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Spotlight
on Ageism
December 2003- Our guest speaker
at the 2003 annual general meeting of Concerned Friends was Dr. Janice
Lessard, a specialist in geriatric medicine, and a strong advocate for
the rights of older people. Dr. Lessard spoke on ageism, how it permeates
our society and our health care, and what can be done about it.
Dr. Lessard noted that the Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines ageism
as prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of age, and that usually
means old age. Seniors are seen as stereotypes -people who are chronically
ill, often demented, living in long-term care facilities, and using
health care resources in competition with younger people who are more
valued.
Ageism arises from
a variety of sources:
~ Fear of death and the distaste for growing old in Western society
~ Emphasis on youth culture, with older adults portrayed negatively,
partly because early research on aging was conducted on residents in
hospitals and nursing homes which biased the results against senior
health
~ Emphasis on productivity with seniors perceived as less productive,
leaving the 16-65 age group with the financial burden of seniors.
The World Health Organization stated that it is a myth that seniors
are an economic burden because many seniors around the world work and
help their country's economy. Seniors are needed in the work force because
they are productive and provide stability. In Canada seniors provide
most of the volunteer services, and many help in child raising.
Ageism is apparent in the media, in housing, in transportation, as well
as in health care. In health care ageism appears mainly in two forms:
1. Withholding access to health care because of old age. Seriously ill
seniors have fewer tests and treatments than younger patients do.
2. Not providing the services needed by this special age group. For
example, less opportunities for operations such as joint replacement,
and less research into diseases which affect seniors most (e.g. strokes).
In medical and nursing education and practice, the stress is on cures
and heroic measures for accidents and infections suffered by younger
people. Elder health care consists of prevention and maintenance. Often
seniors do take longer to treat because they have a long health history
and many questions regarding their symptoms and treatment.
Solutions for the prevention, control, and hopefully, the end of ageism
include:
~ promote the positive aspects of aging in the media by writing to the
editor and/or columnist whenever there is an article showing ageism,
or to the networks and producers of radio and television programmes
depicting ageism.
~ Be aware of and counter ageism in schools. Children are not born with
ageist attitudes, and have no feelings of ageism until their early grade
school years.
~ Educate health care professionals in the care of the elderly and especially
how to recognize and treat exacerbations of chronic illness.
~ Promote geriatric medical and nursing care as a worthwhile specialty.
Currently geriatrics is not a preferred specialty in an acute curative
system, and the number of geriatricians is declining.
~ Provide appropriate financial funding for geriatric care and staff
salaries.
~ Promote research to study and eliminate ageism.
~ Promote a wellness ethic among older adults with an emphasis on exercise,
nutrition and fluids, and social and intellectual stimulation to maintain
good heath.
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