Harnessing nursing to diminish ageism

Abstract

BackgroundThe common practice of making fun of aging and older people demonstrates that ageism towards older people is socially acceptable. It is so accepted that even those of us who are aging or have moved into the ‘third act’ believe and fear the negative stereotypes that growing old is linked with physical and mental deterioration, dependence, and less social value. Ageism is evident in work places, family relationships, when older people purchase goods and services, in health and social institutions and extends throughout professions that work with older people.ObjectivesWe explore how nurses—the largest group of healthcare professions— may be inadvertently perpetuating negative perceptions about older people in nursing practice, nursing education, and through common misconceptions about what gerontological nursing means.MethodsThis is discussion paper using the literature.ResultsWe suggest that nursing education is well situated to diminish negative perspectives of ageing by incorporating theories of life‐course and harmonious aging into the holistic perspective of individuals that nursing is well known for.ConclusionsGreater understanding about the diversity of ageing and the context that have influenced older persons could encourage nurses to treat them holistically with dignity, which would ultimately improve older people’s experiences. Improving older persons’ experiences is like paying it forward, as we all are ageing and if we are to have a different experience when we are old, it is necessary to diminish stereotypes about ageing, and work towards inclusion of older people in social and healthcare institutions.Implications for practiceIt is important for nurses, particularly those in nursing education, to support the incorporation of a life course and harmonious view of aging in which the social, political, and environmental context of individuals are viewed as part of the difference of ageing.

“You just struggle on your own:” Exploring older consumers’ perspectives about falls prevention education in hospitals

“…Framed within concepts of behaviour change theory, patients were confused by this apparent lack of opportunity (which health behaviour theory explains as both social and environmental) [34, 35] when they were struggling to mobilise, leading to distressing experiences of incontinence. These findings are supported by a review reporting that older patients value their dignity, prioritise their care over falls prevention and experience feelings of disempowerment, loss of independence and threats to perceived self-identity while in hospital [47]. Interactions by some staff reinforced feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, with some participants feeling upset or disempowered and deterred from seeking assistance, suggesting that hospital systems need to provide better tools for staff to deliver patient education [48].…”

“…Staff need to ask open-ended questions to understand patients’ thoughts and feelings about their recovery and mobility, which is important in encouraging help-seeking and motivation to undertake safe behaviours to avoid falls [15]. Some consumers perceived that ageism contributed to poor communication, which further undermined their sense of dignity, respect, and trust in the healthcare system, indicating that staff need to develop a holistic understanding about ageing that encourages them to treat older people with dignity [47].…”

Managers' perception of older nurses and midwives and their contribution to the workplace—A qualitative descriptive study

“…This contradicts the common view from this study that older nurses and midwives are past their prime. However, positive attributes of older nurses and midwives are often ignored (Dahlke & Hunter, 2022; Ryan et al, 2017) and negative perceptions may discourage healthcare organizations from implementing workplace change to better utilize the knowledge and skills of older nurses and midwives. These findings highlight contradictions that exist in healthcare workplaces, that older nurses and midwives are seen as both an asset and a poor investment by managers.…”

“I don’t Want to Die Alone” Nurses’ Perception of Ageism: A Qualitative Study

“…Older people face ageism apart from the physiological and mental problems brought about by aging. Ageism was defined by Butler in 1969 as an individual’s encountering negative perceptions and behaviors because of their age (Dahlke & Hunter, 2022). In 2019, it was accepted by WHO that ageism negatively affects the health and well-being of individuals and is an important public health problem (WHO, 2019).…”