Ageist thinking has been a staple of American culture for hundreds of years.
How many times have we heard these sentiments being touted as facts? Being old is a bad thing; older adults aren’t fit for work; older adults need protecting; older people are slow and stuck in the past; and older people have less value than younger people.
With increases in life expectancy, it is an important time to move beyond ageist thinking. According to 2021 data, more than 55.8 million adults ages 65 and older live in the U.S., accounting for about 16.8% of the nation's population.
By 2040, that proportion is projected to grow to 22%.
To move us in the right direction, identifying role models of successful aging may encourage us to have more positive views on aging and inspire us as we grow older.