Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Changing older adult stereotypes through children and nursing homes

Frances Shani Parker
Patient
March 14, 2012
Share
Tweet
Share

“What’s considered a sexual risk for an old person? Not wearing a   diaper?”

“How about old people just stop having sex?”

These comments from an Internet social media “discussion” group on older adult AIDS prevention reflect blatant eldercare bias. They are just more of many examples of negative stereotypes about them that are embedded in our society. Not only do they affect older adults who are currently victimized by them, they also impact children and future generations.

A former school principal, I encourage intergenerational experiences between students and older adults to change biased thinking in children and improve quality of life for everyone involved. Without deliberate intervention, children can easily grow up to become the stereotypes they believe. That’s how many older adults became this way. Nursing homes are ideal places for students to visit and share what they are learning in school. Residents welcome students eager to perform their skits, songs, and poetry. Students can display and explain class projects and interview residents in supportive environments. Afterwards, they can mingle with residents and let the magic of intergenerational communication work to everyone’s mutual benefit.

Before any nursing home visits took place with students at my school, we had students participate in several classes on aging and eldercare. These were integrated into the regular school curriculum supporting academic standards. This teaching approach is called service learning. Students completed pre and post surveys related to their nursing home experience. We asked them what their expectations were about nursing homes and the residents who lived there. Fourth graders told us they thought residents would be boring, slow, and nosy, trying to get into their “business.” Several expressed fear and reluctance about being around “old people” in general and especially sick ones. These were only a few of the negative stereotypes they had already internalized about older adults.

Where do children learn these stereotypes? Many learn them from observing and listening to how other people treat aging and older adults. They learn them from the media. Those who have little contact with diverse older adults who can provide them with a well-rounded view of this population are very vulnerable to accepting stereotypes. Intergenerational experiences benefit older adults and children by broadening everyone’s perspective and acceptance of the human family.

Because teachers prepared students well before their nursing home visits, students knew what to expect. If a resident fell asleep or cried, students understood why that was okay. The word “dementia” was added to their vocabulary with relevance and meaning. They were open to the experience of being with the elderly and the challenged. With lists of questions they had created to ask residents about their childhood, teenage, and adult years, students approached residents with open minds that empowered them to confront stereotypes. They took pride in the roles they played in enriching lives.

After they returned to school, students reflected on how the nursing home visit affected them, what they learned, and ways to share that information with others. They were amazed at how their opinions changed when they answered the same survey questions they had answered before their visits. These survey results were illustrated on a graph to share their documented research results with others. They developed a healthier understanding of aging, illness, caregiving, and acceptance of others’ differences. Many of the residents had surprised them with their stories about interesting lives and common concerns expressed by children everywhere.

Students’ visits to nursing homes culminated with written biographies they presented to each nursing home resident at a small party held at the nursing home. Residents were elated to have their life stories recorded and displayed in beautiful booklets students had created for them on computers. With lots of smiles and appreciation, everyone celebrated what they had accomplished together. Positive intergenerational experiences involving young people and older adults are wonderful win-win opportunities.

Frances Shani Parker is an elder care consultant and  author of Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes. She blogs at the Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog. 

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

ACP reminds physicians to assess risk, screen for colorectal cancer

March 14, 2012 Kevin 1
…
Next

Match Day 2012: Medical students anticipate this Friday

March 14, 2012 Kevin 4
…

Tagged as: Geriatrics

Post navigation

< Previous Post
ACP reminds physicians to assess risk, screen for colorectal cancer
Next Post >
Match Day 2012: Medical students anticipate this Friday

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Frances Shani Parker

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    How I became a hospice volunteer

    Frances Shani Parker
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Hold funerals for unclaimed dead bodies

    Frances Shani Parker
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Bullies in older adult communities

    Frances Shani Parker

More in Patient

  • AI’s role in streamlining colorectal cancer screening [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • There’s no one to drive your patient home

    Denise Reich
  • Dying is a selfish business

    Nancie Wiseman Attwater
  • A story of a good death

    Carol Ewig
  • We are warriors: doctors and patients

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • Patient care is not a spectator sport

    Jim Sholler
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why medical students are trading empathy for publications

      Vijay Rajput, MD | Education
    • Physician patriots: the forgotten founders who lit the torch of liberty

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Physician
    • The hidden cost of becoming a doctor: a South Asian perspective

      Momeina Aslam | Education
    • Why fixing health care’s data quality is crucial for AI success [PODCAST]

      Jay Anders, MD | Podcast
    • Closing the gap in respiratory care: How robotics can expand access in underserved communities

      Evgeny Ignatov, MD, RRT | Tech
    • Reclaiming trust in online health advice [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • What’s driving medical students away from primary care?

      ​​Vineeth Amba, MPH, Archita Goyal, and Wayne Altman, MD | Education
    • How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how

      Ankit Jain | Education
    • Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check

      Joshua Baker and James Jackson, PsyD | Conditions
    • How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care

      Shashank Madhu and Christian Tallo | Education
    • The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why fixing health care’s data quality is crucial for AI success [PODCAST]

      Jay Anders, MD | Podcast
    • Why so many physicians struggle to feel proud—even when they should

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • If I had to choose: Choosing the patient over the protocol

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How a TV drama exposed the hidden grief of doctors

      Lauren Weintraub, MD | Physician
    • Why adults need to rediscover the power of play

      Anthony Fleg, MD | Physician
    • How collaboration across medical disciplines and patient advocacy cured a rare disease [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 3 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why medical students are trading empathy for publications

      Vijay Rajput, MD | Education
    • Physician patriots: the forgotten founders who lit the torch of liberty

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Physician
    • The hidden cost of becoming a doctor: a South Asian perspective

      Momeina Aslam | Education
    • Why fixing health care’s data quality is crucial for AI success [PODCAST]

      Jay Anders, MD | Podcast
    • Closing the gap in respiratory care: How robotics can expand access in underserved communities

      Evgeny Ignatov, MD, RRT | Tech
    • Reclaiming trust in online health advice [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • What’s driving medical students away from primary care?

      ​​Vineeth Amba, MPH, Archita Goyal, and Wayne Altman, MD | Education
    • How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how

      Ankit Jain | Education
    • Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check

      Joshua Baker and James Jackson, PsyD | Conditions
    • How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care

      Shashank Madhu and Christian Tallo | Education
    • The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why fixing health care’s data quality is crucial for AI success [PODCAST]

      Jay Anders, MD | Podcast
    • Why so many physicians struggle to feel proud—even when they should

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • If I had to choose: Choosing the patient over the protocol

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How a TV drama exposed the hidden grief of doctors

      Lauren Weintraub, MD | Physician
    • Why adults need to rediscover the power of play

      Anthony Fleg, MD | Physician
    • How collaboration across medical disciplines and patient advocacy cured a rare disease [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Changing older adult stereotypes through children and nursing homes
3 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...