Eradication Of Ageism Analysis

Aging is a summary term of complex biological processes that occurs over the course of life. As an individual age’s, they experience a cognitive, functional and social decline that affects their activities of daily living and general health. As a result of these changes, the older population becomes more susceptible to a variety of illnesses. However, nurses can lessen the severity of these aging related illnesses by teaching and providing the best care for their clients in order to decrease the number of elders that suffer from these diseases through a variety of interventions and strategies. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the nurses’ role in promoting healthy aging in the older population, by addressing a significant issue that impairs the health of many older Canadian adults.

“Ageism has been called the ultimate prejudice, the last discrimination, the cruelest rejection,” Stein (unpublished). We as a people have defeated for the most part racism and sexism, but we have allowed the third great “ism” to remain unchallenged. “This widely practiced prejudice has gone on for generations and is known as ageism,” (Palmore, Erdman, Ballagh (1999). By definition, according to Webster’s Dictionary, it is discrimination against person’s of a certain age group. Ageism includes both positive affect and a negative connotation with any given age group. It is predominately seen as a reflection on the elderly. Positive aspects of ageism on the elderly include medical care, discounts and tax

At present, we can see some cases of elder abuse and age-based discrimination happened in Canada. For example, some employers, medical care workers and service staffs are not treat old adults as well as professional. It is an ageism behavior and there are plenty people don’t have awareness of human rights of old people. Therefore, it is necessary for people to be educated with that, especially the professionals. Furthermore, as far as I am concerned, the quality of life for old Canadian adults not only limits to the basic needs, but also older people want more and more spiritual demand and physical satisfaction. Based on the report, it argued that old adults should also have opportunity to the job and the mandatory retirement should be abolished and employers also need to encourage this positive employment environment. As a result, a professional society would teach people to respect the elderly, satisfy their needs and eliminate the bias of people for them.

Ageism is any attitudes, actions, or institutional structure which subordinates a person or group because of their age or any assignment of roles in society purely on the basis of age. It typically reflects a prejudice in society against older adults. The concept of aging varies across different cultures as different countries have varying demographic statistics such as Japan and Italy having significant part of their population above the age of 60 versus most countries in Africa who have significant parts of their population below the age of 30. Most research on ageism is done on children, adolescents, or young adults with few studies on actual older adults. Age is increasingly becoming a more positive concept, yet older people are still stereotyped. The three theories in sociology about aging are disengagement, activity, and continuity.

According to Statistics Canada, aging population has steadily increased since the mid-1960. The age of 65 and older comprised 15.7% of the country’s population. Promoting health in these aging population is very crucial to minimise the severity of health complications that might occur in the long run. Gerontological Nursing involves the care of aging people and emphasize the promotion of the highest possible quality of life and wellness throughout the lifespan (Eliopoulos, c2014 p73). Aging people need Gerontological Nurses who are knowledgeable and willing to promote health and optimum quality of life with the consideration of their core needs such as physiological balance, connection and gratification (Eliopoulos, c2014 p78).

Sissy Spacek played Mrs. Walters, the demented, ornery mother of a racist woman in the movie, The Help. In this film by Columbus and Taylor (2011), ageism was portrayed multiple times in the eyes of her own daughter, Hilly Holbrook. For example, Hilly was indifferent of her mother’s forgetful behavior, ignored her feelings and direct remarks, and depended on her helper to meet her mother’s basic needs. In a specific scene, she ordered her helper, “Give mother a chair before she breaks her hip.” In return, Mrs. Walters replied, “I’m still not deaf, you know.” In the end, despite her memory lapses, Columbus and Taylor (2011) set the scene when Mrs. Walters confronted her daughter’s disrespectful behavior stating, “I may

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.

