Promoting solidarity between generations: the nurse's role

Throughout Europe certain ageist attitudes persist, and older people are more likely than other groups to endure economic and social deprivation and discrimination. If life is tough in some circumstances for older people, how can nurses make it less so? Is the British approach to the care of older people in all its many dimensions unique to this country or are there common threads and problems prevalent throughout the community? This paper explores the work of The European Nursing Development Agency (TENDA), which suggests that attitudes to and expectations and care of older people are very similar across Europe. The author looks at the part nurses can play in alleviating discrimination against older people and looks at ways in which nurses can work in solidarity with older people.