Ageism presents a significant challenge in healthcare, a concern highlighted by the World Health Organization’s Global Report on Ageism. This report identifies several factors contributing to ageism, including the rise in human life expectancy, the decline in birth rates, and the insufficient investment in addressing health inequities among older adults. These issues underscore the urgency of developing strategies to eradicate ageism, which can adversely affect the standard of patient care and lead to older patients’ dissatisfaction. Initiatives such as Senior Mentor Programs (SMP) have been introduced to counteract ageism and enhance the care provided to older adults by fostering a deeper understanding of their unique requirements, viewpoints, and contributions to society.
A recent study underscores the mutual benefits of intergenerational mentoring programs for young and older individuals. This research, conducted by Emily Ihara, the Department of Social Work’s chair at George Mason University, and Catherine Tompkins, the College of Public Health’s Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Affairs, emphasizes the significance of reciprocal relationships in combating healthcare ageism. Ihara and Tompkins, co-principal Investigators of Mason’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, highlight how such programs can challenge prevailing stereotypes. That is particularly relevant for younger medical students who might have yet to experience interacting with older adults. Engaging with an elderly mentor allows these students to acquire a more nuanced understanding and appreciation of the older population, which is expected to improve healthcare provision for this demographic.
The collaborative research effort between George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) involved analyzing the insights of elderly mentors participating in an SMP with first-year medical students. The study identified three key themes from the mentors’ feedback: generational guidance, volunteerism, and life satisfaction. These themes illustrate the potential of intergenerational mentorship programs to empower older adults to continue supporting the welfare of younger generations through volunteer work, fostering meaningful relationships (thereby enhancing life satisfaction), and exerting a positive influence on younger individuals (via generational guidance). The participants expressed a strong desire to combat health-related biases against older adults.
One of the striking comments from a participant emphasized the need for medical professionals to understand and treat older adults better, challenging the demeaning perception of older adults as merely “wrinkly old babies.” The SMP aimed to facilitate open dialogue between older mentors and medical students, addressing the stigma associated with elderly care. Mentors shared their experiences of being treated poorly or misunderstood within medical settings, highlighting the importance of transmitting their knowledge and experiences to improve care for future patients. A separate academic study documented the students’ reactions to the program.
The findings of this study were published in the “Journal of Intergenerational Relationships” in February 2024 under the title “‘Don’t treat us like fragile babies:’ Mentors’ perspectives of an intergenerational mentoring program for medical students.” The publication includes contributions from various academics and professionals, including Mason undergraduate Vianey Velazquez-Dominguez, Master of Social Work alumni Harveen Pantleay, Kendall Barrett, Madeline Holden, and VCU’s Kimberly Ivey, Leland Waters, and Sarah A. Marrs.
This project received financial support from the Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program grant. This support underscores the recognized need for targeted initiatives to improve healthcare outcomes for older adults by addressing the root causes of ageism and promoting intergenerational understanding and respect within the medical field.
More information: Emily S. Ihara et al, “Don’t Treat Us Like Fragile Babies”: Mentors’ Perspectives of an Intergenerational Mentoring Program for Medical Students, Journal of Intergenerational Relationships. DOI: 10.1080/15350770.2024.2310654
Journal information: Journal of Intergenerational Relationships Provided by George Mason University
