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Seniors Discriminated Against by
Healthcare System, Says Alliance For Aging Research
New Report Shows Ageism Undermines Quality of Healthcare for Older
Americans
Washington, DC., May 19, 2003 - Drawing
upon scores of recent scientific studies, the non-profit Alliance for
Aging Research issued a revealing report showing how systematic bias
against the elderly hurts older patients in America. The report,
Ageism: How Healthcare Fails the Elderly, was released today at a
hearing of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.
The Alliance's new report cited serious
short-comings in medical training, prevention screening and treatment
patterns that disadvantage older patients. The report outlines five
key dimensions of the ageist bias in which U.S. healthcare fails older
Americans:
> Healthcare
professionals do not receive enough training in geriatrics to properly
care for many older patients.
> Older patients are
less likely than younger people to receive preventive care.
> Older patients are
less likely to be tested or screened for diseases and other health
problems.
> Proven medical
interventions for older patients are often ignored, leading to
inappropriate or incomplete treatment.
> Older people are
consistently excluded from clinical trials, even though they are the
largest users of approved drugs.
The Alliance report set the tone for
today's Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, "Ageism in the
Healthcare System: Short Shifting Seniors?" Daniel Perry, executive
director of the Alliance, revealed the contents of the report during
his testimony before the Committee.
"Ageism is a particularly apparent and
especially damaging frame of mind that surfaces all too often in
healthcare settings where older patients predominate," stated Perry.
"Like other patterns of bias - such as racism and sexism - these
attitudes diminish us all, but they can be downright deadly to older
people in receiving healthcare."
The Alliance for Aging Research warned
that unless ageist attitudes are recognized and rooted out of our
healthcare system, the next generation of Americans under Medicare,
the largest generation in U.S. history, will likely suffer inadequate
care. Therefore, the Alliance also released recommendations to address
the problem of ageism:
> More training and
education for healthcare professionals in the field of geriatrics.
> Greater inclusion
of older Americans in clinical trials.
> Utilization of
appropriate screening and preventive measures for older Americans.
> Empowerment and
education of older patients.
"Medical ageism is a serious problem,"
stated Senator John Breaux (D-LA), ranking member of the Senate
Special Committee on Aging. "This disturbing trend is evident in too
many areas of health care delivery in America and, as a result, too
many seniors fall through the cracks. We appreciate the work of the
Alliance for Aging Research in helping to break down the culture of
ageism that pervades our health care system and discriminates against
older Americans."
For a copy of Ageism: How Healthcare
Fails the Elderly, log on to the Alliance website at
www.agingresearch.org.
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Founded in 1986, the Alliance for Aging
Research is a nonprofit, independent organization dedicated to
supporting and accelerating the pace of medical discoveries to vastly
improve the universal human experience of aging. The Alliance combines
the interests of top scientists, public officials, business executives
and foundation leaders to promote a greater national investment in
research and new technologies that will prepare our nation for the
coming senior boom, and improve the quality of life for today's older
generation.
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