HEALTHCARE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE ELDERLY: INFLUENCE OF AGEISM

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of ageism attitude and the associated factors such as demographics of healthcare school students on willingness to work with elderly after graduation. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted with a total of 704 vocational healthcare school students. An online questionnaire consisting of socio-economic variables, Ageism Attitude Scale and questions related to willingness to work and live with elderly after graduation was completed by 80% of the entire study population. Data were analyzed by Normality test, Cronbach test, t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test and Chi-square test. According to the results, willingness to work in elderly care was significantly higher in student groups having higher positive AAS scores. Elderly care willingness and AAS scores of the students showed no significant differences with regard to demographics. Only students whose mothers’ educational level was higher had more positive AAS scores. AAS scores were high in all groups but willingness to work in elderly care was low. The students who have visited a nursing home showed significantly higher willingness to care for the elderly. Participants who had lived with an elderly before were less likely to live with an older adult in the future. The students showed the lowest AAS scores with regard to hiring of the elderly and 55% of them consider people at the age of 55 and over as being old. There is a positive relationship between the low ratio of ageism among young people and the tendency to work in the field of elderly care in the future. In order to encourage young people to work in this field, their concerns should be addressed and their prejudice should be eliminated. Both as part of a state policy and in terms of employment volume, students of universities’ vocational healthcare schools should be encouraged to pursue a career in elderly care after their graduation.