Confronting Ageism in Health Care: A Conversation for Patients, Caregivers and Clinicians

KFF’s Kaiser Health News and The John A. Hartford Foundation held a 90-minute interactive web event on ageism in health care.
What does ageism in health care look like? It can be a thoughtless quip that makes an older person feel diminished. Or an assumption that patients are unable to follow a conversation or make their own decisions. Maybe it occurs when a concern is voiced, then discounted or dismissed.
Ageism is reflected in care strategies that ignore a patient’s values and ideas about what constitutes a productive life. Too often, attitudes such as “these patients are old and near the end anyway” or “there’s not much we can do to help them” prevail.
Judith Graham, Navigating Aging columnist for Kaiser Health News, moderated a panel of experts to offer their guidance and insights.
Rani Snyder, Vice President, Program at The John A. Hartford Foundation made introductory remarks.
Panelists:
Dr. Louise Aronson, a geriatrician, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and author of “Elderhood.”
Dr. Michael Wasserman, a geriatrician, advocate for vulnerable older adults through the Covid-19 pandemic, and leader of the public policy committee of the California Association of Long Term Care Medicine.
Dr. Javette Orgain, a family physician, medical director for Longevity Health Plan of Illinois, which serves nursing home residents. Former president of the National Medical Association, which represents African American physicians and their patients, and former assistant dean of University of Illinois College of Medicine Urban Health Program.
Dr. Rebecca Elon, a geriatrician and current caregiver for her mother, who has dementia, and husband, who passed away during the pandemic.
Jess Mauer, a lawyer and executive director of the Maine Council on Aging, which promotes an anti-ageism pledge.