Ageism refers to stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age. Ageism in health care is a widespread and systemic issue that can lead to worsened health outcomes due to delayed or inappropriate treatment and a higher economic burden with increased health care utilization and costs. When combined with chronic conditions and the complexity of aging, ageism creates clinical challenges that jeopardize optimal outcomes and quality of life. 

One of the most common manifestations of ageism in health care is the assumption that aging naturally entails physical and cognitive decline. Health professionals may overlook treatable conditions by attributing symptoms to “just old age.” Communication styles between health care providers and patients are another way that ageism occurs. For example, providers may speak more to family members than to the patients themselves, making assumptions that they are unable to participate in decisions about their care or speaking in a patronizing way that assumes that patients cannot understand what the providers are saying.

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) supports evidence-informed practice and education to eliminate ageism in health care, ensuring that people of all ages receive the same high standard of care grounded in respect, empathy, and clinical excellence. To support these efforts, GSA promotes an education-first approach to addressing ageism in health care by equipping health care students, professionals, educators, and system leaders with knowledge, tools, and strategies that center on age equity when delivering health care.

Ageism in Health Care Resources


Recognizing and Addressing Ageism in Health Care Training Initiative

GSA, in collaboration with AARP, developed a 45-minute lecture, “Recognizing and Addressing Ageism in Health Care,” to train future health professionals on how to recognize and stop age-based bias in healthcare. The lecture was designed to raise awareness, improve patient-provider communication, and refine clinical decision-making. It was piloted tested and evaluated at 14 universities across the U.S. with over 550 students across the medical, pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, public health and social work disciplines. And nearly 9 in 10 said they were motivated to change their behavior in the future to reduce ageism in health care. The lecture includes health care scenarios and practical tools to remind the next generation’s health care providers to listen first and treat people as individuals, not as stereotypes.

Click here to teach Recognizing and Addressing Ageism in Health Care in your classroom.

The content of this lecture builds upon continued collaborations between GSA and AARP to address ageism in health care. This partnership resulted in two short videos about ageism and communicating with older adults, and two resource documents, “Communicating with Older Adults: A Review of What Really Works” and “Helping Patients Make Health Care Decisions.” These and additional resources can be found at www.geron.org/ageism.

Ageism in Health Care Advisory Board

  • Marilyn R. Gugliucci, MA, PhD, FAGHE, FGSA, FAGS, FNAOME, Advisory Board Chairperson, Division of Geriatrics, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Terri Harvath, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota
  • Mark Brennan-Ing, PhD, FGSA, Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College, City University of New York
  • Becca Levy, PhD, FGSA, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University
  • Spero M. Manson, PhD, University of Colorado Denver
  • Joann M. Montepare, PhD, FGSA, FAGHE, FAPA, Professor Emerita of Psychology, Lasell University
  • Andrew Steward, PhD, LCSW, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 
  • Mary Tinetti, MD, FGSA, Yale University School of Medicine, Yale University

Additional information on this important topic is available from:

Lisa McGuire, PhD, FGSA, Vice President, Strategic Alliances & Practice Innovation

lmcguire@geron.org | 202-587-5870

Elana Kieffer Blass, MBA, Director of Strategic Alliances

ekieffer@geron.org | 202-587-2836