A new report by the Human Rights Commission, The age barrier: older adults’ experiences of ageism in healthcare, found that older Australians are feeling dismissed, excluded and stereotyped in healthcare settings, putting their access to life-saving care at risk.
The report draws on the lived experiences of older patients, their families and sector experts, supported by a comprehensive literature review.
It found that perceptions of ageism are widespread across all levels of the health system – from how older people are treated by staff to broader systemic and policy issues.