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.

They can create a deep sense of self-doubt and an overall more negative self-image in older people. They might start to convince themselves that their best years are behind them and that they’re becoming a burden to their family. Older people may also begin blaming their sedentary lifestyle habits or forgetting something on their age. Such thinking only reinforces existing stereotypes and stops older people from doing the things they’re perfectly capable of doing. 

Due to persisting myths, older people also tend to receive less care, attention, and treatment from healthcare staff, based on the idea that health issues are a common experience in older age. This results in lower levels of health and other issues like memory impairment and a lower will to live.

In general, ageism hinders people’s physical and mental health, increasing their care needs and reducing their quality of life as they get older. In addition, it encourages them to take up risk-taking behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, and an unhealthy diet.

Given the negative effects of ageism, age-related stereotypes and age bias in our society should be challenged. The most effective way to do that is to spread awareness about aging and increase intergenerational contact, says Dr. Matzo.

"Talk to older adults to learn about their lives, challenge stereotypes when you encounter them, know that, unlike other stereotypes you might hold, if you are fortunate enough to get to old age, the ageist stereotypes will be about you, so don’t lament growing old—it’s a gift not everyone is given," she says.

It can also be beneficial to challenge ageism by helping to change older adults’ outlook toward their own aging process, as aging successfully majorly depends on the person. Everyone has the opportunity to shape their aging process by choosing what they eat and drink, how physically active they are, and how they manage stress.

"Change in habits adds years," says Dr. Matzo. "Cardiovascular fitness is up 10 - 30% with aerobics, and strength of 80-90-year-olds triples with bodybuilding, while exercise cuts death rate 25-50% and osteoporosis lessens with strengthening exercises."