Ageism can happen anywhere, from the grocery store to the doctor’s office. Many older adults feel the adverse effects of age discrimination every day—making it crucial to take a stand against it.
What does ageism in healthcare look like? How does ageism affect older adults and, more importantly, what can you do to stop it?
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What Is Ageism?
Ageism is a type of discrimination and stereotyping, often against older individuals. These assumptions can lead to unfair treatment, including in healthcare. There are three main forms of ageism to be aware of:
Institutional
Institutional ageism occurs when an organization sets policies or otherwise acts in a way that furthers age discrimination. In medical care, one example might be prioritizing younger patients’ health during crises.
Interpersonal
Interpersonal ageism happens during social interactions, whether intentional or not. It can be words or actions from family members, peers or medical professionals reflecting stereotypes and bias.
Internalized
Internalized age discrimination is when the person is ageist to themself, which can affect everything from self-esteem to health.
Unfortunately, ageism is prevalent in the medical field, so it’s integral to watch for it.
What Age Discrimination in Healthcare Looks Like
To reduce ageism effectively, it’s critical to understand what it looks like. Here are some common examples of ageism in healthcare:
Elderspeak
Elderspeak involves limited vocabulary, terms of endearment or talking in a sing-song voice, almost as if the patient were a child.
Dismissal
Some health professionals dismiss patient concerns as “a part of getting old,” like arthritis and memory issues. Another example would be if the practitioner doesn’t investigate bruises and other signs of elder abuse or mistreatment.
Address
Older patients who attend appointments with their adult children or a third party may find that their doctor instinctively talks to the other person. In some cases, the doctor or nurse may address the patient but treat them as though they are cognitively or hearing impaired.
While sometimes these actions are conscious, they are often a result of implicit biases held by doctors, nurses or other staff members. The adverse effects remain the same, regardless of the reason.
Negative Effects of Ageism in Healthcare
One of the first steps toward dismantling ageism is to understand how much it negatively impacts older adults. In the medical field, these patients may experience:
Undertreatment
Undertreatment occurs when practitioners mistake legitimate health concerns for normal signs of aging. This inaction can be due to bias about what’s “typical” for aging—like chronic pain or forgetfulness—even if it shouldn’t be.
Overtreatment
Some doctors go too far in the other direction and subject their patients to a large number of tests or procedures even if they’re not beneficial.
Discrimination
Many doctors and healthcare systems have the bias that older adults’ well-being is less important than younger people’s. This view can lead to dismissal and undertreatment or being pushed to the wayside in times of crises, like pandemics.
Self-perception
Many people who experience age discrimination have lower self-esteem. They may internalize ageism to the point where they dismiss their concerns or avoid primary care visits.
Physical and emotional health
Delayed or misdiagnoses can have consequences, including poor health and shorter life expectancies. Mental health concerns, like depression and anxiety, are also common among those who experience ageism.
Despite these issues, practitioners, health systems and governments are making progress toward ending age discrimination.
How You Can Help
If you’re ready to be part of the change, it’s time to take a stand. Luckily, there are a few easy steps you can take right now to get started:
Implement age-friendly care
Age-friendly care is an initiative from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement and others to create better health systems for older adults. The goal is to use evidence-based practice and the 4M framework to focus on what matters most to patients. Examples include less pain, least invasive procedures or simply being able to play with their grandkids.
Engage in intergenerational mentorship
Form a reciprocal relationship with older physicians and adults in your life. These interactions can help you understand their needs, perspectives or preferences.
Continuing medical education (CME)
Attend CME seminars that talk about age-related issues, including best practices, geriatric care and inclusion.
Education and practice are among the best tools at your disposal—use them wisely to help improve your older patients’ experience.