Discrimination against older workers is one of the forbidden grounds of discrimination in the labour market across Canada. Age discrimination affects an older adult’s career, advancements, opportunities, and privileges in the labour market. Furthermore, older adults tend to be marginalized, institutionalized, and stripped of responsibility, power, and their dignity (Nelson 208). The Canadian population is aging rapidly and that changes in the population age structure have led to considerable discussion of ageism and social policies like mandatory retirement and old age security. Employers continue to have negative attitudes and stigma toward older workers (Klassen and Gillin 36). Social policy like mandatory retirement is the leading form

Ageism also known as age discrimination has an enormous part in our society today. Many people have experienced discrimination against their age daily, even in schools and workplaces. Why is this important? Ageism can relate to everyone in the society; managers, employees, teachers, police officers, principles, etc. For example in a workplace, there are questions you are not allowed to ask during an interview, to your employees and coworkers, etc. Managers can get in trouble for saying stuff like “you can’t do this because your too young”, forcing someone to retire due to their age, not interviewing someone due to their age, As an employer, you cannot be denied a job, training or promotion, or forced to retire, because of your age, etc.

Lack of educated about the elderly can be a problem if a nurse or those making the policies do not understand how the elderly evolve. A specialist on gerontology must be consulted to ensure thing are assigned to the appropriate quarters. Nurses stay informed within their profession to be current in the area of practice as an ethical duty (Ludwick, & Silva,

Furthermore, Butler (1980) implied how ageism, as sexism and racism, has become institutionalised in society. He argues since the attitudes of the members of a society shape the policies that govern it. Then bias, prejudice, and stereotypes can make a direct effect on policy formulation. Thus, through their effect on social policy, attitudes become institutionalised. Butler (1980) argues how there is three distinguishable, yet interrelated aspects to the problem of ageism: 1) Prejudicial attitudes towards the aged, towards old age, and toward the ageing process, including attitudes held by the elderly themselves; 2) discriminatory practices against the elderly, particularly in employment, but in other social roles as well; and 3) institutional practices and policies which, often without malice, perpetuate stereotypic beliefs about the elderly, reduce their opportunities for a satisfactory life and undermine their personal dignity (Butler, 1980).

Ageism is the discrimination against an individual or group due to age. While ageism is a real problem, many people tend to ignore it because it is so often practiced, people don’t even realize it is happening. The forms of ageism range from the very obvious to the more discrete, almost unrecognizable discrimination. While ageism is evident in all age groups, it tends to be more dominant among the elderly and teenagers or young adults.

Ageism is defined by the World Health Organization (2012) as discrimination against and stereotyping of an individual or group of people base on their age, it is commonly found in older people. The older people has been labeled as mentally slow, physically weak, helpless and “past by their due date.” These attitudes held against the older people restrict them in participating in any form of social, economic, and cultural activities. This paper will evaluate a scenario where ageism arose in the care of a patient, how the prejudice against the older people impacts the patient well-being and in what way this affect the professional practice of nursing using a Gibbs’s Reflection Model.

This is a society of isms, racism, sexism, and ageism. It labels, stereotypes, and categorizes people, by shape, size, color, and age. The elderly in their later years should be able to have a peaceable life, treated with dignity and respect. However, pretty much anyone under the age of 50 is a target for an attack of an attitude of ageism at some point. Those who do the disrespecting don’t stop to consider that at some point, they will also be at the receiving end of that attitude.” (Webb)

One of the greatest challenges of the twenty first century will be the tremendous increase in the number of older adults throughout the world. Elderly people are the most rapidly increasing age group in Canada. In 2000 there was about 3.8 million Canadians were 65 years older. Statistics of Canada projects that by 2021, it will get doubled (Hick S., 2010, p.270). It is sure that this demographic trend will affect most part of our society, especially the health care needs and the delivery of health services. There will be a huge increase in the issues that affect the older Canadians. It is important that future health care professionals especially the social Service workers should be prepared to meet the needs of the increasing aging population across the globe. This paper examines the main problems faced by senior population in Canada, the different social work theories related to ageism and the different roles, values, knowledge and responsibilities needed for gerontological social work practice.