Perceptions of old age and aging in the continuing care retirement community

Abstract

A more balanced portrayal of old age and the CCRC might result in an easier acceptance of these concepts among older adults and their adult children.

Taking a closer look at ageism: self- and other-directed ageist attitudes and discrimination

“…Older adults as well hold negative views towards old age and tend to view negatively individuals who are older or more disabled than themselves (Dobbs et al 2008). These negative views of ageing are particularly pronounced among women or individuals in long-term care institutions (Ayalon 2015). This is important because self-directed ageism is a risk for increased morbidity and mortality (Levy et al 2002(Levy et al , 2009).…”

Researching Ageism in Health-Care and Long Term Care

“…Most studies on ageism in long-term care involve residents in long-term institutions (Ayalon 2015;Bodner et al 2011;Dobbs et al 2008;Doyle 2014;Gamliel 2000;Lagace et al 2011Lagace et al , 2012Macdonald and Butler 2007;Roth et al 2012Roth et al , 2015Taverna et al 2014;Zimmerman et al 2014). Ayalon (2015) reported a prominent general view of old age as a sign of decline and decay.…”

“…Ayalon (2015) reported a prominent general view of old age as a sign of decline and decay. This negative view of old age was stated as prominent among adult children, as well as their older parents.…”

“…There are also a few studies in this body of research that involved family members as subjects (Ayalon 2015;Condelius and Andersson 2015;Dobbs et al 2008;Roth et al 2012Roth et al , 2015Zimmerman et al 2014). In particular, Condelius and Andersson (2015) reported ageism among the next of kin, "in that they perceive some conditions and complaints as a natural part of ageing with further examinations or treatments being regarded as "pointless" or even "wasted" (p. 11).…”

“…In long-term care, however, where older individuals interact both with caregivers and other residents for longer periods of time and with a more general goal of addressing both physical and psychological wellbeing of the care recipients, issues related to self-directed ageism are more salient. The empirical research on ageism in long-term care includes studies on ageist attitudes among older individuals themselves (Ayalon 2015) and discriminatory behaviors towards other older aged groups (Roth et al 2012), as well as how these attitudes and behaviors are shaped by the specificities of the community or residential care environment (Gamliel 2000;Bodner et al 2011).…”