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Perceived Ageism of Healthcare Personnel Predicts Post-Hospitalization Outcomes Among Older Adults (88557)
Session: On Demand
Room: Virtual Video Presentation
Presentation Type: Virtual Presentation
The concept of subjective views of aging (VoA) pertains to individuals' perceptions, attitudes, or expectations people have regarding their own age and aging process, as well as of old age and older adults in general. Compelling evidence indicates that the VoA held by older adults predict health outcomes. Furthermore, older adults' VoA can be influenced by the VoA of those around them. Despite ageist attitudes being frequently assessed in the social environment of older adults, the impact of these attitudes on VoA and the health of older adults has been underexplored. Therefore, the current study investigated whether and how perceived ageism from healthcare personnel and the VoA of older adult patients predict post-hospitalization outcomes. Older adults (T1 N=437, mean age=75.6, range=65-105, 51.9% women) were interviewed during hospitalization. They were then followed at two weeks (T2), two months (T3), and three months (T4) after discharge. Around 20% of the sample reported experiencing ageist attitudes from healthcare personnel to some extent. Those who perceived ageism from healthcare personnel had more negative VoA at T2 (e.g., greater awareness of age-related losses). Increased awareness of age-related loss at T2 was linked to lower physical health at T3, which subsequently led to a higher risk of re-hospitalization at T4. The findings highlight some of the mechanisms explaining how perceiving ageist attitudes in social settings can impact the health of older adults. The results suggest that reducing perceived age-related discrimination, potentially by addressing ageist attitudes among medical staff, could positively influence post-hospitalization outcomes among older adults.
Authors:
Amit Shrira, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Yaakov Hoffman, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Susanna Cohen, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Ehud Bodner, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
About the Presenter(s)
Professor Amit Shrira is currently at at Bar-Ilan University in Israel
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