Martínez-Angulo, PabloMuñoz-Mora, MargaritaRich-Ruiz, ManuelVentura-Puertos, Pedro ECantón-Habas, VanesaLópez-Quero, Salvador2023-08-282023-08-282023Geriatr Nurs. 2023 May-Jun;51:84-94.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/16362Introduction: Ageism could influence the relationship between older patients' meeting needs and healthcare professionals' answers. Aims: To highlight the experience of older adults with healthcare systems, how they perceive ageism from their healthcare providers, and to explore the relationship between perceived ageism and self-perception of aging (SPA). Methods: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study. The participants were 14 women over 65 who lived alone in their homes. Results: Professional responses ignored the expression of preferences of the older patients and excluded them from decision-making processes. These answers influenced older patients' use of health services. Moreover, the negative aspects predominated in a SPA influenced by the internalization of stereotypes and a relationship weighed down by ageist behaviors on the part of health professionals. Conclusion: Explicit situations of ageism influence an imbalance in power relations between older patients and healthcare professionals, a misuse of health services, and a negative SPA.engVoRhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/AgeismHealth services for the agedHealth services misuseHealthcare disparitiesSocial discriminationAgeismHumansFemaleAgedSpainAgingDelivery of Health CareHealth FacilitiesAtribución 4.0 Internacional369213975184-9410.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.02.0201528-3984Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)open access