I knew this myth about us older folks existed, but it surprised me how prevalent it is. We know from decades of research that exercise can and should be a lifetime, life-long activity. It “de-ages” us, if you will, and holds the decline of aging at bay. Exercise is one of the easiest, drug-free ways […]

Older Adults Don’t Remember Anything Many younger people, even some middle-aged folks believe that older adults have no ability to recall much of anything. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, studies in the last two decades—as the first wave baby boomers reached sixty– blow up this myth. While our short-term memory—what to […]

“Only old people are aging.” I want you to think about this belief for a moment. The acceptance of this myth is so pervasive, it took me a few minutes of quiet thinking to see the ageism inherent in it. Do you think of a five year old as aging? In your twenties or thirties […]

WELL…NOW…LET’S…LOOK…AT…THIS…STEREOTYPE. Sadly, a term even exists for the adoption of slower and simpler speech patterns when talking to a senior: Elderspeak. The American Psychology Association defines elderspeak as: Adjustments in speech patterns, such as speaking more slowly or more loudly, shortening sentences or using limited or less complex vocabulary that are sometimes made by younger […]

I find this one of the most confounding ideas of ageism I have ever come across. Authors Bruce E. Blaine and Kimberly J. McClure Brenchley, in their book, The Psychology of Diversity, note that unlike other minorities—racial, LGBT, women– older people acquire their membership as a senior citizen with no gradual induction into this particular […]

As I read an article about quilting artists in my Craft Magazine, I could feel my heartbeats speeding up, my hackles rising. I was appalled at how the author put her prejudice against older artists so blatantly on display. How could someone think that artistic expression, fine craftsmanship, and intricate needlework are limited to the […]

 “Only 12% of all older adults are aging successfully.” Dr. Bruce Blaine and Dr. Kimberly J. McClure Brenchley, Understanding The Psychology of Diversity (2007, 2017) My blood pressure has gone up at least 10 points as I write this response to the misguided people who wrote this myth originally in 1986, (John Rowe and Robert […]

This is a great myth to bust, especially since our youth-obsessed culture and every media outlet would lead us to believe that seniors despite their ages, only loved their bodies when they were young. However, the results of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index poll, gives us a more accurate view of reality. After interviewing 85,145 American […]