breaking the age code

What five words would you use to describe an older person? If you are like me, they wouldn’t be very complimentary.
 
What if how you perceive aging and look upon older people would affect how you yourself age and even how long you live? That’s exactly what Becca Levy has found through her research. She explains these thoughts in her book Breaking the Age Code.
 
Levy’s research shows that in cultures where elders are revered, older people perform better and have lower rates of dementia. She has also found that individuals with positive outlooks on aging will walk faster, be more engaged, have better memories and live longer – 7.5 years longer, on average.
 
She points out that older workers are more dependable. They have less turnover, less absenteeism and fewer accidents. They also know how to frame problems and create accountability for results.
 
Unfortunately, our American culture leads us to diminish ourselves. We expect to decline as we age, and that’s how we behave. Soon we start to decline, reinforcing this self-fulfilling prophecy.
 
The media bemoans the “burden” that seniors place on the economy. But in reality, seniors are wealthier, and they spend more than other age categories –  thereby increasing economic activity. Seniors have more experience and knowledge, which can make them more productive. Creativity also increases as we age.
 
So how do we combat this ageism on an individual level? One way to confront your own ageism is to think of a positive role model for aging. There’s plenty of them on our team. (Some are prettier than others.)
 
After reading this enlightening book, I imagine that older people can be like the athletes on our Villages Track & Field team. My five words are now: fast, athletic, friendly, wise, and happy.
~~Tom Rewolinski