Efforts to eliminate or minimize discrimination against older adults in emergency departments and end-of-life care have come from which source?

• A. Organizations such as AARP
• B. Recent developments in geriatric medicine and gerontological specializations in other health care fields
• C. Government policy
• D. The hospice philosophy

Answer: (D)

The main idea is how care practices at the end of life have been shaped to reduce bias toward older adults in emergency departments and end-of-life decisions. The hospice philosophy centers on the patient’s goals, comfort, and dignity, ensuring respect for autonomy and individualized care. This approach directly challenges age-based assumptions by prioritizing meaningful conversations, symptom relief, and appropriate care that aligns with what the patient values—rather than making decisions based on age alone. Because hospice emphasizes what matters to the person and a nonjudgmental stance toward end-of-life needs, it has driven changes in practice and policy that reduce discriminatory views and treatment patterns in acute and end-of-life settings. While advocacy groups, advances in geriatric medicine, and government policies contribute to broader equity, the hospice movement most directly embodies and promotes the principles needed to minimize discrimination in these specific contexts.