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Everyday Ageism

Excellent article on ageism and the effects of peceptions of age in this week's New Scientist (18th May)

(32 Posts)
fancythat Thu 16-May-24 16:56:18

But I do take your point.
I once went around a show with two elderly sisters. One was very postitive and interested in everything.
The other younger sister was known to be negative, and showed it.
You can guess who died at a younger age.
Though to be fair, the younger sister took the death of her husband, much harder than the other sister.

fancythat Thu 16-May-24 16:53:50

I thought yikes, 30% of people over 90 have dementia. Never knew it was anywhere near that high.
Thankfully I think I only know 1 person over 90 who has it. Out of at least 10.

keepcalmandcavachon Thu 16-May-24 16:49:51

Hear hear MOnica, I wonder if the research found that those who thought this way about old age remained negative as they aged? There is such a profound difference in the way people view quite similar experiences- glass half full/empty etc.
Like Chocolatelovingran I also know plenty of vibrant older folk. We have a lot to give!

keepingquiet Thu 16-May-24 16:29:15

Someone recently spoke about 'growing' old as opposed to 'getting' old. One is passive, the other active.

Sometimes I think about how old I am in years and think that can't possibly be right. I'm still 19!

Chocolatelovinggran Thu 16-May-24 16:22:53

Interesting M0nica, thank you. The data is encouraging and I am pleased to say that I see many older, active, positive role models in church, in my social groups, and in my volunteering.

Ilovecheese Thu 16-May-24 15:39:04

That is a very interesting statistic about dementia.

M0nica Thu 16-May-24 15:36:46

It shows that people with positive age beliefs live an average of seven and a half years longer than those with negative attitudes. Research has shown that if we have negative beliefs about old age when we are young, as we age we are more likely to have heart disease, more like to have extended stays in hospital and more likely to have memory and hearing problems

It points out that only 1 in 10 people over 65 get dementia, and even in your 90s the figure is only 30%.

It also shows, depressingly, that children as young as 4 think of old people as being frail and absent minded.

So lets all fight ageism when we meet it, and not shrug our shouldes and say, who cares? Every time you object to ageism you culd add months of healthy life to your life span.