What Doctors Really Think About Seniors – 5 Hard Truths Every Older Adult Should Hear!

Ageism in medicine is a form of discrimination that often goes unnoticed, but directly affects the quality of care for millions of older adults. Many times, it is not just a subjective perception: there are practices and prejudices that condition diagnoses, treatments and clinical decisions. Below, we explore five uncomfortable truths about this topic and what strategies a patient can adopt to defend their right to dignified and fair care.

Truth 1: Mental Shortcuts and Economic Pressures

Problem: Doctors, faced with the pressure of time and resources, often apply mental shortcuts in the care of older adults. This can lead them to consider them “expensive” or “complicated” patients, spending less time on them than young people.

Patient Strategy:

• Arrive at the consultation with clear and specific health goals.
• Submit a brief (one-page) health summary.
• Request a set time to talk with the doctor.

Truth 2: Medical Gaslighting

Problem: Many times, the symptoms of older adults are dismissed as part of “normal aging.” This delays important diagnoses and aggravates diseases that could have been treated earlier.

Patient Strategy:

• Ask for medical evidence to support the explanation received.
• Keep a detailed record of symptoms with dates.
• Request that the same diagnostic criteria be applied as to a 40-year-old patient.

Truth 3: The Cognitive Impairment Assumption

Problem: It is assumed that every older person has an inevitable cognitive decline. This leads to simplifying treatments and underestimating the ability to follow medical indications.

Patient Strategy:

• Provide educational or professional background at the beginning of the consultation.
• Ask for technical and detailed explanations about the treatment.
• Use health technology apps or tools as proof of engagement and cognitive ability.

Truth 4: Medications for Behavior Control

Problem: In some cases, drugs are prescribed not to treat an illness, but to “reassure” the patient, which constitutes a disguised chemical restriction.

Patient Strategy:

• Always ask what the specific purpose of the drug is.
• Independently investigate its effects.
• Request that measurable goals for health improvement be established.

Truth 5: Age-Based Value Assessments

Problem: Some medical decisions, such as transplants or high-cost treatments, are made based on formulas that calculate “life value” based on age. This can leave older adults with fewer treatment options.

Patient Strategy:

• Ask if the same recommendation would apply to a 45-year-old patient.
• Do not hesitate to seek a second medical opinion.

Tips & Recommendations

• Never underestimate the importance of coming to your appointment prepared.
• Keep an up-to-date record of your tests, diagnoses, and medications.
• Don’t be afraid to demand respect or clarity in every explanation.
• Look for doctors who have experience in geriatrics or sensitivity to humane treatment of older adults.

Ageism in medicine is real and has serious consequences on the quality of life of older people. However, knowing these truths allows patients and their families to take an active role in health care. Being well informed, prepared, and willing to question unfair medical decisions is the best tool to ensure dignified, respectful, and professional treatment at any stage of life.

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