Combating ageism: awareness and best practices in healthcare for older people

Ageism in old ageAlthough the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Report on Ageism highlights that ageism is a problem that affects older people worldwide, 1 it is not exclusive to them: it also affects children, adolescents, and young adults. 2One in 2 people holds "ageist" attitudes. 1Robert Butler coined the term ageism, which he described as prejudice by one age group against other age groups.The concept includes stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination, which can be negative or positive, explicit or implicit, and manifest directly toward other people or in a self-directed way. 3 The fear of death and disability contributes to ageism, as people resort to avoidance, segregation, and rejection to manage anxiety related to their own mortality and physical decline. 3,4The purpose of this communication is to raise awareness of the issue of ageism in old age and propose better practices to combat it in health care services.