Kathryn Chamberlain, MD, Chelsey Sand, DO, Teresa Quinn, MD, and Donald Pine, MD
University of Minnesota/Methodist Hospital Family Medicine Residency
April 2019
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TIPS FOR DEALING WIITH AGEISM
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Definition
Ageism is a form of discrimination defined by the World Health Organization as "stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against people on the basis of their age." Ageism is a widespread and insidious practice that can have harmful effects on the health of older adults.
Ageism is Common
Since the term was coined by Dr. Robert Butler in 1968, it has become clear that ageism is common in our society. For many older people, ageism can be an everyday challenge. Ageism has the potential to marginalize and exclude older people in their communities. Older adults are at risk for being overlooked for employment opportunities and restricted from social services. They are sometimes stereotyped in the media, where they may be portrayed as weak and dependent. This ageist attitude can leave older adults overlooked at best and mistreated at worst. It can inhibit funding of infrastructure changes for ageing populations and encourage a cost-control approach to policies. With the language used to describe aging populations, negative perceptions are reinforced by using terms such as "tidal wave" and "tsunami." Cultural perceptions of aging can cause discomfort in young and middle-aged populations when it comes to the idea of growing old. Fears of disease, disability, powerlessness, uselessness and death are pervasive.
Ageism Harms Patients
Research shows that ageism can negatively affect health. Patients with a more positive self-perception of aging have an average of 7.5 years longer lifespan. Older persons with positive aging stereotypes are 44% more likely to recover from severe disability. Yet in the U.S. 1 in 5 older adults have experienced ageism that may then be internalized as negative perceptions of aging. Those who believe health problems are unavoidable as they age have been found to engage in fewer preventive behaviors.
They are less likely to see a physician regularly and more likely to engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor diet, lack of exercise and poor medication compliance). Negative stereotypes of aging even decrease memory performance. When older patients feel they are a burden or that their lives are of lesser value, they have increased risk of depression and isolation.
Ageism Influences Clinicians
Healthcare is not exempt from ageism and implicit bias towards older people. Negative associations have been found between medical trainees' own death anxiety and their desire to work with older adults. In fact, as early as medical school, perspectives towards older patients are affected by ageism. Students sometimes report feeling frustration in their interactions with older patients. Older adults are commonly perceived as cognitively impaired and medically complex, with high social needs. Frustration can increase as clinicians try to accomplish complex evaluations and treatment in a fragmented care system with limited appointment times.
Not only does clinician attitude affect patient health, but clinician knowledge about healthy aging is not commonly prioritized in medical education. This leads to two dangers: clinicians may dismiss treatable conditions as "just old age" or they may cause iatrogenic harm by treating expected changes of aging as if they are a disease. As the worldwide population 60 years and older is the fastest growing age group, these medical misperceptions represent significant potential harm.
Older adults see physicians an average 12 times a year. This provides an opportunity for continuity and positive discussions surrounding aging. Clinicians have a unique and important role in reinforcing positive perceptions of aging with every patient. The table on the next page provides suggestions for how to decrease ageism in the health care system.
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How can we better serve our older patients and reduce ageism?
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References and Resources
- American Society on Aging
- Higashi RT et al. Elder care as "frustrating" and "boring": Understanding the persistence of negative attitudes toward older patients among physicians-in-training. Journal of Aging Studies 2012;26(4):476-83.
- Levy SR, Macdonald JL. Progress on understanding ageism. J Soc Issues 2016;17(1):5-25.
- Mejia M et al. Death anxiety and ageist attitudes are related to trainees' interest in working with older adults. Gerontol Geriatr Educ 2018;39(3):341-356.
- Rogers S et al. Discrimination in healthcare settings is associated with disability in older adults: Health and Retirement Study 2008-2012. J Gen Intern Med 2015;30(10):1413-20.
- Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging
- World Health Organization