Reframing ageing: Ageism is an insidious problem and it’s linked to bad health

+Practice

In print

OLDER PEOPLE

Reframing ageing: Ageism is an insidious problem and it’s linked to bad health

23 June 2021

Ngaire Kerse

Wednesday 23 June 2021, 12:25 AM

Ageism is ingrained in our society – almost everyone has negative feelings about ageing

Professor Ngaire Kerse writes about how we think and talk about older people, and how it makes a difference to their wellbeing.

Key points, Ageism is associated with worse physical and mental health outcomes and high healthcare costs. Mechanisms by which ageism impacts on health include , Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Health Equity

References

Levy BR, Slade MD, Chang ES, et al. Ageism amplifies cost and prevalence of health conditions. Gerontologist 2020;60(1):174–81. 
Chang ES, Kannoth S, Levy S, et al. Global reach of ageism on older persons' health: A systematic review. PLoS One 2020;15(1):e0220857.
Burnes D, Sheppard C, Henderson CR Jr, et al. Interventions to reduce ageism against older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Public Health 2019;109(8):e1–9.

How to Treat

+How to treat

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM