What is an example of unconscious & institutional discrimination in care of the eldery?
In any situation, unconscious discrimination is that which is carried out without thought or reason, but rather through habit or preconceived notions. People discriminating unconsciously will often react with surprise when their behavior is pointed out. An example in elder care might be a caregiver (technician, nurse, etc.) who offers to change a female patient’s television channel–automatically assuming she would not want to watch the Super Bowl. In this case, discrimination is not intentional. Institutional discrimination occurs when behavior in favor (or against) a protected class is written into the rules or regulations of a group. For example, in elder care insitutional discrimination occurs when a care center or institution has a written rule against hiring anyone over a certain age. Institutional discrimination is often illegal–unconscious discrimination is not, but employers may be held legally liable for the existence of either type in their organizations.
