Combating Ageism: How Healthcare Education Shapes Attitudes Towards Older Adults
"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.
Ageism’s Health and Economic Impact
The World Health Organization defines ageism as stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination based on age, and says it affects people of all ages while having particularly harmful effects on older people’s health and well-being. A 2026 statistics page estimates that ageism could be associated with an $8.3 trillion loss in global GDP by 2050 and reports $63 billion in unnecessary healthcare costs annually. Age Without Limits describes ageism as prejudice embedded in society and often treated as normal, including by older people themselves.
The Term’s Origins
Age-based prejudice existed before it had a name. Robert N. Butler coined the term “ageism” in 1969, when he was a 42-year-old psychiatrist and headed the District of Columbia Advisory Committee on Aging. A 2022 entry on the history of ageism appeared in the *Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging*. Ageism can target younger people as well as older adults, though older people are its most common targets.
How Does Education Level Impact Attitudes?
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).
- 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.
Age and Attitudes Toward Older Patients
The cited research reports links between age and more positive attitudes toward older patients. A cross-sectional study of primary health care physicians in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, says its findings align with international reports associating older age and higher educational level with more positive attitudes toward geriatric patients. A study of professionals in nursing homes and social service centers in Ankara also cites Swedish findings that professional caregivers older than 51 had more positive attitudes toward older people. Research on oncology nurses similarly notes previous studies in which older participants expressed less negative attitudes than younger participants when attitudes were measured explicitly.
Ageism’s Effects on Care and Health
Ageism in healthcare operates at both the health-system and individual-provider levels, and is associated with adverse health outcomes and excess health spending. A 2024 review also highlights self-directed ageism—ageism turned against oneself—as an underappreciated determinant of health and well-being, while noting that negative attitudes about aging contribute to workforce shortages in residential aged care and nursing. One U.S. report says over 90% of older people regularly experience ageism; it associates those experiences with poorer health, reduced cognitive performance, and increased healthcare costs. These findings point to persistent barriers even where efforts to address age bias exist.
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.
Emerging Directions in Elder Care
Sources describing future elder care point to technology, changing care models, and greater attention to independence and personalized support. A 2026 trends article specifically identifies AI in home care, telehealth, holistic support, and aging-in-place solutions. Another source anticipates that technology and new support models will make senior housing and elder care more dynamic and personalized. These are presented as emerging possibilities and trends, rather than guaranteed outcomes.
Ageism Beyond Individual Actions
HelpAge International describes systemic ageism as the way laws, policies, practices, and culture work together to sustain ageist attitudes, actions, or language. It shapes perceptions of aging through broader structures, not only through isolated individual incidents, and can affect people of all ages. A separate healthcare-focused source notes that ageism may be subtle or unintentional, emerging through routine behaviors and systemic biases that reduce the quality and appropriateness of care. EBSCO identifies ageism as discrimination affecting older people and reports that one in six Americans was 65 or older in 2023, with that population expected to double by 2060.
Assumptions That Can Affect Care
A healthcare examples source says providers may underestimate older patients’ health needs, contributing to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment when symptoms are attributed solely to aging rather than to underlying conditions. Another source lists reported forms of ageism in care, including exclusion from clinical trials, communication barriers, and stereotyping. A 2026 study of older adults describes participants’ resistance strategies, including asserting autonomy, redefining aging, and challenging stereotypes. Together, these accounts show both the possible effects of ageist assumptions in care and older adults’ efforts to push back against them.
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.