"With your age, what do you expect?": Ageism and healthcare of older adults in Spain

Introduction: Ageism could influence the relationship between older patients' meeting needs and healthcare professionals' answers. Aims: To highlight the experience of older adults with healthcare systems, how they perceive ageism from their healthcare providers, and to explore the relatio...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Martínez-Angulo, Pablo, Muñoz-Mora, Margarita, Rich-Ruiz, Manuel, Ventura-Puertos, Pedro E, Cantón-Habas, Vanesa, López-Quero, Salvador
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Repositorio:Repisalud
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/16362
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/16362
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ageism
Humans
Female
Aged
Spain
Aging
Delivery of Health Care
Health Facilities
Descripción
Sumario:Introduction: Ageism could influence the relationship between older patients' meeting needs and healthcare professionals' answers. Aims: To highlight the experience of older adults with healthcare systems, how they perceive ageism from their healthcare providers, and to explore the relationship between perceived ageism and self-perception of aging (SPA). Methods: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study. The participants were 14 women over 65 who lived alone in their homes. Results: Professional responses ignored the expression of preferences of the older patients and excluded them from decision-making processes. These answers influenced older patients' use of health services. Moreover, the negative aspects predominated in a SPA influenced by the internalization of stereotypes and a relationship weighed down by ageist behaviors on the part of health professionals. Conclusion: Explicit situations of ageism influence an imbalance in power relations between older patients and healthcare professionals, a misuse of health services, and a negative SPA.