Society today is all about the young and the beautiful. We tend to forget about the beauty of the old. We stick them in a category all to themselves. A category filled with myths and stereotypes. As a whole we must redefine the aging process. The elderly has endured a lot of challenges and many have reaped the benefits of perseverance. Lets start redefining what we believe aging is Today!
1.All older adults are ill, disabled, and physically unattractive.
People are actually afraid of getting older. Yes it is true that with aging comes some problems but that does not mean that the elderly are unable to have a happy healthy and beautiful life. Despite limitations in ability of daily living, older adults are still able to have an amazing robust life.
2.All older adults are forgetful, confused, and senile and they can not learn new information.
Most older adults have very good memory and they are life long learners. Many still want to learn new things. Although hearing and vision problems may arise their tolerance for learning do not decrease. Using teaching methods that compensate for sensory changes (hearing and seeing changes) can facilitate learning for older adults.
3.Older adults shut themselves out from the outside world.
This is not the case for many older adults. You have seen the television shows where the older adult is sitting just watching TV all day long or maybe taking a long nap. This is the type of stereotype that is just not true. Many older adults like to get out and stay active in there community. Whether it is going to church and participating in different programs or working well on into their 60’s. Whether by choice or by necessity older adults are far from sitting at a tv all day or taking naps. They are engaging in activities and living very productive lives.
4.Older adults are less valuable to society.
This stereotype is further from the truth. Older adults are big accents to society. They are more reliable and have a stronger work ethic than many of the younger generations. Many volunteer in their community providing their own skills and expertise to the trade. They have an important role as grandparents especially when their children are away at work.
“Ageism is discrimination against people because of increasing age”
Ageism is a serious issue in today’s society. Society value attractiveness, youth, and energy and we tend to undervalue the older adult. Ageism can limit older adults access to health care and distort caregivers understanding that every older adult is unique. When you allow yourself to have misconceptions this can lead to the older adult thinking the same misconception. Older adults who have a positive image about aging lives a lot longer than someone who has a negative image. Redefining the aging process will not only help you understand but also help the older adult understand that they are great accents to society!
At Senior Lifestyle Concierge ageism is not and will not ever be a part of our care. We take every older adult and we care for their own unique skills and abilities.
Contact us at (540)523-1150 if you want adequate care for your loved ones. We are an advocate of older adults and we provide great care for every unique person!
