Grant: Summer Program in Aging

Canada's population is aging and becoming more culturally diverse. As of 2021, nearly 20% of Canadians were 65 or older, and 26.5% of the population belonged to visible minority groups, with about 30% of seniors being immigrants. This research explores how age and ethnicity affect the care of older adults, focusing on healthcare professionals' perspectives. Older adults often face "ageism" or discrimination based on age, which can harm their well-being and health. Ageism manifests in two forms: hostile ageism (negative stereotypes coming from low competency and low sociability) and compassionate ageism (positive stereotypes resulting from low competency but high sociability). Racism is also another common issue that shapes the attitudes toward individuals from racialized groups. Studies have found that racialized individuals in Canada face higher levels of discrimination, which can lead to worse health outcomes. The study has two goals: first, to assess if and how professional caregivers (nurses and doctors) show compassionate ageism toward racialized older adults compared to White older adults; second, to use the findings of the first study to create workshops raising awareness of healthcare professionals about ageism and racism in caregiving. The study will involve 279 caregivers from Ottawa hospitals, who will rate fictional characters based on their competency and sociability after being presented with vignettes of older adults from various racial and age groups. This research will shed light on how ageism and racism intersect and affect the care of racialized older adults. By raising awareness among caregivers, this study aims to promote more inclusive and culturally responsive healthcare practices for visible minority older adults in Canada. The findings could also guide policymakers in creating more inclusive healthcare policies and practices to ensure that older adults from diverse backgrounds receive equitable care.