And the Winners are……
The AARP study of how Americans feel about aging had some interesting results – some as expected and others a a little surprising. How close did you come to the answers obtained in this study?
1. How old is old?
People in their 40’s said 63
People in their 50’s said 68
People in their 60’s said 73
People in their 70’s said 75
85% of the people being surveyed (in ages from 40 to 90 said they were NOT old yet. The 90 year old said she would be old at 95.)
Both Men and Women said a man is “old” at 70.
Men said women were old at 68 and women said women were not old until 75.
2. ” Problems with my physical health do not hold me back from doing what I want.”
% of people in each age group who agree with this statement:
in their 40’s = 58%
in their 50’s = 63%
in their 60’s = 69%
in their 70’s = 69%
3. “Growing old has been easier than I thought.”
% in each age group who agree:
in their 40’s = 39%
in their 50’s = 48%
in their 60’s = 59%
in their 70’s = 55%
4. ” I have more energy now than I expected for my age.”
% in each age group who agree:
in their 40’s = 24%
in their 50’s = 47%
in their 60’s = 54%
in their 70’s = 64%
5. “As people age, they deserve more respect from others .”
People in their 40’s who agreed: 60%
People in their 60’s who agreed: 46%
6. ” It’s OK to make jokes about people who are old”
% in each age group who agree:
in their 40’s =28% (what? they think we have no sense of humor about getting old?)
in their 50’s = 29%
in their 60’s = 35%
in their 70’s = 43%
7. ” I feel respected when a younger person offers help.”
% in each age group who agree:
in their 40’s = 21%
in their 50’s = 48% (starting to get smarter……?)
in their 60’s = 48%
in their 70’s = 61%
The following answers were broken down by culture rather than age with an average for all ages.
” There are many pleasant things about growing older.”
African Americans = 79%
Hispanics = 72%
Caucasians = 69%
Asian Americans = 63%
“I believe my life has made a difference”
African Americans: 78%
Hispanics : 67%
Caucasians: 66%
Asian Americans: 62%
“Old age is a time of loneliness.”
African Americans = 14%
Hispanics: = 16%
Caucasians: = 19%
Asian Americans = 24%
How did your answers compare to the average in your age group?
My answers were not as positive.
Old to me is probably always going to be at least 20 years older than what I am until I reach 85. Right now “old” to me is 90 because I see so many people who are active and vibrant in their 80’s. I have no doubt I will be one of the in 20+ years……………
(Men, however do seem to get old earlier so I’d have to back the number down to 80 for men)
Physical problems holding me back from not doing what I want ?- YES ! I still want to run like I did in my 40’s and 50’s, play tennis like I was 30 and be able to get up off the floor in a single fluid movement instead of like a crab just washed up on the beach.
Growing older has NOT been easier than I thought it would. In fact it’s been much more difficult. I am NOT going gently into my current decade.
I DO NOT have more energy now than I expected to have at this age. In fact I get up and look for more every morning and can’t seem to figure out where someone has hidden it!
My feelings about respect at any age is it has to be earned and age is NOT a criteria. Just because I’ve lived a very long time does not automatically garner me respect if I am mean, nasty and act like a fool.
Is it ok to make jokes about people who are old? You can make jokes about anything and anyone as long as they aren’t mean and hurtful or meant to put someone down. It’s especially good to make jokes about a group you belong to. Keeping your sense of humor is essential to healthy mental aging.
Do I feel respected when a younger person offers to help? According to what they want to help with – if they want to clear the dishes off the table after a meal and wash them I will certainly feel respected and grateful. If they try to help me across the street or carry my groceries I’ll hit the with my cane………….(That’s a joke. I don’t HAVE a cane…yet.) If I need help I have no problem asking for it. I didn’t have a problem asking at 40 and I don’t now.
Many pleasant things about growing older? I’d have to say no to the adjective “many”. Are there some good things about it? Yes. Kids are grown. Grandkids are fun. There aren’t as many “have to’s ” as there are when you are younger.
Do I believe my life has made a difference? I hope so. If it hasn’t I hope I’ve raised two children to adulthood that will go on making a difference in some others’ lives by their kindness and love of people.
Old age can be a time of loneliness. I think you reap what you sew. I guess I will find out.
NOW – THE ENVELOPE PLEASE…….Oscar winners ages then and now.
Women Oscar winners 1954-1958 ? Average age was 33
2009-2013 ? Average age was 38
(Meryl Streep, 62, and Sandra Bullock, 45, skewed the figures)
The real difference?
Male Oscar winners 1954-1958 ? Average age was 36
Male Oscar winners 2009-2013 Average age was 50 !
All the Male Oscar winners between 2009 and 2013 were over 45 with only one under 40 (Jean Dujardin, 39). in 1954-1958 no male winner was over 43. All were in their 30’s
The numbers only tell part of the story. As a society, people in general are working to an older age, delaying retirement. Standards of living have changed, savings habits have changed and more people feel they need to work longer and cannot afford to retire in spite of the fact that more families have two adults working This is opposed to 1950 when families had mostly one income and the male was the “bread winner.”
Families are spread out. It is not as common to find multigenerational families living together now, as it was even in the mid 20th century. Sons and daughters are all over the country as opposed to living next door or the next farm over.
Improved treatment and eradication of major illnesses has extended our life span across the board. People are living longer and healthier lives.
Bottom line? It’s in your hands (and head) – how you age, how you feel about aging, what you leave behind. If we do it right we’ll get there with as little pain and suffering as possible and be grateful for the time we have enjoyed, hopefully, making this planet and at least some of its occupants a little better off for our being here.
Think about it.