Do Doctors Give Up on the Elderly?

Fighting for a Fighting Chance

Geriatrician Dr. Rob Stall likes to tell this story when speaking about health care for older adults:

A 90 year old man name Henry went to see his doctor about his sore right knee.
“Well, Henry,” said the doctor, “what do you expect? You’re 90 years old.”
Henry replied, “But doctor, my left knee is the same age as my right knee, and it feels just fine!”It’s a cute story, but the underlying message is not as cute. It implies that many of us -- doctors included -- view old age as if it were an untreatable disease. According to the Alliance for Aging Research, “Evidence has been mounting to suggest that, at all levels in the delivery of healthcare, there is a prevailing bias – ageism -- that is at odds with the best interests of older people.”

It’s a cute story, but the underlying message is not as cute. It implies that many of us -- doctors included -- view old age as if it were an untreatable disease. According to the Alliance for Aging Research, “Evidence has been mounting to suggest that, at all levels in the delivery of healthcare, there is a prevailing bias – ageism -- that is at odds with the best interests of older people.”

Contributing to this bias is the acute shortage of physicians specializing in geriatric medicine. There is only one geriatrician for every 3,000 elderly in the United States. And, things seem to be getting worse: out of 145 medical schools in the country, only five have geriatric care departments.

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