Stereotypes of the elderly

Stereotypes of the elderly

The reading and videos this week made me reflect on the stereotypes we have for the elderly.  Some further research revealed that there are more negative then positive assumptions that we force upon our older friends. The top 10 over a compilation of three websites came out to the following:Most elderly live in nursing homes and are weak or helplessOld age begins at 60.

Once you’re old you become grouchy, boring and forgetful.

Sickness, deterioration and disability is inevitable

“ You can’t teach an old dog new tricks “

They have no sex drive or interest in intimacy

Are incapable of being productive/Efficient at jobs or in daily activities

Need consulting about important issues because they are incapable of making them

Have little to give to society and future generations

Most elderly consider themselves to be unhealthy and ill

I find it sad that this is what most of society considers when they think of their grandparents or neighbors. Do the elderly become what we think of them? In order words, because we think that everyone over 60 has memory issues, will they also all believe that they HAVE memory issues? What would happen if we started to enforce more positive ideas and stereotypes towards those in an older generation? Would they then, begin to believe in themselves and dismiss the negative stereotypes like those stating they have no interest in being intimate?

An interesting article I found states that indeed, older people become what they think they are. Our Age stereotypes are bringing them down. That being said, the article goes on to further state our lack of support and how it is creating a generation of older adults who think they are lonely and worthless.  Dr. Kotter Gruhen says ““ Also generations need to be brought together so that “people can experience what it means to be an older person” and stereotypes can be dispelled, “. By doing this, we should start a trend of breaking age stereotypes. “

I find this quote to be very eye opening and true. Many of these stereotypes are only applicable because we allow them to be. By creating a stereotype of aging, we automatically assign everyone over 60 to be an irritated, forgetful, depressed and ultimately unhappy human.

Here is a video of people that are in that age group. Pretty sure they are the opposite of all of the above!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acVUPpd1OX4

References:

http://books.google.com/books?id=UvxEoFQ0LYwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=old+people+stereotypes&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ehTPU_OYBpGDjAKYx4GoDw&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=old%20people%20stereotypes&f=false

http://the-senior-citizen-times.com/2011/11/23/top-20-stereotypes-of-older-people/

http://seniorplanet.org/7-myths-about-old-people/

http://www.who.int/world-health-day/2012/toolkit/background/en/index3.html

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/older-people-are-what-they-think-study-shows/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0