48 Times Elderly People Proved That They’re The Funniest (New Pics)

Somehow, along the way, our culture led us to believe that getting old is something to be avoided at all costs. There are many inaccurate stereotypes surrounding old age that negatively affect the generations before us, and they’re so ingrained in our culture that we often don’t even notice them. 

A few that Dr. Marianne Matzo, a certified advanced nurse practitioner specializing in gerontology and founder of a non-profit organization and podcast, Everyone Dies, mentions are:

1. Age brings illness and disability.
2. Aging means a reduction in mental sharpness.
3. People become rigid and narrow-minded with age.
4. Being old equals being sad, lonely, and nonproductive.

The previous statements are complete myths, as research and statistics paint a different picture about aging. "Over the past few decades, chronic diseases have become less common, and 3/4 of those 75-84 years old report no disability," explains Dr. Matzo.

"Age brings greater risk of disease, but how we age is determined by our lifestyle choices. Behavioral and socioeconomic risk factors such as physical activity, smoking status, education, and household income are associated with self-reported poor health and have important and complex relationships with each other and physical health status," she further explains.

When it comes to older adults' mental capabilities, research shows no drastic mental sharpness decline. Only 20% of older adults have Alzheimer’s Disease, and 50% have some cognitive decline, which is often limited to storing new information, notes Dr. Matzo.

They also don't become more rigid or narrow-minded with age, as many people tend to believe, since personality traits were found to remain relatively consistent. In addition, anthropologists believe that the “self” is ageless, while the elderly report little change in self-image with age, says Dr. Matzo.

In general, older people are happier and have higher life satisfaction than younger people. They also can be very productive, as 1/3 of elders are employed and volunteer regularly, and only 8-15% report feelings of loneliness, says Dr. Matzo.

However, according to her, the stereotypes that persist due to not taking the time or opportunity to get to know older adults, fear of growing old, and media presentations of elders (although that is changing in the USA with the aging of the baby boomers) are negatively affecting older people’s physical and mental well-being.