Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2014 , Vol 17, Issue 1
ATTITUDES TO AGEING AND TO GERIATRIC MEDICINE
Kah Wai CHAN, Ruth E. HUBBARD
University of Queensland, Centre for Research in Geriatric The ageing of populations across the developed and developing world is a consequence of success (better nutrition and sanitation, improved medical care, greater choice about whether and when to have children) but older people are not always viewed or portrayed in a positive light, either in the hospital setting or in wider society. Similarly, geriatric medicine is a low prestige specialty, facing problems with recruitment. Even the British Geriatrics Society debates changing its name since “geriatrics” has “acquired negative connotations”.

Here, we briefly review the attitudes to geriatric medicine among medical professionals, including physicians, medical students and nurses. Societal attitudes to ageing are explored from different eras and across cultural perspectives. We consider how older people's own attitudes to their health may impact both their recovery from illness and life expectancy. We conclude that it is essential to consider the broader cultural milieu of medical schools, as this may have a greater influence than the formal curriculum on physicians' personality and conduct. Positive forces such as governmental edicts to abolish ageist practices may be undermined by what medical students hear and see on the wards. With the ageing of the inpatient population, it is critical that all physicians and nursing staff respect the ageing process and provide dignified and appropriate care to vulnerable older people. Keywords : Attitudes; Ageing; Aged, 80 and Over