Chapter 1: Understanding Ageism in Healthcare

Trust in healthcare professionals is crucial, yet ageism can disrupt this expectation. Here’s an exploration of how this bias can occur.

Research by Becca Levy, a professor at Harvard University, highlights that ageism significantly contributes to health issues, leading to increased sickness and higher healthcare costs. While most physicians aim to support their patients, they may be unaware of their own biases.

I personally don’t visit doctors frequently, and I’m not qualified to give medical advice. However, I can recognize when I need medical attention. Recently, I consulted with two doctors at a prominent medical facility in my city.

Both physicians operate in a high-demand environment where appointments are scarce. To maximize their patient load, they often delegate the responsibility of greeting patients to technicians, which means they miss observing how individuals move and interact in the waiting room.

While I understand the necessity of efficiency, this approach overlooks important aspects of patient health. The focus shifts solely to one detail on the chart: the patient's age.

During my short visits, I had no opportunity to move around. Upon my departure, instead of a friendly farewell, I was cautioned, “Don’t fall now.” One doctor even assigned a technician to escort me out, perhaps to ensure I left promptly.

Their intentions seemed genuine; they view women of a certain age as more susceptible to falls. Yet, there’s no section on the chart for physical fitness. I almost felt compelled to demonstrate some Zumba moves in the hallway to prove my vitality!

I wondered how they presumed I arrived at their office. Have they never taken a bumpy city bus ride? My city is known for its charming but uneven brick sidewalks.

Doctors typically encounter fewer healthy patients, and this shapes their expectations. One day, at my gym, while heading to the showers in just a towel, I noticed a woman staring. Initially, I found it unsettling, only to discover she was an OB-GYN.

“You’re in better shape than most of my young patients,” she remarked. While the age comment stung, it underscored an important point: she rarely sees healthy individuals, leading her to believe that aging automatically equates to decline.

Medical ageism fails to consider fitness levels, which significantly influence everything from heart health to cognitive abilities. A Finnish study revealed that:

“On average, vigorously active men and women lived 6.3 years longer in good health and 2.9 years longer without chronic diseases between ages 50 and 75 compared to inactive individuals.”

Why not omit age from medical records entirely? Ashton Applewhite advocates for this change, suggesting that doctors would then focus on the individual rather than a number.

Though it may sound unconventional, geriatricians often say, “If you’ve seen one 80-year-old, you’ve seen one 80-year-old.”

Take Willie Murphy, for example. At 82, she bravely defended herself against a burglar, surprising him with her strength and agility. The police even took selfies with her, amazed by her vitality.

When doctors see a note stating, “Your next patient is 82,” their expectations are often limited to stereotypes of frailty. They need to remember that this 82-year-old could be someone like Willie Murphy, defying traditional notions of age.

Catharine Goodwin, a former college professor, is now an online marketing consultant and storyteller. She writes about healthcare, psychology, and aging stereotypes in her Medium channel. Her book, When I Get Old I Plan To Be A Bitch, features provocative chapter titles that challenge societal norms regarding aging.

Chapter 2: Resources for Combatting Ageism

In this section, we’ll explore valuable resources and strategies for addressing ageism in healthcare.

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