While many may have assumptions about the elderly, there are plenty of myths about aging that simply are not true. Making blanket statements about an entire population can be harmful, so let’s set the record straight. Here are six of the most common myths about aging debunked.
The Elderly Have an Outdated Way of Thinking
Everyone is different. Regardless of age, every individual has their own unique perspective on society. Grouping all older adults to have the same belief is an unfair blanket statement. If you take time out to speak to them about their thoughts and experiences of the world, you might be surprised by their words.
You Lose Your Memory as You Age
While all of our memories are going to decline as we age, such is a fact of life, not all elderly are afflicted with memory loss diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. Many factors such as diet, exercise, and lifestyle can impact your memory down the line and in fact, only less than 10 percent of the population above 65 years old suffer from dementia.
Genetic Health Conditions Cannot Be Avoided
Though genetics play a part in an individual’s health, there are other factors, such as the environment that determine whether predisposed genetic conditions reveal themselves. Taking precautions and knowing the genetic conditions you might be inclined to experience can be helpful as you can start taking your health into your own hands, working to counteract or reduce the possibility of them surfacing. As aforementioned, diet, exercise, and even sleep can contribute to graceful aging.
Growing Old Means Being Less Productive
Retirement certainly does not mean sitting about and lazing about. While certain older adults have health concerns that restrict them from doing as much, there are plenty of retirees that live their lives to the fullest. They enjoy active lives, engaging in meaningful activities with friends like volunteering and caring for their grandchildren. Especially in a retirement community, older adults can benefit from the community’s amenities such as libraries, art and craft rooms, gyms, and more!
The Elderly Are Lonely
While it is true that older adults living at home alone experience higher rates of loneliness, aging is not synonymous with loneliness. Retirees who have chosen to make the move into retirement communities are surrounded by supportive and loving individuals, be it their neighbors or the team members that assist them with their daily needs. Our retirement community features a full calendar of social activities daily so that our residents can interact with their community, form meaningful connections and feel at home. Especially in their golden years when they have the luxury of time, many of our retirees have very busy social calendars!
Creativity Decreases with Age
Many older adults pick up new skills and hobbies in their retirement years that they did not have the time to take part in before. A popular creative endeavor among the elderly is knitting, painting, and woodwork and there have been many retirees who have turned their hobbies into a second career or simply to generate some extra income.
