Widespread Ageism in Health Care Creating Inequities for Older Patients

A Health Affairs policy brief published on June 11 describes how discrimination against older adults is commonplace in health care settings, negatively affecting health care quality, use, and costs as elderly patients face such problems as inappropriate care and undertreatment. Recommendations from the study to counteract ageism in health care delivery include strengthening the geriatric care workforce through specific training and implementing new health care delivery models that ensure more appropriate care for older patients. Ageism is a vital, though historically often overlooked, component of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. As reported in our Health Equity Blog last month, the Trump administration has acted to eliminate DEI initiatives and programs within the federal government, including eliminating the collection of data previously aimed at addressing disparities in health outcomes. These rollbacks may make effectively combatting ageism in health care even more arduous.