From Ageism to Age Equality: Addressing the Challenges ...

Screening and Preventative Services for Older PeopleLimited screening programmes, and health promotion and preventative work with older people werefelt to be a deficit in current healthcare practice and constituted, therefore, a form of indirectdiscrimination. A number of staff believed that specific problems exist in relation to screening andpreventative services, mental health services, and ophthalmic and audiology services. Many talkedabout the need for crisis intervention taking precedence over preventative work.Independent LivingWithout exception, staff across all health board areas identified a deficiency in community supportsas a major gap in services for older people, as well as a key factor in older people being admitted toacute hospitals and being kept in acute beds for longer than necessary. Older people noted a lack ofavailability of community services or supports to enable them to stay at home.The absence of community supports is also linked closely with a lack of accommodation choices forolder people. This has a particular effect if their health and/or mobility deteriorates and affects theirday-to-day activities. Some older people reported that they felt obliged to move in with familymembers due to decreasing health and/or mobility. Some are already in long-term residential carebecause they have no choice; there were no other options. Many feel that long-term residential carewill be the only option available to them.38Community hospital beds are also scarce. A number of older people who are still active andindependent said that they had put their names on the waiting list so they would haveaccommodation when ‘the time came’. It was noted that adaptations to people’s homes would makea significant difference in helping to maintain independence. It was also noted that the amount ofpaperwork involved in this often made it difficult to achieve.Ethical IssuesStaff reported that they felt frustrated and disempowered in relation to protecting older people fromabuse. The types of abuse referred to were psychological and/or financial.There is much more protection for children. Older vulnerable people are neglectedby the law.(Community Welfare Officer)Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders were described as a ‘grey area’ by staff and there was evidenceduring discussions that there existed no clear understanding in relation to a defined policy in thisarea. This was also the case for Living Wills. This issue relating to DNRs and Living Wills is anotherexample of direct discrimination: the wishes of the older person can often be ignored by medicalstaff if family members do not concur with the older person.Older People’s Perspectives on AgeingApproximately one in four of the older people (24 per cent) individually interviewed reported apositive view of ageing in that they were ‘happy and content’ and not unduly worried about ageing.These older people talked about active ageing, of having good social networks, of being prepared forretirement and of developing hobbies.Conference Proceedings