PROTECTED OR NEGLECTED - AN EXAMINATION OF NEGATIVE VERSUS COMPASSIONATE AGEISM IN PUBLIC CONSERVATORSHIP

This study examines the assumptions held in the gerontological literat ure that older adults suffer negative ageism under conservatorship in comparison with younger adults. For the purposes of this study, negati ve ageism is defined in four ways-with demographic and health factors controlled: Older adults would be more likely (1) to be served under p owers to place the conservatee in locked facilities, (2) to be served under powers that authorize treatment with psychotropic medication, (3 ) to be placed in locked facilities, and (4) to receive psychotropic m edications. Findings in this study do not reveal any evidence of negat ive ageism; however, findings do support evidence of compassionate age ism, as older adults are less likely than are younger adults to be ser ved under powers to place in locked facilities, less likely to be serv ed under powers to treat with psychotropic medications, less likely to be placed in locked facilities, and less likely to receive treatment with psychotropic medications.