Older Americans are a lot more apprehensive about health reform than younger ones, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released this week. That's highly understandable given all the outrageous rhetoric out there trying to convince people that health reform would be tantamount to Henry VI shouting, "First, kill all the Grannies."

Overall, the poll showed that support for President Obama's health reform has actually held pretty stable -- despite the stepped up and shrill campaign against it.  In late June, 51 percent backed Obama on health care, 45 opposed. A month later, it was 50 percent in favor, and a stable 45 opposed. And a large majority -- 77 percent -- agreed it was necessary to make "major structural changes" to U.S. health system to make sure everyone has health insurance, and a similar number -- 74 percent -- said major structural changes were necessary to reduce costs. 

But the poll also found that a majority of those over age 50 opposed the president's approach, while a majority under 50 approved. 

We have written on the rhetoric surrounding end of life care -- in fact, we were among the first blogs to pick up on that emerging theme from the right. The AARP has also been doing its part to reassure older people.  Health reform, particularly the provisions in the House bill that will pay a doctor to spend the time it takes to have a careful and sensitive discussion with an older person about goals of care, won't take away choices, the AARP said. To the contrary, it "would actually help empower individuals and doctors to make their own choices on end-of-life care."

As AARP executive vice president John Rother said recently: 

Facing a terminal disease or debilitating accident, some people will choose to take every possible life-saving measure in the hopes that treatment or even a cure will allow them more time with their families. Others will decide that additional treatment would impose too great a burden -- emotional, physical and otherwise -- on themselves and their families, declining extraordinary measures and instead choosing care to manage their discomfort. Either way, it should be their choice.

This measure would not only help people make the best decisions for themselves, but also better ensure that their wishes are followed.

To suggest otherwise is a gross, and even cruel, distortion -- especially for any family that has been forced to make the difficult decisions on care for loved ones approaching the end of their lives.