Many years ago, you did not know what it is to be old.
Oh, you knew someday you will be. But you chose to put it in the backburner; ignored it because it evoked a lot of scary images in your mind. The stories you’ve heard about old people, the movies you saw and the mold society has put old people into were agonizing to dwell on.
And the years went by like a speeding locomotive. And you survived. Now you have arrived – you are old. Or, to make it sound respectable, an elderly.
How does it feel? It’s not as bad as you thought, isn’t it? It’s pretty much like going to the dentist – full of anguish. But when it is over, you give a short, “Aahhh, what a relief.”
As bizarre it may be to the younger generations, to be old – in one piece and healthy – is a relief. In fact, old age is worth celebrating.
Oh, the things that scared you before are still there, i.e., society’s perceptions or “myths,” of being old, and the patronizing stories persist. Hollywood still depicts elderly people in an unfavorable light.
But now you know better. Your own experience tells that those are nothing but mirages resulting from society’s compulsion to classify or categorize people.
Now you know that these are nothing but myths.
Here are a few examples:
Myth 1: Elderly people are grumpy
Reality: Grumpiness is not confined to the elderly. People of all ages can be grumpy some days.
Elderly people tend to be relatively content and patient, according to some research. After retirement, some people adopt lifestyle changes that mellow them down a bit.
“Older people tend to be happier than the general population,” says Heidi White, M.D., a professor of medicine in the geriatrics division of Duke University School of Medicine.
Myth 2: They sleep less
Reality: While children and adolescents need more sleep than adults, older people need seven to eight hours of sleep per night to function normally the following day.
Because of age-related problems like chronic illnesses, money and relationship issues, they may have a hard time falling asleep. A study of people aged 65 and above shows that 13 percent of men and 36 percent of women take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep.
But the study didn’t tell if they take day naps – which they most certainly do.
Science says that sleeping less is not a normal part of aging. Those who have must see a sleep doctor. There may be underlying causes to it, not because they are old.
Myth 3: Exercise is not safe for the elderly
Reality: Nothing is farther than the truth – unless you are into extreme sports.
Exercise is a must for the elderly. Whatever risks there are, which are very minimal, is worth taking compared to the consequences of not exercising at all.
Besides, there exercise routines for the elderly that can be done at home, in a park, or around your safe neighborhood streets. Some malls these days set aside some space for Zumba exercise on certain days of the week. It’s good business and a form of corporate social responsibility.
Exercise reduces the risk of a stroke or heart attack, prevents falls, improves bone density, reduces the risk of developing dementia, and it makes you live longer.
Before, I exercised for fun. Now, it is a must. It’s the cheapest way to keep the doctors away.
Myth 4: Elderly people are sexless
Reality: Truth be told, being sexless is not confined to the elderly. About a quarter of young adults suffer from it too.
But that is not the consoling part, is it?
What is, is that sex has no age limit and modern science has provided some fixes so can have a good dose of sex when the need arises.
There are now over-the-counter and prescription drugs intended to give excitement to a once sexless life. Erectile dysfunction can be treated and testosterone enhancers are under prescription.
All these, however, must be under the supervision of a physician especially for seniors with serious medical conditions that make vigorous cardiovascular activity risky.
Myth 5: Elderly people are lonely
Reality: There are roughly 47 million seniors in the U.S., 28% of them living alone. Many, especially those with advancing age have money problems and health issues. They also express feelings of loneliness and social isolation. But despite their problems, 90% prefer to live alone to maintain their independence.
Do these figures support the perception that elderly people are lonely? Not by any measure. In fact, they are as bouncy and full of life as any age group they even go online more often than younger people think as these infographics show:
What they do online? Very much the same thing as younger adults do…
And the things they surf show that they are far from lonely:
Myth 6: Elderly people can’t learn new tricks
Reality: Unless you have a mental health problem, you can still learn new tricks for as long as you care to.
The brain never stops learning. It continuously changes and reshapes to meet your needs. In fact, it is probably the most astonishing organ because it never stops adapting to the realities it is subjected to.
Like a muscle that needs constant flexing to remain supple and strong, the brain needs constant tweaking to keep it running and functioning.
And nobody proves this more than Leo Blass. In 2011 and at the age of 99, he earned an Associates’s Degree from Eastern Oregon University.
There was a rich old man whose hearing was failing. So, without telling his family, he had his doctor install a discreet hearing aid.
When he checked in with his doctor for the required follow-up check, his doctor asked him about his hearing. He told his doctor that it’s quite ok. But since he had his hearing aid installed, he has changed his will six times.
These myths shall stay no matter what you do to prove them wrong. People love myths. So what you can do is to leave them be. They don’t make you lose sleep if you do. Besides, you can use them in a similar way as the deaf, but a rich, old man did.
~oOo~
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