Associations of perceived poor societal treatment among the oldest-old

Previous studies of perceived ageism among older people have focused on younger age groups with the respondents' mean age far below 80.

To explore the perceptions of poor societal treatment of older people among home-dwelling people aged 75-100+ and how their perceptions are associated with demographic characteristics, health, functioning, and wellbeing.

In the Helsinki Aging Study, a random sample of 2,917 home-dwelling people aged 75-104 received a postal questionnaire inquiring about their health, wellbeing and experiences. The response rate was 74%. We asked: 'How in your opinion are older people treated in Finland?' (well/moderately/poorly) and categorized the respondents according to their responses. A multivariable forward stepwise ordered logistic regression model was used to determine the independent associations of the variables on the ordinal level of perceptions of treatment.

Of the participants, 1,653 responded to the index item. Of these, only 13% thought that older people are treated well in society, and 66% and 21% were of the opinion that older people are treated moderately or poorly in society, respectively. Perceived poor societal treatment was more common among women, the younger respondents, and those with lower incomes, as well as family caregivers and those with lower self-rated health and lower psychological wellbeing. Those who were able to walk outside unassisted and those with a regular hobby perceived poor societal treatment more often.

Several demographic factors, self-rated health, psychological wellbeing and better functioning were associated with perceptions of poor treatment among the oldest-old.