老年歧視概念分析

Conceptual analysis of ageism

長久存在的種族和階級歧視，孕育了對高齡者的刻板印象及偏見，即形成第三大歧視—「年齡歧視」（Ageism），尤指對年長之老人所產生的歧視，也就是所謂的「老年歧視」。在全球老年人口的快速增長下，「老人照護」成為21世紀健康照護的主要議題之一，若老年歧視存在於健康照護或長期照護中，將會影響老人的感受與權利，對其健康會產生有害的影響。護理人員是老人照護團隊中的重要成員，其對老人的價值、看法及信念等將會影響他們對老人的照護行為。然而，「老年歧視」在台灣仍是一個相當模糊的名詞，有著許多不同的概念性及操作性定義，少數的研究僅著重於探討學生或護理人員對老年之刻板印象及態度，在照護上之實務探討相當不足。因此，本文將分析老年歧視與刻板印象、偏見和歧視行為之間的相互影響，對老年歧視提出定義性特徵，並舉例說明老年歧視概念與實證，以期能增進從事老人照護相關人員對老年歧視概念之了解，提供照護高齡者人員參考，並有助於護理臨床實務及未來研究之應用。 Ageism is stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against people based on their age; this is fostered by longstanding racism and classism. It is the third major type of discrimination and affects older adults in particular. With the elderly populations increasing rapidly worldwide, care for older adults is becoming a main healthcare-related issue of the 21st century. Ageism in healthcare or long-term care affects the feelings and rights of older adults and jeopardizes their health status. Nurses are crucial carers for older adults. Their values, views, and beliefs regarding older adults affect their care behavior. However, in Taiwan, no consensus has been reached on ageism, and the topic has not been sufficiently discussed or researched. Related studies have focused on examining the stereotypes and attitudes, but not care practices, of students or nurses toward older adults. This study analyzed the interactions between stereotypical, prejudicial, and discriminatory behavior and ageism, elucidating the defining attributes related to the concept and providing examples and evidence of ageism in action. This study may provide staff involved in elderly care with a better understanding of ageism while providing a useful reference for caregivers of older adults. This conceptual analysis may improve current nursing practices and lead to value future research on the topic.