{"id":211,"date":"2025-12-12T18:58:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T18:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/?p=211"},"modified":"2025-12-12T19:04:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T19:04:37","slug":"age-what-do-we-call-old-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-what-do-we-call-old-people\/","title":{"rendered":"AGE | What do we call &#8220;old people&#8221;?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"211\" class=\"elementor elementor-211\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d658fe2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d658fe2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f75ea1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3f75ea1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">AGE | What do we call &#8220;old people&#8221;?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a67e5c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a67e5c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1350\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/What-to-call-old-people.png\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536 wp-image-219\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/What-to-call-old-people.png 1350w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/What-to-call-old-people-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/What-to-call-old-people-1024x307.png 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/What-to-call-old-people-768x230.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1350px) 100vw, 1350px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f65e16d elementor-widget elementor-widget-author-box\" data-id=\"f65e16d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"author-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-meet-our-authors-bernard-steinman\/\" class=\"elementor-author-box__avatar\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025_AGE-Blog_authors-450x-2-Dr.-Bernard-Steinman-1-1-300x300.png\" alt=\"Picture of Bernard A. Steinman\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-meet-our-authors-bernard-steinman\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-author-box__name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBernard A. Steinman\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dfb7ab1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"dfb7ab1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-a3a363a elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/2025\/12\/12\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-calendar\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M12 192h424c6.6 0 12 5.4 12 12v260c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V204c0-6.6 5.4-12 12-12zm436-44v-36c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48h-48V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H160V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v36c0 6.6 5.4 12 12 12h424c6.6 0 12-5.4 12-12z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>December 12, 2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bb0f94 elementor-share-buttons--shape-rounded elementor-share-buttons--view-icon-text elementor-share-buttons--skin-gradient elementor-grid-0 elementor-share-buttons--color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"8bb0f94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div 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class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_facebook\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-facebook\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.78 90.69 226.38 209.25 245V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.31 482.38 504 379.78 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_email\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on email\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-envelope\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M502.3 190.8c3.9-3.1 9.7-.2 9.7 4.7V400c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V195.6c0-5 5.7-7.8 9.7-4.7 22.4 17.4 52.1 39.5 154.1 113.6 21.1 15.4 56.7 47.8 92.2 47.6 35.7.3 72-32.8 92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_print\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-print\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M448 192V77.25c0-8.49-3.37-16.62-9.37-22.63L393.37 9.37c-6-6-14.14-9.37-22.63-9.37H96C78.33 0 64 14.33 64 32v160c-35.35 0-64 28.65-64 64v112c0 8.84 7.16 16 16 16h48v96c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h320c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-96h48c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16V256c0-35.35-28.65-64-64-64zm-64 256H128v-96h256v96zm0-224H128V64h192v48c0 8.84 7.16 16 16 16h48v96zm48 72c-13.25 0-24-10.75-24-24 0-13.26 10.75-24 24-24s24 10.74 24 24c0 13.25-10.75 24-24 24z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrint\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ec960d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3ec960d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Each spring when I teach my class on aging, I ask young students&#8211;who are usually in their early 20s<em>&#8212;<\/em>what we should call people over the age of or around 65.<\/p><p>I hear pretty much the same list year after year: <em>elderly<\/em>, <em>senior citizens<\/em>, <em>aged<\/em>, <em>elders, senile <\/em>and <em>geriatrics<\/em>. In other words, they are terms that most 65-year-olds and many 80-year-olds would <em>not <\/em>relate to or apply to themselves.<\/p><p>The importance of choosing words carefully becomes more evident to my students when I ask them to think about the connotations that words carry. Consider this: Is there a difference between the words \u201celder\u201d and the addition of two little letters&#8230; \u201celder<u>ly<\/u>\u201d?<\/p><p>This semester, I asked a student to come to the front of the room and act out what a person who is \u201celderly\u201d looks like. Immediately, the 21-year-old woman hunched over to grab her make-believe cane then feebly and with uncertainty, shuffled across the room.<\/p><p>What difference does it make? Are the terms we commonly use and the perceptions we may hold about the average older person even accurate? And can our most common perceptions about what it means to be older be detrimental to ourselves and our society overall?<\/p><p>It is important to understand that older adults are very diverse and while there are ready examples of people who are \u201celderly\u201d out there who match my student\u2019s miming, it is certainly not the norm for older people on average. In fact, most older adults are doing just fine. Overall, the health, functioning, and finances of older people are better than they\u2019ve historically ever been!<\/p><p>Unfortunately, negative stereotypes about older people persist. We live in a society in which we are inundated with potentially damaging and outdated stereotypes about older people throughout our lifetimes, from when we\u2019re younger to when we\u2019re older.