5 Stereotypes to Dispel

Grumpy, feeble, geezers! It’s not just wrong; it’s unhealthy.  A study published in Psychological Science showed that believing negative stereotypes (like the perception that all aging adults are weak) can harm a person’s own health as they age.

The Yale School of Public Health surveyed 400 people, age 18 to 49, on age stereotypes. Thirty years later, 25% who held negative stereotypical views had suffered a heart problem or stroke – compared to only 13% of those who had held more positive views.

So, what are some commonly-held negative stereotypes?

False: The aging are less intelligent.
True: Studies show that aging individuals actually score higher on untimed intelligence tests.

False: The aging are forgetful.
True: The aging take more time to remember. (This stereotype is actually taken more to heart by the aging than by younger groups. The less an aging person buys into this stereotype, the better he is at memory recall.)

False: The aging are all the same.
True: Personalities and preferences remain intact as a person ages. If you’re grumpy when you are twenty, it’s likely you’ll be a grumpy old geezer. Marked personality changes are not due to normal aging, but to diseases like dementia or the effects from a stroke.

False: The aging are hard of hearing.
True: Some hearing loss is common with age. Still, only 35% of 80-year-olds actually need hearing aids and some in their 90s still have perfect hearing.

False: The aging are spiritually mature.
True: Many people do seek spiritual growth as they age, but some do not. Like other choices, being spiritually aware (or not) remains throughout life. Aging adults are receptive to the Gospel message -- opportunities to evangelize aging adults is great.

To learn more about the aging, click here.

To learn about new life through Christ, click here.