Combating Ageism in the Doctor’s Office
“With a bulge on my ankle and a painful bunion near my big toe, I limped into the office of my orthopedic physician. The building was bustling, home for 15 busy doctors working to remediate or rehabilitate any problem with bones or muscles. Despite my foot pain, I felt ready to move forward with a plan. That’s why I was surprised when my doctor seemed to discourage a fix because of my age.
According to a cross-sectional study performed in partnership with the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA), 93.4% of adults ages 50 to 80 surveyed in the study experienced everyday ageism. That’s defined as a a short interaction, verbal or nonverbal, that indicates that a person is less valuable because of age. It’s shocking that it is this common . . .”