Elderly health care discrimination?

Question

Are elderly people being discriminated against when it comes to health servcies or mental health servcies?

Answer 1

I don't think such a broad question can be answered.  I'm sure some elderly people are discriminated against in some instances with substandard or denied healthcare.  That is probably true, though, with multiple groups (various ethnicities, class "status," income levels, geographical locations, language barriers).

If an elderly person cannot drive, is it discrimination when transportation to medical care isn't offered?  If their hand dexterity is decreased, is it discrimination if the pharmacist doesn't cut the pills in half for them?  If they are homebound, is it discrimination to not have house visits available?

These can be difficult questions.  Perhaps it isn't discrimination.  But it certainly provides an interesting moral dilemma for the person who knows what difficulties the elderly encounter but cannot/will not/does not do anything about it.