Ageism in Healthcare

• Ageism is a stereotype or discrimination of others based solely on their age.  Ageism in healthcare is experienced both by older patients and nurses.
  
• Older patients may feel more comfortable under the care of an aging nurse because they are more communicative with a nurse who may experience the same things they are, due to aging. Older nurses often encounter barriers and stereotypes the longer they stay in their nursing career. 
• It is important to place high value on the aging nurse workforce and keep them happy as they are the individuals that assist in training the new nurses coming into the healthcare facility and it is always better to have the most experienced nurses on staff for this training. 

A diverse workplace is vital in order to provide the best patient care possible but often age is left out of the equation.  

Older patients may feel more comfortable under the care of an aging nurse because they are more communicative with a nurse who may experience the same things they are, due to aging.  

Older patients often feel a younger nurse cannot relate to the pain or discomfort they are experiencing. This can result in lower patient satisfaction when receiving care.  

The aging nurse often encounters several barriers and stereotypes the longer they stay in their nursing career.  

Ageism in Healthcare 

What Is Ageism?

Ageism is a stereotype or discrimination of others based solely on their age.

What Are the Stereotypes Faced by Aging Nurses?

Physical Strength

There is a common assumption that older nurses aren’t as physically strong to handle combative patients or complete certain nursing tasks such as assisting a patient into bed or a wheelchair.  

Technology

It is also a common misconception that aging nurses are not as “tech savvy” as younger nurses and don’t understand how to operate today’s healthcare advancements in technology.  

Pay

It has become common practice for hospitals and other healthcare facilities to hire younger, inexperienced nurses because they do not have to pay them as much as the nurse with years of experience.  

These are just a few of the common stereotypes aging nurses face in the healthcare industry and it can result in poor morale, decreased job satisfaction, burnout, and early retirement of the aging nurse. 

What Can Be Done to Address Ageism in Healthcare?

Physical Strength

Solutions to this may include acquiring equipment designed for an ageing workforce such as hydraulic lifts over beds. 

Technology

Solutions to this may include additional hands-on training for aging nurses in order to learn the way new technology works at their own pace. Aging nurses can be just as “tech savvy” as younger nurses, they may just require more time and training.  

Pay

Solutions to this may include taking the aging nurse’s loyalty and years of service into account when establishing pay rate. Consider the advanced training they may have completed.  

The older nurse may come with a higher price tag, but the education they can pass on to new staff is invaluable. 

Human Resource Policies

Evaluate your facility’s human resources policies that may highlight outdated assumptions about older workers and reject any age stereotypes just as you would regarding race, culture, disability, etc.  

It is important to place high value on the aging nurse workforce and keep them happy as they are the individuals that assist in training the new nurses coming into the healthcare facility and it is always better to have the most experienced nurses on staff for this training.  

Knowing the new nurses will be properly trained will help the facility achieve their goals and improve patient satisfaction as well when it comes time for the older nurses to retire.  

How Does Ageism in Healthcare Affect Aging Patients?

Along with aging nurses, ageism is also evident when caring for elderly patients.  Ageism in healthcare can be a barrier to receiving proper healthcare for the aging patient population.  

A few examples of ageism in relation to patient care include: 

• Providers and nurses attribute certain signs/symptoms of illness to normal aging and possibly miss important indicators that need to be addressed. This can also be an issue when assessing patient pain as healthcare staff often attributes pain to aging and assumes all aging patients will experience pain and it is normal. This can result in the patient’s pain level not be taken seriously and left unresolved and untreated. 
• Talking loudly and slowly, or assuming the patient cannot comprehend or hear what you are telling them based on their age.
  

What Can Be Done to Address Ageism in Patient Care?

• Additional staff training in the field of geriatrics  
• Utilization of appropriate screening and preventative measures for older adults 
• Ensuring older patients have access to life sustaining treatments and procedures.  
• Taking all complaints of pain or other symptoms seriously and adapting an investigative attitude until health issues are improved or resolved.
  

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, aging nurses and the aging patient population play an important role in the healthcare system. Aging nurses have a wealth of knowledge they can pass on to younger nurses taking their places and their wisdom should never be taken for granted. 

 Aging patients also come with years of life experiences and can teach us a lot about what matters based on their previous experiences. Aging patients have the right to receive the same quality healthcare as a younger patient receives. Facilities should prioritize erasing ageism in healthcare to make patient care more inclusive. 

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