Where have all the old folks gone? And does anyone care?

Our society, in general, does not care much for old people. And by old people, I mean those who are in their late 70s and older.  That's the age psychologists view as old relative to behavioral and developmental stages.  Of course if you ask a 30 year old, well, old age likely begins at 40.
What evidence is there that we kinda dislike old people?


Consider the stereotypes on TV and in movies. Madison Avenue and Hollywood must have some law that says oldies can only be silly, feeble, out-of-touch, unable to work any tech gadget, cranky, smelly, and bad drivers.  That last one might have some validity. 


More evidence of discrimination is the lack of older people included in anyone's social circle if you don't count older family members. When's the last time you called up good ole' Madge or Carl and invited them to a barbecue?  How about never. 


But perhaps the most glaring evidence of society's contempt is the fact that one does not see old people anywhere outside a church, synagogue or mosque.  Of course there's the rare sighting at Walmart or a pharmacy. But it's like they're hiding.  Well, in fact they are.


Around the 1970s large chunks of our older population began a mass exodus to their own lands called independent living centers and assisted living centers.  Both these places continue to this day to serve this population as a nice way station on to their final destination, the nursing home.  Something that began as an experiment has become routine transition for older people.


It may have been ok for awhile, but now this out of sight, out of mind removal policy needs some serious tweaking.  Thankfully, there is a growing movement working to change our views and values on aging.  Dr. Bill Thomas heads a group called ChangingAging and this year is traveling the country speaking about the need for change.  I get to see him when his Distrupt Aging Tour comes to Dallas in the fall. He sums up the mission:


"Our society needs an engaged and engaging elderhood because such a life stage offers the best possible refutation of the doctrine of youth's perfection. Most of us will need to see, with our own eyes, that a valued and valuable elderhood truly exists before we voluntarily surrender our adulthood. As a society, we, perhaps more than any other people who have ever lived, need elders. We need a renewed elderhood that can help older adults become the elders they were meant to be."


Old age as a life stage that offers value to society.  I love that concept.  If you do too, check out these sites: ChangingAging - changingaging.org; Eden Alternative - edenalt.org; Pioneer Network - pioneernetwork.net.