Aging Myths, Stereotypes, and Ageism

 



Ageism is the most widely accepted form of prejudice worldwide and impacts both physical health and mental well-being. Ageism is discrimination of people based on their age. There are several forms of ageism. An example of self-directed ageism is stating aloud, “I’m having a senior moment.” Or, “I guess it’s just old age.” Hearing it come out of your own mouth reinforces ageism to yourself and those around you. Conscious and unconscious ageism are also prevalent. Examples are “Over the Hill” parties, greeting cards poking fun of old people, anti-aging creams promising a younger face, television commercials and shows depicting older people as frail or deaf, and old people jokes. All of those reinforce ageism and reinforce age-bias attitudes and marginalization.

“Greedy Geezers” are gobbling up resources at the expense of younger people. This is untrue. In 2012, Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson wanted to cut Social Security by pitting generations against each other for resources. Social Security is not means tested charity, workers pay into it and then, access it later. Another form of ageism is younger people grumbling about senior discounts.

MYTHS OF AGING ~ Examples

Older adults are sick, not productive, and less valuable to society.  This is untrue. The National Center for Productive Aging and Work:  One-fourth of the U.S. workforce is over 65. In 2001, only about 1 out of every 7 U.S. workers were 55 or older. By 2021, the number jumped to almost 1 out of every 4 workers, a 93% increase. Older workers are staying on the job longer or retiring from one job and transitioning into another. Older workers are healthier and many not interested in a life of leisure.

Older adults are focused on themselves. This is untrue, and the myth of becoming self-absorbed in old age is not based on fact. According to the Urban Institute, approximately 21% of older adults volunteer in their communities, which means that they care about their communities and environment.


Blog readers, below, test your knowledge of aging myths and stereotypes. Reducing ageism begins with knowing the facts. The internet is full of resources, but so many are unreliable and implement fear tactics and misinformation to sell products or books. I recently presented this topic to a group of participants at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Mississippi. It was an informative, lively, and robust discussion. AgeDoc

 

T or F         If you live long enough, you will probably get cancer. True. Cancer rates are rising due to better diagnostics and older adults living longer. Living longer means older adults are more likely to get cancer at some point due to gene mutations, exposure, and other factors. More sophisticated diagnostics means younger people whose cancers would have been missed are now diagnosed earlier, resulting in higher cure rates but higher incidence. No, there is not an "epidemic" of breast cancer, just better diagnostics. 

 

T or F         Most older adults relocate to sunny climates when they retire. False. Only 15% of older Americans move away from their home in retirement. States with the highest population of older adults are Maine, Florida, West Virginia, and Vermont.

 

T or F         Older adults need less sleep. False. They require the same amount as younger people, about 7-9 hours nightly. Their sleep quality diminishes with age, especially falling asleep and staying asleep.

 

T or F         Arthritis is inevitable. False. According to the NIH, only half of older people get arthritis. Factors include obesity, wear and tear, genetics, and joint injuries.

 

T or F         Older people are lonely, isolated, and depressed. False. It is a myth that all older people are depressed. However, many struggle with unresolved, cumulative grief. Ongoing depression, anxiety, sadness, and loneliness are not normal aging, and may lead to health declines.

 

T or F         Aging is a disease that can be prevented. False. Aging is common across ALL species and is not a disease that can be cured. Products and programs promoting anti-aging are not science, but pseudo-science.

 

T or F         Older people are unable to make health decisions. False. Older adults have autonomy and mental capacity is assumed unless they are impaired cognitively.  Capacity is a legal term that means, "the ability to make decisions and/or perform tasks." “The ‘assumption of capacity’ is the overriding principle of capacity assessment. This states that a person is deemed to have capacity unless it is proved that they have an impairment or disturbance of mental functioning (such as an intellectual disability, dementia or other cognitive impairment, acquired brain injury or mental illness)." Cambridge University Press, 2023. 

 

T or F         Personality changes are inevitable. False. Older people do not become grumpy or mean in old age. Personality remains largely the same after age thirty. However, when older adults are in pain or suffering from disabilities and injuries, they might get a little testy! 

