(Updated: 27 March 2023)
Aging isn’t always graceful, but that doesn’t mean the misconceptions about elderly people are true. In fact, anyone in their sixties still feels that they have so much more life to live and new experiences to discover. This is why you should not buy into the misinformation that hampers how you enjoy your golden years.
We may think we know what aging entails, but the reality is that post-retirement life is as individual and unique as any working life. Today’s senior population can be seen as a very different bunch when compared to past generations as they are more educated, tech savvy, connected, and able to still contribute to their community. This being said, our seniors are a far cry from the frail, forgetful, and helpless figures we see depicted in movies and TV series.
Let us take a closer look at these 7 common misconceptions about aging that may be influencing how we see our retirement life now or in the future:
1. Being a senior is lonely and isolated.
Humans are naturally social creatures, who thrive amongst community. Our need to connect and establish meaningful relationships does not diminish with age. However, there may be physical or mental barriers that arise with age, that make connecting with someone a little more challenging.
Seniors able to maintain strong social relationships can often reap numerous rewards such as overcoming intellectual challenges, improving communication skills, maintaining information processing skills, and improving mental health etc. Thanks to the advancements in technology and the overall progress of retirement communities, seniors can easily stay connected with family or friends, whilst establishing new bonds through various social events and activities.
2. Your health will always be determined by family history.
This is a very common misconception that cannot be farther from the truth. Although genetics can have a small impact on your health outcomes, environmental and lifestyle factors play a much larger role in determining your overall wellbeing. For example, your health is more likely to be influenced by factors such as whether or not you regularly exercise, have a balanced diet, proper sleeping cycle, do not smoke or drink, and if you take proper care of your mental health.
However, if you are concerned about your family’s medical history affecting your current or future health, we recommend that you consult with a medical professional.
3. Seniors are weak or frail.
Muscle tone and strength naturally decline over time, and loss of function is anticipated as we age, however, much can be done to combat or slow down the physical and mental aging process. Staying active, exercising regularly, and having a healthy diet can help seniors build muscle, develop flexibility, improve bone density, assist in weight control, and possible help manage some chronic conditions well-into your older years.
Activities like yoga, swimming, daily walks, gardening and even household chores can all help keep you fit and in tiptop shape. This can include decreasing your blood pressure and incredible benefits for your mental health, such as preventing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or senility.
4. All old people are senile.
As we get older, we experience some forms of mild-forgetfulness like misplacing your car keys, or forgetting about an appointment, but this is a far cry from becoming senile or suffering from dementia. Keeping your wherewithal and maintaining your mental capacity is more than a possibility.
Symptoms of age-related mental decline, like all other symptoms of aging, can be thwarted by a variety of mental and physical activities. For example, reading, learning new skills, keeping up with old skills, playing mentally challenging games can all help towards keeping your mental acuity even into your senior years. Nevertheless, you should talk with a doctor if you have serious concerns about your memory and thinking or notice changes in your behavior and personality.
5. Older people struggle to learn new skills.
This is simply not true, seniors still have the ability to learn new skills, create new memories, and improve existing skillsets that they’ve acquired over a lifetime of experiences. In fact, trying and learning new skills may even improve cognitive abilities as this study from NIH shows.
We develop, grow and craft our ability to learn new skills over many decades and these tools and information-gathering abilities continue to serve us as we grow older. By seeking new social connections and engaging in social activities such as book clubs, bird watching, photography classes, knitting classes etc. can keep your brain active and may help boost your cognitive health.
6. Old people are terrified of technology.
There is seemingly endless rhetoric about old people being confused, intimidated or, possibly, terrified by new technology. This could not be further from the truth, with todays’ seniors being more tech savvy than previous generations, our older population are continuing to explore new technology every single day.
With incredible advancements in technology such as smart devices, video calls, instant messaging, seniors have utilized this technology to stay in-touch with family and friends despite potential growth in physical distance. Seniors have also utilized this newer technology to hone new skills or maintain part time work to keep their minds active or perhaps earn additional income.
7. Seniors should not be part of making important life decisions.
A common – and dangerous – misconception is that with age seniors will begin to lose their ability to think clearly and their interest in life-altering decisions. This goes as far as to assume that they cannot track current events or even some events in their own orbit. This is wrong.
Involving seniors in the decision-making process is a critical means of keeping them engaged, happy, secure, and fulfilled. Important decisions regarding their personal healthcare and finances or selling their home and moving into a retirement community should always include the person who if affects most and who has the most to gain from making good life decisions.
Conclusion
For years, Lonehill Manor has avoided these misconceptions and have treated all of our residents with the respect and dignity that they have earned and deserve in their post-work life.
Our retirement estate fosters respect, trust, and mutually beneficial relationships with our residents and their families. We provide supportive and engaging communities that help so many thrive in their retirement. If you are looking for a place to call home in your retirement years, contact us at Lonehill Manor for more information.