Myths

A reporter approached me with three questions related to agism, the following were my answers back to her…

1. What are the most common myths about aging, and can they be harmful?

Common myths:

• Myth 1: Older adults are all the same.Truth: Aging is highly individual—some people remain active and sharp well into their 80s or 90s. I have found that perspective around ones age is key, if you think you are old you often behave that way.

• Myth 2: Cognitive decline is inevitable.Truth: While some cognitive changes can occur, serious decline (like dementia) is not a guaranteed part of aging. At 96 my mother was sharp as a tack, very much into politics and able to cook and  thrive.

• Myth 3: Older people can't learn new things.Truth: Lifelong learning is very possible; older adults can pick up new skills, tech, or even start new careers. I once had an 80 year old client who was job seeking and he was so vibrant that he found a job in a short period of time and the organization was thrilled to have him.

• Myth 4: Aging equals poor health.Truth: Many older adults live healthy, active lives with proper care and lifestyle. Food and movement are the best medicine out there to stave off aging and disease.

• Myth 5: Older people are a burden.Truth: They contribute significantly to society—volunteering, caregiving, mentoring, and sharing wisdom. I also worked with an organization that was concerned that their engineers who were retiring would be an asset to lose to mentor the new engineers coming into the business.

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Why they’re harmful: These myths can lead to age discrimination, social isolation, decreased opportunities, and poor healthcare decisions. Believing these myths can even affect how older adults view themselves, leading to worse physical and mental outcomes.

2. Why do so many inaccurate stereotypes about old age persist?

• Media representation often portrays older people as frail, grumpy, or technologically inept.

• Lack of intergenerational contact means younger people don’t see the full spectrum of aging. Reverse mentoring can be a great way to squash this myth.

• Cultural obsession with youth makes aging seem like a decline rather than a natural part of life.

• Fear of aging and mortality can cause people to project negative ideas onto older adults as a form of denial. Talking about death and dying  with your family can  be helpful. My mother and I planned her funeral and went to the mortuary to pick out what she wanted. Having this conversation was very helpful and when she did die, it was easy to handle all the details since it had been preplanned.

• Historical stereotypes are hard to shake and often go unchallenged in everyday conversations. Studying and acknowledging cultures that value their elders can be useful to overcome this myth.

3. How can we challenge and overcome ageist stereotypes?

• Promote positive stories of aging—highlight older individuals doing inspiring, unexpected things.

• Encourage intergenerational interactions through community programs, mentoring, or family activities.

• Educate people on the facts about aging through schools, workplaces, and media campaigns.

• Call out ageist language and behavior when you see or hear it—whether in jokes, workplace settings, or advertising. I let my hair go gray and it is always interesting to see how I am treated. Sometimes there are assumptions made that I am older and incapable, other times mostly women celebrate the fact that I was bold enough to show my natural hair and often tell me that women pay money to get this look!

• Include older voices in decision-making and leadership—representation matters.

• Support policies that prevent age discrimination and promote lifelong learning and inclusion.