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-121aef4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"121aef4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/home-mods-1-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-214\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/home-mods-1-1.png 1201w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/home-mods-1-1-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/home-mods-1-1-1024x307.png 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/home-mods-1-1-768x230.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80c7cd5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80c7cd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Just turn on your television, scroll through your social media pages, or walk down the greeting card aisle in any department store. If you are over the age of, say, 40, be prepared to be informed about how you are \u201cover the hill\u201d\u2014that you are cantankerous, hard of hearing, and tired, along with implicitly learning that you are somehow of less value as a human being due to your age.<\/p><p>Older adults seem to be the one type of person that is considered fair game by society to ridicule just about everywhere. Spend five minutes watching late-night comedy talk shows and you will soon see that older people are often mercilessly mocked simply for being older, regardless of how keen their physical or cognitive abilities may be. Try that with almost any other type of person, Stephen Colbert.<\/p><p>And even when people <i>do<\/i>\u00a0have serious aging-related\u00a0impairments\u00a0such as dementia or mobility challenges, is that where we <i>really<\/i>\u00a0want to go?\u00a0To belittle people for things they cannot control?\u00a0In most cases it doesn\u2019t\u00a0seem very productive\u00a0to me\u00a0given the costs it may charge\u00a0and the harm it can do more broadly in the end.<\/p><p>This past week, I was discussing ageism in the media with a good friend of mine who happens to be a retired professor in his 70s. He observed that television shows created just 50 years ago seemed to hold older people in greater reverence than we do today. He mentioned the old show, titled <em>The Waltons<\/em>, about a multigenerational depression-era family living together in a rural Virginia household.<\/p><p>You may recall that two of the main characters in that show were grandparents who had roles as \u201cwisdom sharers\u201d in the family. Of course, compared to the early 1970s when <em>The Waltons<\/em> first aired, older people today make up a much larger percentage of the population. I wonder if their relative scarcity back then made them more valued as recognized contributors, and less likely to be targets for ridicule.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-877ebc2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"877ebc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_649685146-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-215\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_649685146-1.png 1200w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_649685146-1-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_649685146-1-1024x536.png 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_649685146-1-768x402.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-adbec55 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"adbec55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Nevertheless, modern media does its part to perpetuate images of older people as a <em>burden <\/em>or <em>problem <\/em>to be resolved rather than the resource they can potentially be.<\/p><p>But it doesn\u2019t stop with the media. Even very good-hearted people operating within organizations that are charged with supporting or advancing the standing of older adults and their causes often employ approaches and describe their consumers in terms that are less than endearing.<\/p><p>As a gerontologist with 25 years in the field, I\u2019ve lost count of the number of times I\u2019ve seen old and worn-out tropes about aging used to promote participation in organizations where they probably shouldn\u2019t have been. I\u2019ve seen memes left out in open view, subtly mocking loss of memory, incompetence, and even incontinence.<\/p><p>To me, these types of things, which are often brushed off as \u201cpoking fun at ourselves\u201d seem wildly misplaced in settings where older people come to enjoy and better themselves. After all, most of us don\u2019t seek out events, activities, services, volunteer opportunities, or jobs based on where we\u2019ll be diminished the most.<\/p><p>It\u2019s not just what we say, but also how we say it. For instance, consider \u201cElderspeak\u201d which is the sing-song intonation often used by people to communicate with relatively frail older adults. Though it is usually done with the best and kindest intentions, it can be equally harmful.<\/p><p>We often speak to people like they\u2019re not capable of doing things they\u2019ve done their entire lives until that day, and it is operant conditioning at its finest. It impacts almost any being with a brain, from pigeons to people, \u2026and is carried out in a kind sort of tone. Even my 15-year-old dog, Rascal, only required one incident of me <em>kindly <\/em>helping him up the stairs one day for him to learn that he could no longer walk up the stairs on his own &#8230;and to completely sweep him of his dignity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b330993 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b330993\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_610720791-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-216\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_610720791-1.png 1201w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_610720791-1-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_610720791-1-1024x307.png 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_610720791-1-768x230.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e42a41f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e42a41f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is certainly not to say that some people do not require assistance but that maybe we offer it too often when they don\u2019t, based on how we <em>think <\/em>older people should perform. Seldom do we consider how that kind of kindness could be harmful to people we care about.<\/p><p>Words, and the meanings we apply to them, matter and can impact how people behave. If we treat people like they are \u201cout to pasture\u201d, have nothing of value to contribute, or speak to older people like they are children, then guess what happens: It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that can lead to loss of confidence, depleted initiative, and in time, greater dependence.