Exercise: Ageism
Purpose: Develop awareness of your own attitudes toward the elderly.
Directions: Debate the proposition that ageism negatively affects the health care given to the elderly.
Write a short essay discussing your perspective on whether you agree or disagree with this statement and explain why.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: Ageism is the discrimination or bias towards a person or a group based on their age. This discrimination can be either positive or negative, but in most cases, it is negative towards the elderly. The healthcare system has been known to contribute to ageism, and this exercise aims to develop awareness of our attitudes towards the elderly.
Answer: I strongly believe that ageism negatively affects the healthcare given to the elderly. This is because ageism leads to stereotyping and discrimination against the elderly, which ultimately affects the quality of care that they receive. Older individuals are often viewed as unimportant, unproductive and a burden on society, leading to a reduction in resources allocated towards their healthcare needs. This lack of resources directly impacts the type of care that is available to them, leaving them vulnerable to neglect and mistreatment.
Ageism also affects communication between healthcare providers and the elderly. Healthcare providers may assume that the elderly have less cognitive ability, leading to less communication and less understanding of their medical conditions. This lack of communication and understanding can result in misdiagnosis or wrong medication prescriptions, leading to more health complications.
In conclusion, ageism negatively affects the healthcare given to the elderly by contributing to stereotyping and discrimination, reducing resources allocated to their healthcare needs, and affecting communication between healthcare providers and the elderly. It is important for healthcare professionals to identify and address ageism in the healthcare system to ensure equal and quality care for the elderly.