Page 48 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

AGEiSM n 15

those involved. Further research is required How to delineate aging and the aging
to explore the role health care providers play process is a controversial and complex topic.
in assuring that patients and their families Prejudice, stereotyping, and labeling may A
understand the importance of advance direc- lead to policies for rationing health care: the
tives and that when in place, they are imple- withholding treatment based on age alone, a
mented and followed. lack of qualified personnel to care for older
adults, the underrepresentation of older
Kristy Dixon adults in clinical trials, and the underrecog-
nition of geriatric problems and syndromes
(Butler, 2008; Wallace, Greiner, Grossman,
Lange, & Lippman, 2006; Wilson, 2010).
Ageism can be seen on personal levels in
AgeiSm the daily care of older patients in a hospital
and on a population level when older adults
are excluded from disease screening or pri-
on July 7, 2010, Robert Butler died at the mary prevention programs (ory, Hoffman,
age of 83 years. He was the first to use the Hawkins, Sanner, & Mockenhaupt, 2003). As
term “ageism” and fought against stereotyp- technology continues to advance, the ability
ing and prejudice of older adults through to extend life becomes possible. This exten-
research and public policy. Butler himself sion of number of years often comes at the
was a living argument against ageism, work- price of chronic disease and a decreased qual-
ing until 3 days before his death, demonstrat- ity of life. As the number of elders continues
ing through his life and writings that older to grow at a rapid rate, the need to preserve
adults can maintain productive, optimistic, quality of life while maintaining autonomy
and engaged lives (Martin, 2010). for older adults is imperative.
Ageism is a negative attitude or bias Nursing research in ageism focuses
toward older people that can lead to a belief on several areas. Ageism research could
that older people cannot or should not partic- encompass studies that address how to best
ipate in certain activities or be given the same educate health professionals aging, exami-
opportunity as younger persons (Holohan- nation of student and practicing nurse’s atti-
Bell & Brummel-Smith, 1999). Elders repre- tudes, sociopolitical issues impacting older
sent 50% of hospital days, 70% of home adults, clinical care problems, and biological
health services, and 90% of residents in nurs- issues. Some of the current research impact-
ing facilities (Mezey et al., 2008). Almost all ing ageism involves the use of technology
health care personnel will find themselves at in multiple care settings (Tak, Benefield, &
one time or another caring for the elderly. in Mahoney, 2010), enhancing clinical care of
fact, the majority of nurses will spend most of elders through established programs (Allen
their career caring for older adults in a vari- & Close, 2010; Boltz et al., 2008), bolstering
ety of settings and will face a personal expe- geriatric education in baccalaureate programs
rience with aging in a family member or with through additional coursework and educa-
their won development. As these challenges tor training (Berman et al., 2005; Krichbaum,
are met, it is necessary to continually exam- Kaas, Mueller, & Wyman, 2010; Miller, van
ine the development of attitudes and roles in Son, Cartwright, & Allen, 2010; Wilson, 2010),
the prevention of ageism. older persons may and measuring the impact of gerontolog-
be discriminated against because of the way ical research in schools of nursing (Maas,
they look, speak, or function in a society that Buckwalter, Conn, & Tripp-Reimer, 2010).
values productivity, economic wealth, speed, The older population that is at the
youth, and beauty. greatest risk of prejudice, stereotyping, and