Ageism: Many older people have felt "fobbed off" because of their age when they sought information on health services available to them, according to new research.
The study, being published today, found the health service guilty of discriminating against older people.
More than 600 people, mostly older people but also staff working in the sector, were interviewed for the research.
"Direct discrimination was evidenced by upper age limits for breast screening [ which is 65 years] and certain treatments; by a lack of referrals for some specialist services; and by prejudicial attitudes by some staff towards older people. Indirect discrimination was evidenced by shortages of certain services of particular importance to older people, which disproportionately affect them," the report says.
With regard to referrals to specialist services, a substantial number of older people reported they felt directly discriminated against because of their age. Staff agreed.
An 88-year-old man who was interviewed said: "We are always told that there wouldn't be any point in doing this operation or that operation 'at your age'. They are acting as judges regarding our health... and whether we are 'value for money'."
And a public health nurse said: "Many GPs won't refer older people, they see complaints as part of the ageing process."
Published by the National Council on Ageing and Older People, the report notes that staff identified established age limits for some health and social services. It said, for example, that some of the former health boards would not take anyone aged 65 years or over for stroke rehabilitation.
And in one health board, it said, there was "no aggressive treatment for older people with cancer" while in another region, staff said there was no upper age limit for cancer treatment as long as a patient could tolerate it.
There was also evidence within community hospital settings in one former health board region of dental treatment being provided to children but not to older people.
Staff also highlighted the fact that assessment of both physical and mental health needs of older people were not "as good as they could be", mainly due to resource difficulties.
Entitled Perceptions of Ageism in Health and Social Services in Ireland, the study also expresses concern about the tendency towards prescribing many drugs at the same time to older people without consulting them, which it says could be construed as ageist. "A number of older people consulted were taking tablets but didn't know what they were or what they were for, while many reported being on multiple medications - some taking up to 19 tablets a day," the report says.
It also says older people interviewed particularly resented the practice of staff consulting with family members about their condition rather than with them.
"Many of the older people in the study reported negative experiences with staff in the acute sector. They felt that they were often ignored or not taken seriously."
The National Council on Ageing and Older People said it considered this research a first and necessary step in the identification and elimination of ageism from health and social services.
Meanwhile, other research also due out today indicates that ending up being cared for in a nursing home is a major fear for 42 per cent of older people.
The finding comes from an opinion poll undertaken by Lansdowne Market Research for Independent Age (formerly known as Rukba Ireland), a charity which champions independent living for older people.