Services NOT Designed For Older People

It seems to me that a lot of services provided by both for-profit enterprises and publicly funded departments/agencies are not designed to provide service to clients. Instead, they seem to be designed to minimize cost and/or maximize profits. I will give one example from education and one from health care.

EDUCATION:

After 35+ yrs of varied work experience, and a broad education, I decided to go back to university. Now, in my mid 60s, I am enrolled in a PhD program at a Canadian university. Ageism I have experienced while being a student includes the following:

• when completing surveys (like this one about ageism) I am given a forced choice between: retired, unemployed, student, working, etc. In fact more than one category applies since I am retired, a student and working part-time when I choose to take a contract!
• as a graduate student I should be able to work as a teaching assistant. However, I have found that all jobs have gone to younger peers - apparently b/c they have their career ahead of them, and should therefore receive more opportunities to get the work experience. But academic teaching experience is different than other kind of work experience, and is needed to get an academic job. As a healthy individual I have the intention of pursuing a career in a college or university, but I find I am thwarted from getting the appropriate experience. They're happy to take my tuition money, but the university fails to provide the developmental opportunity which will increase my chances of getting hired after graduating.
• I've frequently had to face puzzled questions from professors and peers to the effect of "...but what are you planning to do with your PhD?" A person my age at university just doesn't seem to "grok" with most people there. They don't know what to do with me (eg how they might be able to utilize my experience for their benefit). Universities are designed to market themselves to young and to foreign students to get $$ so they can balance their books. They don't know what to do with us.

HEALTH CARE

I use the term "health care" in honor of what once was, and with optimism that something can be done to improve the system. The system in Canada is failing, and more money is NOT the solution! My family doctor decided a few years ago to stop his GP clinic b/c he did not agree with having to operate a McDonalds-style production line system where each patient is only allotted about 8 minutes per visit - b/c that is what the provincial govt pays for. So I had to look for a new Dr. I went to one, a young fellow who teaches also at a medical school, and so I thought this guy would be OK. When he walked into the patient exam room, he asked me what I was there for. I told him I had 2 things to discuss..... He interrupted me to say "they only pay me for one thing, so you decide which one you want to talk to me about today, and make another appointment and come back". His money-grubbing attitude is one issue. My reaction was to question whether this fellow was someone to whom I wanted to entrust my health care. I decided I did NOT. I ignored what he had to tell me that day and found someone else.

But the bigger issue is the system in which healthcare is provided. To save money, Drs get paid per visit, and so they try to cram through as many "Big Macs" as they can to maximize income and so they can also pay their bills. This system, I find, does not work for older people. Healthcare is:

• complex
• multifaceted
• requires a holistic approach

all of which cannot be accomplished with a short 8 min visit!

A system which would address the needs of older people would allow time for people to relate what their issue is. Often in fact, there are likely to be several issues which intersect. Time is needed to allow interaction with patients who may not be able to communicate effectively under pressure. The system needs to change so that it actually prioritizes people BEFORE profits! I don't blame doctors b/c they are forced to work within this system. It is no wonder that fewer new doctors are choosing not to go into GP practices.

Overall, I would say that services provided by many companies and govt entities are designed primarily to save money and/or maximize profits. Anyone who falls outside of the "average range of needs" tends to get ignored or fall by the wayside. If someone is marginalized, vulnerable, etc. they are less likely to get the quality service they need and deserve. My solution so far has been to avoid publicly funded systems wherever possible .