Reflect for a moment on how you perceive older people and ageing. Are your thoughts mostly positive, or are they negative? Why do you think of older adults and the ageing process the way that you do?

Does this affect the way that you can provide nursing care to older people?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the majority of people are oblivious to the stereotypes they have regarding older adults. Despite this, a large survey of 83,000 people in 57 countries exemplified that 60% of participants felt older people were disrespected (WHO 2016).

This poses several questions: Who is disrespecting older people? How much of the population is negative towards older adults? Does this ageist population include nurses?

This negativity towards older adults is particularly concerning, considering that older people discontent with ageing may be at risk of depression, social isolation, living 7.5 years less than optimistic older people and not rehabilitating as well from disability as positive older adults (WHO 2016).

WHO (2016) reminds us that by 2050 there will be 2 billion people in the world over the age of 60. To emphasise the significance of this, note that 15% of Australians were aged 65 or over in 2014, in contrast to just 9% in 1977 (AIHW 2018a). Clearly, a significant portion of the population is ‘aged’ and thus at risk of decreased quality of life from negative attitudes towards ageing.

In order to create healthy ageing, ageism needs to be eliminated (WHO 2016). This may lead you to question how this can be achieved, especially when it is apparently so widespread. Perhaps you may be wondering what is classified as ‘ageism’, and what is meant by an ‘ageing population’?

What is Ageism?

According to WHO (2016), ageism can take a variety of forms including media portrayal of older people as frail and needy, and policies demanding retirement of employees that reach a specific age. This is due to a lack of consideration regarding older adults' abilities, which leads to unfair assumptions based on generalisations. You can probably think of several examples of ageist depictions of older people in movies you have watched.

This is disappointing when noting that Australians are reportedly living longer and healthier lives than past generations (AIHW 2017).

Data from 2012 suggests that 53% of older adults are living with a disability. Only one in five older Australians are reported as having a severe enough disability to sometimes require help with one or more core activities (self-care, mobility and communication) (AIHW 2014).

Furthermore, Australians can expect to experience more years free from disability (AIHW 2017). Most older Australians report healthy living, with over 90% being current non-smokers (Tobacco in Australia 2020), over half being vaccinated (AIHW 2018b) and 13% working in paid jobs compared to 8% in 2006 (AIHW 2018a).

It is evident that there is plenty for Australians to be proud of in terms of current ageing outcomes. The increasing health, quality of life and longevity creates hope and optimism for future generations regarding ageing in Australia. Perhaps the awareness of improved ageing outcomes for Australians may lead to diminished ageist and negative attitudes towards older people.

Conclusion

As nurses, we are in a position to view improved health outcomes and ageing throughout our careers. Nurses need to value and respect all people regardless of their age. As a nurse, you should promote healthy ageing, build confidence and competence, and thereby help people become more optimistic towards the ageing process. If older Australians think more positively of ageing, perhaps other members of society will too, and ageism will decline.

What will you do to prevent ageism and promote healthy ageing?

References

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2014, Australia’s Health 2014: 6.9 Ageing and the Health System: Challenges, Opportunities and Adaptations, AIHW, viewed 14 October 2020, https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/19dbc591-b1ef-4485-80ce-029ff66d6930/6_9-health-ageing.pdf.aspx
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018b, Immunisation Rates for Vaccines in the National Schedule (Older People), AIHW, viewed 14 October 2020, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/australias-health-2018/contents/indicators-of-australias-health/immunisation-rates-for-vaccines-in-the-national-schedule-older-people
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017, Life Expectancy and Disability in Australia: Expected Years Living With and Without Disability, AIHW, viewed 14 October 2020, https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/7b986857-7b41-4aae-b7ff-eab57eb20f13/20457.pdf.aspx?inline=true
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018a, Older Australia at a Glance, AIHW, viewed 14 October 2020, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australia-at-a-glance/contents/demographics-of-older-australians/australia-s-changing-age-and-gender-profile
World Health Organization 2016, Discrimination and Negative Attitudes about Ageing are Bad for your Health, WHO, viewed 14 October 2020, https://www.who.int/news/item/29-09-2016-discrimination-and-negative-attitudes-about-ageing-are-bad-for-your-health
Tobacco in Australia 2020, Prevalence of Smoking—Middle-aged and Older Adults, Cancer Council, viewed 14 October 2020, https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-1-prevalence/1-5-prevalence-of-smoking-middle-aged-and-older-ad#:~:text=Data%20from%20the%202019%20National,smoked%20on%20a%20daily%20basis.

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