A Place For Mom recently did a survey to see what younger people think about ageing. The results are interesting. Some fear physical frailty while others look forward to having more time for hobbies, but which preconceptions are right, and which are wrong? They surveyed 2,000 people aged 16-34 then checked their beliefs against the evidence to find out. Young people did better on this half of the questions scoring 80%. So their total score was 6/10 which is not bad. How did you do?
#6“After the age of 60, people’s sex lives generally decline.”
52% of young people think this is true, sadly the research agrees. Coming from the generation that’s less sexually active than their parents and grandparents were when they were young, this one’s a little rich. Although true in essence – we do have less sex as we age – the decline isn’t all that sharp, with 52% of men and 42% of women aged 60-69 reporting having sexual intercourse in the past year in a national study. 57% of adults over 60 claimed to be sexually active in a 2011 study, while a 2018 poll found that 76% of those aged 65 or more believe that sex is an integral part of relationships at any age.
#7“ When people get old, they have less of a sense of adventure and are less inclined to travel.”
27% of young people think this is true, however, seniors are still adventurous and love to travel. As evidenced by AARP studies from recent years, Baby Boomers (aged 50+) were taking 4-5 trips a year, as many as Generation X (35 - 49). Other research suggests that, while perhaps less inclined to travel internationally, 50% of Baby Boomers take leisure trips within in the U.S., more than any other age group. There’s a great misconception that ageing is the same for everyone. There are significant individual differences in how people experience ageing, and this includes our desire to travel to far-flung destinations – something many people may not have possessed in the first place. Cultivating a sense of adventure is important and something most of us can and do incorporate into our lives in some way, regardless of our age. It doesn't have to mean scaling Everest – the key is curiosity and being open to new experiences. Some might love a safari or camping trip while taking a course or trying a new restaurant is an adventure for others.
#8“ People become an economic burden on society when they reach old age.”
12% of young people think this is true, while the majority agree with the research that says this is false. It appears that young people don’t subscribe to this old stereotype. And rightly so, as an Oxford Economics report found that the “longevity economy” is one of the most vital in the U.S. People over 50 are only 35% of the U.S. population, but contribute 43% of total U.S. GDP with their contribution amounting to $7.4 trillion annually.
#9“Dementia is an inevitable result of old age.”
22% of young people think this is true but only 47% know that this is false. Even though dementia can be very debilitating, a fresh study from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests it affects only 10.5% of adults aged 65 or over. An even more encouraging finding comes from a pan-European study that concluded the dementia rate in older people has dropped 23% in the past 20 years.
#10“As people grow old, they become less happy.”
55% of young people think this is false and the research agrees with them. Research suggests that old age isn’t associated with unhappiness. A study from Princeton University shows that after a certain decline in middle age, happiness and well-being start increasing again in the 50s and by 70 we are happier than we were in our 20s.
There are plenty of opportunities for social connection and to help others that can keep loneliness at bay. Intergenerational social interactions are particularly valuable, as spending time with people outside of your own age group can be mutually beneficial. You should also examine and challenge your own beliefs about ageing. Advances in medical research are leading to better ways to treat various conditions and enhance the quality of life so you might be surprised to learn that some of your ideas about ageing are outdated or inaccurate.
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