When you picture an elderly person, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it a classic “little old lady,” hunkered down in a rocking chair, knitting a sweater? Or, maybe you think of a “grumpy old man,” yelling at kids to stay off his lawn.

These are just a couple of stereotypes of aging adults.  However, today’s seniors are healthier, livelier and living exciting and vibrant lives past the age of 65. While every senior is different, the idea that aging means depression, loneliness and decline in overall health is just not true. Healthy aging is actually more common than ever, and research even shows that life actually gets better in many ways as we grow older.

The Top 5 Myths About Aging

Here are just a few of the myths surrounding the aging process:

1)      All seniors get dementia. While it is true that dementia is linked to age, studies show that only about 8% of people over the age of 65 have dementia. Early detection is more important than ever, and new medications and treatments are now available that can help slow the disease.

2)      All seniors are lonely. Social isolation can become an issue for some seniors as they age in the home, mainly because transportation may start to become inconvenient or dangerous for them. However, many seniors are quite engaged socially, belonging to book clubs, golf clubs, bowling teams, and church groups. Many seniors are actively involved with family and caring for their grandchildren, too.

3)      Growing old means living in poverty. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that of Americans aged 65 or older, only around 9% fall under the poverty line. Actually, older adults tend to be better about…

This article was sourced from asccare.com.

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