Beliefs of students about growing older and perceptions of working in gerontology
Intended for healthcare professionals
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Beliefs of students about growing older and perceptions of working in gerontology

Alice Coffey Lecturer, Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland
Catherine Buckley Practice development lecturer, St Luke’s Home Education Centre, Cork
Uta Gaidys Professor, faculty of business and social sciences, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Julita Sansoni Professor, department of public health, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
Marjut Arola Professor, nursing department, Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Dagnija Deimante-Hartmane Lecturer, department of social sciences and health care, Liepāga Branch, Rīga Stradin¸š University, Rīga, Latvia
Elisabetta Corvo Lecturer, department of public health, Sapienza University
Sabrina Auer Researcher, Faculty of business and social sciences, University of Hamburg
Corinna Petersen-Ewert Professor, Faculty of business and social sciences, University of Hamburg
Mark Tyrrell Lecturer, Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork

Educators in health and social care could do more to overcome the stereotypical views that deter trainees from choosing a career in the specialty, say Alice Coffey and colleagues

An ageing population that is increasing does not necessarily mean an increase in people who require health and social care. However, it is predicted that a wide range of such services is likely to be needed. This demand is set against a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals and a lack of interest in working with older people. There is a particular shortage of skilled gerontological workers in the developed world, made worse by a perceived lack of professional esteem, economic reward and poor working environments in the specialism.

Most studies recommend education to enable individuals to develop accurate knowledge about the ageing process and interest in working with older people. There is a discrepancy in the literature as to whether health and social care workers hold positive or negative attitudes towards older people. As attitudes are strongly linked with perceptions of working with older people, this article presents a review of the literature and discussion on attitudes of health and social care students to ageing and perceptions of working with older people.

Nursing Older People. 27, 1, 33-37. doi: 10.7748/nop.27.1.33.e648

Correspondence

a.coffey@ucc.ie

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 11 September 2014

Accepted: 30 October 2014

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