The Aging Population Is The Fastest Growing Population

The aging population is the fastest growing population in our nation. By the year 2030, it is estimated that approximately 61 million people will be between the ages 65 -85 and 9 million individuals will be ages 85 and older (Ouchida Lachs, 2015). Perceptions of the elderly have slightly changed for the better in recent years, but biases and discrimination are still very widespread in our society today. â€Å"Ageism† is a phrase coined by Robert Butler in 1969 and implies a preconception, prejudice, and discrimination against older adults and can come in many forms. A kind of ageism I will be focusing on is the related to older adults and their treatment by healthcare professionals. The topic of ageism is what I will be exploring,†¦show more content†¦Older adults have more strengths and are more resilient than they are given credit for having. Many older adults are very active in their community and volunteer to help others, and many older adults in today s society and like to stay busy remain fit by exercising. They may appear frail but may have more will to try and bounce back after a procedure if given the opportunity to partake in physical/occupational therapy. To advance my current knowledge of how ageism affects older adults in relation to healthcare, I will review professional literature and interview two elders for their accounts of how they feel they are treated by their physicians, social workers, and other healthcare professionals. The individuals will be from different socioeconomic standings to find commonalities and differences of their experiences. Ageism is a significant topic for all social workers to understand and recognize when working with the older adult population for many reasons. Fist, as a social worker, one of the codes of ethics we are expected to live up to in our profession is to promote the dignity and worth of a person( NASW, 2017). By doing this, social workers recognize that older adults have the right to self –determination and decision-making ability for his/her life. An older adult who is not offered the same form of treatment for surgery based on age alone, is a form of ageism social workersShow Mo reRelated The Effects of Wyoming’s Aging Population Essay examples1226 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Wyoming’s Aging Population With new medical technology and improved knowledge about health and wellness, American’s life expectancy is longer than ever, with a better expected quality of life as well. Wyoming is the fastest aging state in the country according to the Billing’s Gazette. In addition to an already aging state, Wyoming has been named by national publications as a top place of retirement due to its tax structure and climate. 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