| Age 65 you have a disease! | | | | that could reduce the need for their services? |
| The assumption is age causes decline when in fact | | | | They won't until they are forced to do so. A |
| illness is more often the cause. Ageism also | | | | perfect example is what Centers for Medicare |
| causes complacency in healthcare and affects the | | | | and Medicaid (CMS) did in hospitals with Hospital |
| quality of care. It is also a serious issue that is | | | | Acquired Conditions (HAC's) to improve patient |
| perpetuated by our healthcare system, institutions | | | | safety. Hospitals had little incentive to prevent falls |
| and society in general. According to the | | | | and infections until CMS stopped rewarding them |
| International Longevity Center report Ageism In | | | | for causing the fall or infection by paying for it. |
| America: | | | | The same thing needs to happen in home |
| 1. 60 percent of victims identified from Hurricane | | | | healthcare. We need to reward quality outcomes |
| Katrina were age 61 or older. | | | | and prevention not a proliferation of needs often |
| 2. Within 24 hours following the 9/11 terrorist | | | | based on greed. Many people will not perform a |
| attacks, animal advocates were on the scene | | | | daily task if they are not encouraged to do it for |
| rescuing pets, yet older and disabled people were | | | | themselves. It's a fine line for ability verses actual |
| abandoned in their apartments for up to seven | | | | inability to perform a task. It is also a fine line |
| days before ad hoc medical teams arrived to | | | | between need and greed. |
| rescue them. | | | | Those in healthcare are not sensitive or aware of |
| 3. 35% of doctors erroneously consider an | | | | the physical or physiological effects of the tools |
| increase in blood pressure to be a normal process | | | | they recommend. Often the recommender does |
| of aging. | | | | not know the intended use and many times |
| 4. Only 10 percent of people aged 65 and over | | | | seniors blame themselves for injuries that are not |
| receive appropriate screening tests for bone | | | | their fault. Injuries are rarely reported which |
| density, colorectal and prostate cancer, and | | | | increases injury risks and promotes the |
| glaucoma. This despite the fact that the average | | | | proliferation of unsafe ineffective products. This is |
| age of colorectal cancer patients is 70, more than | | | | another part of how ageism affects the health |
| 70 percent of prostate cancer is diagnosed in | | | | and welfare of our seniors and caregivers. |
| men over 65, and people over 60 are six times | | | | Misleading marketing is prolific in this arena. Many |
| more likely to suffer from glaucoma. | | | | companies want a piece of the healthcare market |
| Services and Assistive Aids | | | | without following basic consumer labeling let alone |
| Ageism has a serious affect on the lives of | | | | regulations that may apply to products. Assistive |
| seniors and caregivers. Most seniors have chronic | | | | aids can truly make a difference yet many lack |
| (long term) conditions not acute (short term) | | | | quality or a design to address needs. |
| conditions. Those you may look to for advice, | | | | Ageism opens all of us up to the affects and |
| have little or no training on the aging process (like | | | | consequences of what it creates. It takes a toll |
| social workers, therapists and doctors). There are | | | | on caregivers many of them are boomers raising |
| services and assistive devices available that can | | | | a family and often dealing with their own health |
| help the caregiver and those they care for. Your | | | | issues. All of which affects lives personally and |
| biggest obstacle may be ageism and/or a lack of | | | | financially adding to healthcare costs for all. Seniors |
| knowledge by those in healthcare. You have | | | | pay a higher price for the lack of care and |
| others that may just be looking to make a buck. | | | | concern in their well-being and value. We are |
| Then you have home healthcare providers that | | | | finding out where government stands on ageism |
| have little if any incentive to focus on prevention | | | | as they cut valuable services in hard financial |
| and safety. Ask yourself this question: | | | | times, which creates a higher cost to our society |
| Why would a home healthcare company tell you | | | | as a whole. Will we learn in time that ageism |
| about assistive aids or provide other information | | | | doesn't pay! |