Title: Stereotypes about ageing | The Good Care Group
Headings: Challenging negative stereotypes about ageing
Challenging negative stereotypes about ageing
Stereotypes about ageing: Perception vs reality
Why it is important to overcome negative stereotypes about ageing

Content: Stereotypes about ageing: Perception vs reality
Some age-related stereotypes are positive, such as the kindly grandparent or wise matriarch. However, in Western culture especially, most of these stereotypes are negative. Getting older will undoubtedly result in physiological and social changes, but - as research published in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) indicates - many of these changes are significantly overplayed: Negative stereotype
Expectation of 18 - 64-year- olds
Experience of people aged 65+
Memory loss
57%
25%
Unable to drive
45%
14%
Serious illness
42%
21%
Sexually inactive
34%
21%
Depression or sadness
29%
20%
Not feeling needed
29%
9%
Loneliness
29%
17%
Trouble paying bills
24%
16%
Being a burden
24%
10%
Not only are these stereotypes significantly over-emphasised, there are many areas in which older people actually have a better quality of life than their younger counterparts: People tend to feel younger as they get older. 61% of 65 - 74-year-olds feel younger than they are, as well as 57% of people aged 75+. Mood, relationships, well-being, knowledge and certain forms of intelligence can also be enhanced by age. This research demonstrates how negative stereotypes about ageing aren't only held by young people, but also people in middle and later life. Why it is important to overcome negative stereotypes about ageing
According to numerous studies, perceiving ageing in terms of just disability or decline leads to poorer physical health outcomes.