Ageism in Health Care

Running head: AGEISM IN HEALTH CARE
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Ageism in Health care
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AGEISM IN HEALTH CARE
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Ageism in health care
Ageism is the process of advancement in years. According to the World Health
Organization, nearly 25% of the global population is made up of individuals who are above 60
years. Ageism is mostly due to demographic changes in the populations. The principle of
common good dictates that each one should benefit from a certain phenomenon. Ageism,
according to recent surveys is associated with improved quality of healthcare services. This is
because as one gets older, he/she becomes more experienced and skilled in handling complex
health problems. From this context, ageism is seen as of benefit. On the contrary, Ageism
generally contributes to inequality and discrimination in healthcare services. As the older
healthcare experts age and retire, it creates a gap in skilled labor among the staff left behind.
Furthermore, the elderly are over treated and over valued at the expense of others. This acts of
discrimination and a gap in skilled labor makes it hard to achieve the common good.
Ageism leads to inequality and discrimination in healthcare. Ageism according to
Chrisler, Barney, & Palatino is one factor contributing to unfair treatment of patients within
hospitals (Chrisler, Barney, & Palatino, 2016). The author illustrates that in as much as the older
people rarely visit health centers, the proportion spent on a single aged individual is higher than
that of a younger individual. In the United States of America for example, Swift, Abrams,
Lamont, & Drury elaborates that individual above 65 years make up less than 15% of the
population (Swift, Abrams, Lamont, & Drury, 2017). Interestingly, the expenditure towards
healthcare of the above population is 36% of the total healthcare costs. Germany is experiencing
the same problem with studies indicating that only 5% consumers of healthcare are
aged .However, the 5% elderly accounts for above 30% of all the medical prescriptions made.