<\/p><p>Perfectly capable older adults themselves also may harbor negative stereotypes about aging. After all, they\u2019ve had decades longer than my 20-year-old students to internalize the ageist stereotypes that we\u2019re <em>all<\/em> consistently bombarded by.<\/p><p>How often do we jokingly talk about \u201csenior moments\u201d during times of normal forgetfulness? Or attribute aches and injuries while out climbing mountains or running 10-ks to \u201cgetting older\u201d?<\/p><p>When less favorable outcomes <em>do<\/em> occur, why do we not first consider the personal lifestyle choices we\u2019ve <em>all <\/em>made along the way? Why not consider what we ate and drank or smoked, how much we exercised, or how much we did <em>not<\/em> exercise? We <em>are<\/em> humans after all, but these are often <em>not <\/em>age-related outcomes. Can we at least be honest with ourselves and more accurately place the blame where it is very often due?<\/p><p>It\u2019s not that time doesn\u2019t take its toll and slow us down a bit\u2014it does. But why do we always jump to <em>that<\/em> conclusion first?<\/p><p>I\u2019ll tell you why. It\u2019s at least partly because of the greeting cards you\u2019ve received and believed, and the television you\u2019ve watched. That\u2019s how powerful lifelong exposure to negative stereotypes is\u2014it can cause us to distort our own realities about ourselves and our abilities, and the causes of our inabilities.<\/p><p>Words also have the power to \u201cother\u201d entire types of people, separating them from humanity at large because they are not like \u201cus\u201d. In this case, we may be \u201cothering&#8221; people based solely on their age. Why do we do this? Who knows? Maybe it is fear of the decline that eventually overcomes us all&#8211; if we\u2019re <em>lucky<\/em> to live long enough.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5526000 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5526000\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_697695981-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-217\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_697695981-1.png 1201w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_697695981-1-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_697695981-1-1024x307.png 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_697695981-1-768x230.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-891fa07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"891fa07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cOthering\u201d older people provides us with a buffer from the <em>terror<\/em> that often accompanies growing older. Each year Americans spend millions of dollars on hair dye, wrinkle creams, and cosmetic surgery trying to separate ourselves from our own made-up perceptions of what it means to be older. Yet, the solution may be as simple as accepting the beauty that could be inherent in our growing older.<\/p><p>The truth is, there is no \u201cother\u201d group. <em>Everyone<\/em> is aging, beginning at conception and ending at death. We can\u2019t avoid it, but we <em>can<\/em> reframe our perceptions of it.<\/p><p>Words can raise people up so that they meet their full potential, or they can subtly degrade people and lead them to believe things about themselves that are not true to fact. As a society, we should encourage careful and deliberate word choices that promote successful healthful aging and good policy or else we risk unintentionally turning people into the \u201ctired, unattractive, dependent invalids\u201d that many ageist stereotypes already presume older people to be.<\/p><p>So, what is the answer? What <em>do<\/em> we call people who are older? At the individual level, I usually default to calling people what they prefer to be called because it doesn\u2019t cost me <em>anything <\/em>to treat peoples\u2019 personal choices with respect. I know plenty of people who are proud to be called \u201csenior citizens\u201d \u2013more power to them.<\/p><p>In the academic and professional circles that I sometimes hang out in, there has been a concerted effort to encourage language that promotes greater awareness of the power of words to help reach our shared professional and policy goals and visions. For example, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geron.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gerontological Society of America<\/a>, of which I am a card-carrying member, is leading efforts to reframe aging issues by providing guidance on language standards that can counter ageist perceptions.<\/p><p>For what it\u2019s worth, GSA recommends that we use relative terms such as \u201colder adults,\u201d \u201colder persons,\u201d or \u201colder people\u201d to describe humans who are relatively older, as opposed to terms such as \u201cseniors,\u201d \u201cthe elderly,\u201d and \u201cthe aged,\u201d as if they are aliens visiting the planet for the first time, and not our friends, family, colleagues, &#8230;even ourselves.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93f7e29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"93f7e29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_511609819.png\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536 wp-image-218\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_511609819.png 1201w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_511609819-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_511609819-1024x307.png 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_511609819-768x230.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e31849f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e31849f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>At a societal level, I worry that poorly chosen words applied generally to older people needlessly lead us to jettison the contributions of an entire type of person based on outdated ageist stereotypes. (If you will indulge me, that is to say we\u2019re throwing the <em>baby<\/em> out with the bathwater).<\/p><p><u>Because&#8211;as subtle as the effects may be&#8211;negative words and actions have the potential to prevent people from contributing to their fullest extent to make our relationships in families, workplaces and communities stronger<\/u>.<\/p><p>This growing societal concern is reflected in recent discussions within some communities about removing the word \u201csenior\u201d from the names of senior centers. Instead, such places can be simply renamed after their valued benefactors or referred to in more productive terms such as <em>centers for healthy aging<\/em>.<\/p><p>In fact, some centers around the country have made this switch. They recognize that many people who can potentially contribute and benefit from engaging simply do not relate with the words \u201csenior center\u201d because \u201cthose types of places are for old people\u201d and we\u2019ve collectively been conditioned to think that is a bad thing.