypes created are often undeserving of the older population’s actual capabilities.

Ageism and stereotypes of older people can have an important impact on their physical health, mental health and overall wellbeing. Negative stereotypes of older people being dependent and decrepit can be internalized and become self-fulfilling. These ageist thoughts and stereotypes can lead to older people not seeking health care in general and to not get treatment appropriate for their illness or medical condition due to their age and not based on any other factor.

Some people stereotype people who are older. In the UK, 1in 20 people over 65 have been refused treatment by the NHS; with 1 in 10 people over 50 believe that this was because of their age.

The aging population is the fastest growing population in our nation. By the year 2030, it is estimated that approximately 61 million people will be between the ages 65 -85 and 9 million individuals will be ages 85 and older (Ouchida &Lachs, 2015). Perceptions of the elderly have slightly changed for the better in recent years, but biases and discrimination are still very widespread in our society today. “Ageism” is a phrase coined by Robert Butler in 1969 and implies a preconception, prejudice, and discrimination against older adults and can come in many forms.

After giving thought to the subject of ageism as it is directed against the elderly in American society, I find that although I generally have a great deal of respect for those older than me, I like most am guilty of some degree of stereotyping.

Merriam-Webster (1980) defines Ageism: any attitude, action, or institutional structure which subordinates a person or group because of age or any assignment of roles in society purely based on age; ageism reflects a prejudice in society against older adults. Discrimination towards the elderly is apparent throughout society. Society has a negative stereotype related to perceptions on aging. We live in a youth-oriented society that does not view the elderly with respect and dignity due to today’s culture and media. The emphasis that are put on ‘staying young’ are enforced on every level. From plastic surgery to every way you could think of to stay ‘young and healthy’ is everywhere you look. The outlook on growing old is a stigma. The stereotypes that are put on older people can be done subconsciously a variety of ways in our everyday life. A few of these stereotypes are: older people are lousy drivers, they are grouchy, weak and incapable. How many times have you been driving behind an elderly person and became aggravated. Or standing behind an older person checking out at a store, they are older, it takes them a little longer to do things. Or even in the ways people speak about the elderly and the negative energy that goes along with it. If you start to pay attention to it, you will start to realize how common it actually is. These characterizations allow our society to disregard the geriatric population and who they really are. There are numerous quality-of-life issues

In access to health care a surplus of various ageist stereotypes different studies have documented aspect of ageism in health care, and they merge to create one concluding comprehensive stereotype regarding older patients. The primary stereotype is that old people are physically weak plus that their health is deteriorating, implying that they have to depend on somebody else to look after them (North & Fiske, (2012) The second is mostly applicable to aged male patients, and is that all of them are impotent and do not have any natural or usual sexual desires in any case. Third, old patients are viewed as senile and whichever slight misstep in

Ageism is the prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person 's age. Ageism is prevalent within all of society which makes it is important for paramedics to understand the concepts and stereotypes associated with people aged sixty five and over. This will help with the prevention of attitudes being displayed in the paramedics own behaviours influencing a patients opinion of them, ultimately this can affect the quality of care provided by the paramedic when considering their psychosocial needs. If a paramedic does have a

Ageism can operate as implicit thoughts, feelings, and behavior towards older people that occur without conscious awareness or control. These can be myths, beliefs or misconceptions about aging. One example of ageism that I have witnessed in health care is the misconception about the cognitive or functional decline. I have worked with elderly for about 7 years and at least 75% adult I have interviewed during my education sessions has expressed this misconception. A good example is the perception that, when someone is wheelchair bound then might have other disabilities and we tend to speak louder or talk like we are talking with a child.

It is important for society to be inclusive of everyone and not judge based on age. There are a lot of stereotypes about the elderly. One common stereotype is that elderly people are not as intelligent as the young (Anderson). This is not true (Anderson).

The longevity of life is only increasing in the United States. Today one in eight Americans are aged 65 or older (Hawkins, Hoffman, Mockenhaupt, Ory & Sanner, 2003). With more and more people beginning to live lives well into their 80s we are starting to see an increase in ageism, or the discrimination against people because they are old. Ageism is where you see a lot of the stereotypes about the elderly

It is important to understand that patients have been experiencing aging bias for a very long time. It is also evident in the medical profession as well, and one needs to do more to ensure that everyone is treated fairly especially the elderly patients. The elderly patients need to treat with the utmost respect and dignity. One needs to understand that the elderly are the ones who pave the way for the younger generation. Therefore, it is important that one takes the time out of their busy assignments to listen to what the older patients have to say and respond to them in an appropriate manner. This paper will discuss how aging has impact one nursing practice, aging bias that one has witnessed during their nursing practice, and a community plan to discuss aging bias.

The way a nurse thinks about a patient can affect the patient’s quality of care especially in older adults. According to Pophan, Kennison & Bradley (2011) “Ageism refers to stereotyping and discrimination aimed toward older individuals.” Ageism happens frequently in older adults receiving healthcare. “One out of five of these adults experience discrimination in healthcare settings and one in seventeen experiences it frequently” according to the researchers of the nationally representative Health & Retirement Study done in 2008, 2010 & 2012 (Pecci, 2015). A nurse that stereotype and/or discriminate negatively affects the care of the older patient.

When most people envision an elderly person, their minds go to the iconic little old lady or man. They automatically think about them having psychological ailments such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. With this assumption comes many unfair prejudices in the work place or other

The elderly. Old people. Senior citizens. These are all three different ways to represent one group of human beings. A younger, more naive version of myself would have viewed these people as grumpy, sedentary, helpless, or narrow-minded. The list goes on. It may come across that I have something against old folk, but I do not; that is not the point. The point is that I was generalizing an entire group of people based on preconceptions were psychologically embedded in me from fifteen years’ worth of external influences. However, my experiences with Mr. Nathan Glasser, who was a resident at Meadow Lakes Senior Center, opened my eyes to the role of stereotypes and their effects on a human being.