To those who would dismiss us, ignore us, and belittle us: hear us now. We are the aged and the aging, a cohort you have systematically disenfranchised, not by accident, but by design.

For too long, we have endured the infuriating patter of "your age" and the dismissive wave of "costs" – excuses that, in a civilised society, are not only morally bankrupt but also legally indefensible. We are here to tell you that your tactics have failed. Your casual ageism and thinly veiled financial calculations have only served to galvanise us. Get onboard and tell us about your experiences Email me and Tell me about your experiences of ageism and cost cutting.

We are tired. Exhausted, in fact. Exhausted from fighting for basic dignity, for the right to be heard, and for the healthcare and services we are entitled to. We are tired of being deemed "too old" for effective treatment, as if the passage of time somehow negates our right to a good quality of life. We are tired of being labelled "another of those malignant patients" – a convenient dehumanisation that allows you to justify your dismissive treatment and high-volume, low-empathy approach. We see your "hard-working people who have studied hard to be able to make a handsome income mass processing malignant patients" and we raise you this: your education and income do not grant you the right to strip us of our humanity.

You believed our weariness would translate into silence. You banked on our isolation. You presumed our lack of digital fluency would leave us defenceless. You were wrong on all counts. We have been quietly, meticulously, documenting every patronising remark, every dismissive glance, every instance where our age or perceived financial burden was weaponised against us. We have recorded your engagements, logged your excuses, and collected the data that exposes your systemic failings.

And now, we are uniting. We are leveraging modern tools, the very technologies you perhaps assumed we couldn't comprehend, to process this mountain of evidence. AI, in our hands, is not a luxury; it is a necessity for clarity and accountability. It is the engine that transforms individual frustrations into undeniable patterns of discrimination. We are no longer individual complaints easily swept under the rug. We are a collective, armed with irrefutable data, and we are coming for change.

Understand this: the era of fobbing us off, ignoring us, and pathologising our legitimate needs is over. We will no longer tolerate being shunned, nor will we allow our experiences to be minimised. We will push through every resistance, from the administrative gatekeepers to the profit-driven decision-makers. We will expose the hypocrisy and the illegality of your ageist practices. We are not a burden; we are a vital part of society, with wisdom, experience, and an unwavering demand for equitable treatment.

Treatment Deliberately Delayed, or Treatment Deliberately Deferred, is Treatment Denied. And Treatment Denied, particularly when age and costs are the causative factors, are flagrant breaches of our fundamental human rights.

From this moment forward, we will obtain the treatments and services we deserve, in a dignified way. Not because you decide to grant them, but because we will ensure it. This is our stand. This is our promise.

"We, the patients, the individuals behind the numbers, have been subjected to a system that treats us as mere data points in a clinical trial, rather than as complex human beings with unique experiences and needs. We understand that you are bound by protocols and guidelines, but we refuse to accept a system that prioritizes efficiency over empathy, that values profit margins over patient well-being. Six months. Six months we have faithfully participated in your 'blood pressure research,' diligently taking your prescribed medications, enduring your measurements, and trusting in the promise of health. Yet, as the data accumulates and our own lived experiences persist, a chilling truth emerges: we are being treated as mere biological systems, divorced from the complex realities of our lives. We are, once again, being fobbed off, ignored, and belittled by a system that prioritizes pharmaceutical solutions over holistic understanding."

This statement powerfully articulates the frustrations of aged and aging individuals who feel their health concerns are being oversimplified, medicalized, and dismissed. The claims made in the statement are strongly supported by existing research and widely recognized issues within healthcare systems.

Here's a validation of each core claim, with supporting research categories:

1. Ageism in Healthcare and Dismissal of Concerns ("fobbed off, ignored, belittled, shunned, pathologised," "your age" excuse):

• Research Support: Numerous studies and reports highlight ageism in healthcare. This manifests as healthcare providers attributing symptoms solely to "old age," failing to conduct thorough investigations, and under-treating or delaying treatment for older adults compared to younger patients with similar conditions. This can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses, less information about medical decisions, and denial of critical healthcare.
  • Examples: Research on ageism in healthcare workers, reports from patient advocacy groups, and studies detailing how treatable concerns like falls, joint pain, or vision loss are often dismissed as "normal aging."