 

T or F         Exercise is dangerous for older adults. False. Exercise is not only beneficial for older adults, but the cornerstone of optimum health and retaining independence. Even older people with limitations and health conditions benefit from engaging in stretching, balance, and relaxation exercises. Yoga and tai-chi may help reduce stress. Gardening, walking the dog, and dancing are exercise! There is also a social component to group exercises, a benefit of staying fit in groups and classes.

 

T or F         Older adults don’t have sex and those who do are deviant. False. Sex is normal for consenting adults including older adults. The number one reason more older adults don’t engage in sex is lack of an available partner. According to the NIH, “Many older couples find greater satisfaction in their sex lives than they did when they were younger. They may have fewer distractions, more time and privacy, and no worries about getting pregnant.” However, HIV and AIDS are increasing among older adults due to having intercourse without using latex and polyurethane condoms. According to the CDC, 53% of new HIV cases are people over the age of fifty.

 

T or F         Memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s are normal aging. False. Cognitive slowing and delayed recall are NORMAL aging. Any type of memory LOSS is a red flag. Forgetting a major recent event such as a wedding or birthday celebration is a red flag. Don't ignore memory loss. There are over twenty types of conditions that mimic dementia that are treatable and reversible. 

 

T or F         Intelligence declines with age. False. IQ does not change with age. Recall is delayed and it may seem that intelligence has declined, but it remains the same over the lifespan.

 

T or F         Older people are at risk for sexually transmitted diseases.  True. As discussed previously, worries about pregnancy often result in partners having sex without latex and polyurethane condoms, and that is dangerous. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “rates of the three most serious STDs—chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis—all have risen in the senior population over the past five years. Many factors may be contributing to this trend, and seniors need to know their risk so they can take steps to prevent infection.

 

T or F         Most old people live in nursing homes. False. Only 2.3 of people aged 65+ live in nursing homes. This means that almost 98% do not.

 

T or F         Elder abuse is rampant in the U.S. False.  About 10% of older adults are victims of elder abuse and maltreatment. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, it is “an intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult.” However, the number one form of elder abuse is self-neglect. Other forms are physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, and neglect. 

        

T or F         Older adults have the highest suicide rate in the U.S. True. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. In November 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in the age-adjusted suicide rate since 2021. The report details that in 2021 and 2022, people ages 75 and older had the highest suicide rate among all age groups, largely driven by males. It may be higher, as the statistics do not include one-car vehicle crash deaths among older males.

 

T or F         Families have largely abandoned their older seniors. False. The majority of caregiving is provided by family members, typically wives, husbands, daughters, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. According to estimates from the National Alliance for Caregiving, “during the past year, 65.7 million Americans (or 29 percent of the adult U.S. adult population involving 31 percent of all U.S. households) served as family caregivers for an ill or disabled relative.”

 

T or F         Older adults cannot learn new things. False. Just ask an OLLI participant! The older brain is capable of learning new information, even technology. To keep the brain neurons firing, try learning a new skill or hobby.  

 

T or F         All older people are wise. False. While it may be assumed that gray hair means wisdom, this is not the case, according to research. Older people have more accumulated experiences to draw upon, but they are also capable of making poor decisions.

 

T or F         Older people are unsafe drivers and should not be driving. False. There is no set age when people should retire from driving, and numerous variables beyond chronological age. Chronic conditions, mental decline, medications, and finances factor into the decision to stop driving. According to the CDC, drivers over age 70 have higher crash death rates than middle-aged drivers (35-54).

 

T or F         The majority of older workers have experienced age discrimination. False. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 26 %of U.S. workers aged 50 and older say they have been the target of age-related remarks in the workplace over the past six months. Among U.S. workers aged 50 and older, 1 in 10 say in the past six months they have often or always felt less valuable at work compared to younger workers. Nearly 1 in 5 HR professionals (17 %) say they have received reports of perceived ageism in their workplace. Conversely, companies often find that older workers bring a lot to the table: experience, know-how, reliability, work ethic, professionalism, and loyalty, among other good qualities. This can help the company run more efficiently and even save money.

Resources:

Cambridge University Press

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Human Rights Watch

Mayo Clinic

National Alliance for Caregiving

National Council on Aging (NCOA)

National Council on Elder Abuse

National Institutes on Health (NIH)

Pew Research Institute

Society of Human Resource Management

The National Center for Productive Aging and Work

U.S. Census Bureau

University of Massachusetts, Boston

University of Southern California, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology

 

 

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