<\/p><p>An excellent local example of this trend occurs at the center in Sheridan, Wyoming, which simply calls itself <em>The Hub on Smith<\/em>. Notably, the word \u201csenior\u201d was not used once in its <a href=\"https:\/\/thehubsheridan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/CENTER-STAGE-WINTER-2024-3.pdf)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">December 2024 newsletter<\/a>.<\/p><p>The words we use to describe older people are not simply a matter of political correctness. I\u2019ve been told by some that I\u2019m ridiculous to think so deeply into this\u2014that I\u2019m being overly sensitive and protective of the types of people I study, or even that I am \u201cvirtue signaling\u201d (an accusation, which when you really think about it in the context of demographic realities, is secretly steeped with ageist stereotypes).<\/p><p>My motivations for encouraging the use of more thoughtful, deliberate language individually and within organizations are more deeply rooted than just wanting to say what is socially considered <em>correct<\/em>.<\/p><p>I strongly believe that the current demographic trends that suggest most older Americans are likely to live many years, even decades, beyond their 65<sup>th<\/sup> birthdays require it.<\/p><p>Societally, I think we are in <em>no<\/em> position to discard individuals who could be positively engaged contributors, whether through working and volunteering or by simply continuing to do the things they enjoy and value independently.<\/p><p>When I reflect on my own choices, I would prefer that others describe me accurately based on\u2014at minimum&#8211;who I am and not on lazy reflections of outdated stereotypes.<\/p><p>When the time comes, if I am wise, let them call me wise. If I am a cantankerous fool&#8230; well, let them call me <em>that <\/em>then!<\/p><p>But \u201csenior citizen\u201d and \u201celderly\u201d are not the words for me.<\/p><p><strong>This is an opinion piece. The thoughts and opinions shared are solely those held by the author, Bernard A. Steinman (<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:bsteinm1@uwyo.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>bsteinm1@uwyo.edu<\/strong><\/a><strong>), who is a gerontologist, and Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, at the University of Wyoming.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7317d10 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7317d10\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29fd903 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"29fd903\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related Posts<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40b4f63 elementor-posts__hover-none elementor-grid-2 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"40b4f63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:80,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:71,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:30,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-325 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-age-blog category-mental-health category-physical-activity tag-hailey-sorg\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-step-outside-the-power-of-the-outdoors\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Age_Quarter-2_1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-309\" alt=\"A couple enjoying nature sitting on a log\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Age_Quarter-2_1.png 1200w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Age_Quarter-2_1-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Age_Quarter-2_1-1024x307.png 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Age_Quarter-2_1-768x230.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-step-outside-the-power-of-the-outdoors\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tAGE | Step Outside: The Power of the Outdoors\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>When was the last time you intentionally stepped outside just to feel the sunshine on your face? As the days begin to grow longer and warmer, spending time outside is one of the simplest ways to support your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. <\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-step-outside-the-power-of-the-outdoors\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about AGE | Step Outside: The Power of the Outdoors\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tExplore aging-in-place home tips\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-769 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-age-blog category-mental-health category-physical-activity tag-joddee-jacobsen\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-stay-active-stay-connected-volunteer\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Workingtogether_Web-size.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-768\" alt=\"Group of older adults working together.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Workingtogether_Web-size.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Workingtogether_Web-size-300x90.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Workingtogether_Web-size-1024x307.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Workingtogether_Web-size-768x230.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-stay-active-stay-connected-volunteer\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tAGE | Stay Active, Stay Connected\u2026Volunteer!\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>There is strength in a community when its citizens give back through volunteerism. Not only is it good for the community, but it\u2019s also beneficial for the person who gives back and donates their time. This is especially true for older adults who give their time and talents.  <\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/age-stay-active-stay-connected-volunteer\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about AGE | Stay Active, Stay Connected\u2026Volunteer!\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tExplore aging-in-place home tips\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each spring when I teach my class on aging, I ask young students&#8211;who are usually in their early 20s&#8211;what we should call people over the age of or around 65.<\/p>\n<p>I hear pretty much the same list year after year: elderly, senior citizens, aged, elders, senile and geriatrics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":219,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,9],"tags":[12],"class_list":["post-211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-age-blog","category-mental-health","tag-bernard-steinman"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=211"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":222,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211\/revisions\/222"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/age\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}