Old age through young eyes: images of aging among Swiss undergraduate physiotherapy students

This study explored novice undergraduate physiotherapy students' attitudes toward aging, aging-related fears and hopes, and their perceived relevance of physiotherapy competences when working with adults aged 75 years and above. Drawing on a validated questionnaire, students expressed a combination of affirming and stereotype-based attitudes. While many students viewed later life as meaningful, perceptions of cognitive decline, loneliness and reduced autonomy in later life were frequent. Aging-related fears focused primarily on physical decline and loss of independence. Students recognized the continuing importance of core physiotherapy competencies and emphasized the relevance of communication and psychosocial understanding in geriatric care. When interpreted through the framework of Healthy Aging, the study findings suggest the relevance of shifting from decline-oriented assumptions toward more capacity-oriented and contextual perspectives. While educational implications were not directly examined, early curricular attention to aging, age‑related discrimination and geriatric practice, supported by intergenerational learning and reflective educational approaches, may inform educational strategies aimed at fostering more inclusive attitudes toward aging.