Healthcare professionals and students surrounding a wise elder, symbolizing respect in elderly care.

Combating Ageism: How Healthcare Education Shapes Attitudes Towards Older Adults

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Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how nursing programs and practical experience influence perceptions of elderly care, fostering a more compassionate healthcare workforce."


As the global population ages, the quality of care for older adults becomes increasingly critical. A key factor in delivering excellent care is the attitude of healthcare professionals and students towards older people. Negative attitudes can undermine the effectiveness of care, while positive attitudes promote empathy and better patient outcomes. Understanding and improving these attitudes is essential for building a healthcare system that meets the needs of our aging society.

A recent study investigated the attitudes of Swedish healthcare students and professionals towards older adults. This research sheds light on how education, experience, and professional roles influence perceptions of elderly care. The findings reveal valuable insights into the development of positive attitudes and highlight the importance of targeted training and educational strategies.

This article breaks down the key findings of the study, exploring how nursing programs, practical experience, and interprofessional collaboration shape attitudes towards older adults. By understanding these influences, we can work towards fostering a more compassionate and competent healthcare workforce prepared to provide high-quality care for our aging population.

How Does Education Level Impact Attitudes?

Healthcare professionals and students surrounding a wise elder, symbolizing respect in elderly care.

The Swedish study revealed a significant correlation between education level and attitudes towards older adults. Registered Nurses (RNs) with bachelor's degrees demonstrated the most positive attitudes, scoring higher on positive attitude measures and lower on negative attitude measures compared to nurses without a degree and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).

This suggests that higher education levels may equip healthcare professionals with a more nuanced understanding of the complexities and rewards of geriatric care. Baccalaureate nursing programs often include specific coursework in gerontology, which can enhance knowledge and empathy towards older adults.

  • Targeted Curriculum: The study highlights the importance of integrating gerontological care into nursing programs to foster positive attitudes.
  • RNs Lead the Way: Registered Nurses (RNs) demonstrated the most positive attitudes, suggesting higher education levels correlate with increased empathy and understanding in geriatric care.
  • Experience Matters: Professionals with over 21 years of experience showed more positive attitudes, indicating long-term engagement fosters deeper appreciation for elderly care.
For health care students, the study revealed the importance of progression in education. Students in their second semester displayed more favorable attitudes toward older individuals compared to those in earlier semesters. This suggests that as students gain more knowledge and practical experience, their perceptions of elderly care improve. Interventions could focus on exposing students to positive experiences with older adults early in their education to cultivate more favorable attitudes from the outset.

Building a More Caring Future

The Swedish study underscores the critical role of education and experience in shaping attitudes towards older adults within the healthcare sector. By promoting gerontological education, fostering positive clinical experiences, and encouraging interprofessional collaboration, we can cultivate a healthcare workforce that values and respects our aging population.

Addressing negative attitudes and ageism is crucial for ensuring that older adults receive the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve. Further research is needed to explore the most effective strategies for attitude change and to develop innovative educational programs that prepare healthcare professionals to meet the unique needs of older adults.

Ultimately, creating a more caring future for our aging population requires a concerted effort to challenge ageist stereotypes, promote understanding, and equip healthcare professionals with the skills and attitudes necessary to provide excellent care. By investing in education and fostering positive attitudes, we can build a healthcare system that truly values and supports the well-being of older adults.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4081/nursrep.2011.e2, Alternate LINK

Title: Attitudes Towards Older People Among Swedish Health Care Students And Health Care Professionals Working In Elder Care

Subject: General Nursing

Journal: Nursing Reports

Publisher: MDPI AG

Authors: Gabriella Engström, Ingegerd Fagerberg

Published: 2011-05-02

Everything You Need To Know

1

Why are the attitudes of healthcare professionals towards older adults so important?

The attitudes of healthcare professionals and students toward older adults are crucial because negative attitudes can diminish the effectiveness of care, while positive attitudes promote empathy and lead to better patient outcomes. The study emphasizes the importance of improving these attitudes to build a healthcare system that effectively meets the needs of an aging population.

2

How does education level affect attitudes toward older adults?

The education level significantly influences attitudes towards older adults. Registered Nurses (RNs) with bachelor's degrees showed the most positive attitudes compared to nurses without degrees and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). This suggests that higher education, particularly programs with gerontology coursework, equips healthcare professionals with a more nuanced understanding of geriatric care. Students in their second semester also displayed more favorable attitudes than those in earlier semesters as they gained more knowledge and practical experience.

3

How do nursing programs influence attitudes toward older adults?

Nursing programs play a vital role by integrating gerontological care into their curriculum. This targeted curriculum helps foster positive attitudes toward older adults. These programs provide Registered Nurses (RNs) with the knowledge and empathy required for geriatric care, leading to improved patient outcomes. The Swedish study highlights this, showing a correlation between higher education levels and more positive attitudes among healthcare professionals.

4

Does experience play a role in shaping attitudes towards elderly care?

Practical experience significantly shapes attitudes. Professionals with over 21 years of experience demonstrated more positive attitudes, indicating that long-term engagement with elderly care fosters a deeper appreciation. For students, progressing through semesters leads to more favorable perceptions of elderly care. Early exposure to positive experiences with older adults can also cultivate more favorable attitudes from the outset.

5

How can we create a more compassionate healthcare workforce for the elderly?

Interprofessional collaboration is not directly mentioned in the answers, but it's an important aspect of creating a caring future. Promoting gerontological education, fostering positive clinical experiences, and encouraging interprofessional collaboration are the building blocks towards a workforce that values and respects the aging population. Although the article did not give information about it, by working together, different healthcare professionals can share knowledge, enhance care delivery, and provide the best possible support for older adults.

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