Inbox on Ageism in health care
Dear AdvocateNT
I can remember the treatment my mum received from her (very long time) GP. I took her to the appointment and the Dr. had his chair turned away from us and asked what the issue was. My mum (being very deaf) had no idea he was even talking – I just stayed quiet until he turned around and when he did, explained that she was hard of hearing and he would have to speak up. He wanted to deal with me and I wasn’t having it – mum was perfectly capable. Unfortunately, it was the first step on an ill-fated journey for her – incompetence was rife.
There are some good GPs and Doctors out there – it’s just a case of shopping around until you can find one who knows their stuff and isn’t overly governed by the clock. Very disheartening and an area that needs much more attention drawn to it.
Name & Location withheld
Dear AdvocateNT
Ageism in the health sector happens all of the time in various different ways and it leaves us feeling quite devalued, I know.
Just in the last two weeks I have experienced two separate health professionals treat me with impatient aggressive behaviour just short of my making a formal complaint which has left me feeling so stressed, that now other physical health issues have eventuated as I lie awake on a loop in my head trying to recover from this dreadful ageist behaviour.
I’ve been thinking I’ve made a dreadful mistake having moved away from where my health care was caring and slower, where health staff had patience for us oldies, on the [redacted location] where the demographic is much older.
I’m coming to realise that in the city and surrounds, health staff are catering to a much younger demographic where it is quick, rushed, and they don’t have the patience or the allotted time at all for an older person needing more time or reassurance.
But that isn’t what you experienced. What you experienced sounds like ‘othering’, talking about you as if you’re not even there. That happens most of the time unfortunately.
I hope your recovery from your heart issue isn’t complicated by the upset of how the doctor treated you and that you know that you are not alone in this.
Name & Location withheld
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