Due to the increasing percentage of older adult clients in the U.S., it is imperative that healthcare providers assess and confront their own attitudes and perceptions toward older adults. Ageism and its Impact on Societal Views of Older Adult Clients Ageism and its Impact on Societal Views of Older Adult Clients In your initial post, address the following: Describe ageism and its impact on societal views of older adult clients. Explain how ageism can influence the healthcare provisions of older adult clients. As a healthcare provider, how can one best assess and confront attitudes, perceptions, behaviors, and biases toward older adults?

Ageism and its Impact on Societal Views of Older Adult Clients

Ageism refers to the negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors directed toward individuals based on age, especially older adults (Lauren Snedeker, 2022). Ageism can have a detrimental impact on the societal views of older adults, leading to social exclusion, stigmatization, and marginalization.

Ageism perpetuates stereotypes that older adults are unproductive, dependent, and a burden to society. It undermines their value, dignity, and worth, leading to discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, and social participation (Lauren Snedeker, 2022). Ageism also creates a culture of fear and denial about aging, resulting in inadequate resources and support for older adults, such as social security, long-term care, and health services.

Influence of Ageism on Healthcare Provisions of Older Adult Clients.

Ageist attitudes and beliefs can lead healthcare providers to hold negative assumptions about older adults’ physical and mental abilities, leading to inappropriate or delayed care. Healthcare providers may also be more likely to prescribe medication, interventions, or treatments that may be unnecessary or harmful to older adults due to ageism.

Ageism can also impact communication between healthcare providers and older adult clients, leading to misunderstandings and poor rapport. Healthcare providers may assume that older adults have diminished cognitive abilities or lack autonomy, leading to a paternalistic approach to care that disregards clients’ preferences and values (Caskie et al., 2022). Ageism ultimately impacts the quality of care older adult clients receive, leading to health outcomes and satisfaction with care disparities.

Assessment of Older Adults

As a healthcare provider, the best way to assess and confront attitudes, perceptions, behaviors, and biases toward older adults is through education, self-reflection, and cultural humility. Healthcare providers can attend workshops, webinars, and conferences on geriatric care and ageism to gain knowledge and skills to provide high-quality care for older adult clients (Caskie et al., 2022).

Healthcare providers can also self-reflect by examining their biases and assumptions about aging and older adults. They can also adopt cultural humility, which involves acknowledging and respecting the differences between oneself and others, especially those from different cultural backgrounds (Caskie et al., 2022). Healthcare providers can learn from older adult clients, understand their unique needs and preferences, and work collaboratively to provide care that aligns with their values and goals.

References

Caskie, G. I., Patterson, S. L., & Voelkner, A. R. (2022). Health bias in clinical work with older adult clients: The relation with ageism and aging anxiety. Clinical Gerontologist, 45(2), 351-365. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2021.2019863