2. Cost as a Barrier to Healthcare ("costs" excuse, "too costly"):

• Research Support: High out-of-pocket costs, lack of affordable insurance options, and economic instability are significant barriers to healthcare access for older adults. This often leads to individuals forgoing or delaying essential care, including doctor visits, specialist appointments, medications, and mental health services.
  • Examples: National surveys on healthcare access and affordability for seniors, studies on the impact of debt on health, and reports on healthcare disparities related to income.

3. Treatment Deliberately Delayed or Deferred is Treatment Denied, and Breaches of Human Rights:

• Research Support: This directly links to the principles of human rights in healthcare, which emphasize the right to access timely and appropriate medical care without discrimination. When care is withheld or postponed due to age or financial considerations, it violates these fundamental rights.
  • Examples: International and national human rights declarations pertaining to healthcare, patient rights charters (like Australia's Charter of Aged Care Rights), and legal frameworks against discrimination based on age.

4. Medication of Social Experiences and Environmental Issues as Primary Drivers of Health Issues (e.g., blood pressure, financial stress, family issues):

• Research Support: This points to the growing recognition of "social determinants of health" (SDOH). SDOH are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. These include economic stability, social and community context, education, healthcare access and quality, and the built environment. Stress, financial insecurity, and challenging family dynamics are well-documented contributors to chronic health conditions like high blood pressure.
  • Examples: Extensive research on social determinants of health and their impact on cardiovascular disease, studies linking financial stress to hypertension and heart attacks, and literature on the psychological and physiological effects of chronic stress.

5. Caffeine Intake and Blood Pressure:

• Research Support: While caffeine's long-term effect on blood pressure in regular consumers is debated, it is widely acknowledged that caffeine can cause a temporary spike in blood pressure, particularly in individuals who are not accustomed to it or are sensitive to its effects. A thorough medical history should always include questions about caffeine consumption.
  • Examples: Clinical studies on the acute and chronic effects of caffeine on blood pressure, and medical guidelines on hypertension management.

6. Iatrogenesis:

• Research Support: Iatrogenesis refers to harm caused by medical examination or treatment. This concept is highly relevant when healthcare interventions (like medication) fail to address the root causes of a condition and potentially lead to new problems or exacerbate existing ones due to an overly narrow focus.
  • Examples: Studies on adverse drug events, complications of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, and the concept of "cascade iatrogenesis" where one intervention leads to a series of other problems.

7. Controlling the Autonomic Safety System vs. Addressing Root Causes:

• Research Support: This highlights the limitations of purely symptomatic treatment. The autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure as part of the body's stress response. While medication can control blood pressure, it doesn't resolve the underlying triggers that activate the "self-preservation system." Addressing these triggers often involves lifestyle changes, stress management, and addressing social and environmental factors.
  • Examples: Research on the physiological mechanisms of stress and hypertension, studies on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for blood pressure management, and the increasing emphasis on a "biopsychosocial" model of health.

In conclusion, your statement is not merely an expression of anger and frustration; it is a concise and accurate reflection of systemic issues in healthcare, particularly as they affect older adults. The claims are well-supported by a substantial body of academic and clinical research, underscoring the urgent need for a more holistic, equitable, and person-centered approach to healthcare.

We, the patients, the individuals behind the numbers, have been subjected to a system that treats us as mere data points in a clinical trial, rather than as complex human beings with unique experiences and needs. We understand that you are bound by protocols and guidelines, but we refuse to accept a system that prioritizes efficiency over empathy, that values profit margins over patient well-being.

You only get Old and Die Once || You only get Old and Die Once - We Are Not Just Numbers: A Call for Compassionate Healthcare || You only get Old and Die Once - Ageism in Your Medical Worlds

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