Is ageism a relevant concept for health care practice in the elderly?

With the demographic aging, the older adults' needs for assistance and care will inevitably increase. Therefore, it is important to explore the beliefs and attitudes of the health care professionals toward the elderly. This paper discusses the notion of ageism and its paradoxes in health care practices for the elderly. First, the concept of ageism is defined through its cognitive, affective and behavioral components. Second, on the basis of the literature review, different "age biases" induced by ageism are described, which can influence the assessment of health condition of the elderly, the treatment decisions, but also the attitudes of the health care workers with out-patients as with institutionalized subjects. Third, the potential negative effects of ageist stereotypes on the health status and psychological well-being of the elderly are examined. Finally, some propositions are made to oppose ageism in health care practices for the elderly, including continuing education, better knowledge of the diversity of aging processes, reflexion on professionals' own prejudices, values and beliefs, promotion of relational attitudes which sustain autonomy.