Busting The Senior Myths

Let’s face it. You’ve heard it before. He or she is “over the hill” by the time they reach 50 years and older.. Let’s debunk some of these theories.

1)Hearing Loss: There is no scientific proof anywhere that age is responsible for deafness. While it’s true that many older people are somewhat deaf, this is usually a finality of an earlier lifetime problem. I am a perfect example of this. I was drafted by the Army at the young age of 20 when I was still in college. During my time in the Army I was exposed to heavy amounts of Artillery fire. This resulted in my hearing loss of 50% in both ears within a 3 year period. The loud noise and explosions of gunfire and artillery shells took its’ toll and I became a victim of nerve deafness. Nerve deafness is a gradual process and once started there is no going back for any type of cure. It is permanent.

Many people and artists who are involved in the music business such as Band players and singers will in time become nerve deaf. The ears are very delicate hearing instrument and are abused easily. Hearing aids are one of the few products to help the deaf. Other hearing problems could be heredity, child diseases, or trauma.

2) Nutrition: Multivitamins and food supplements are available by the millions. People seeing an older person automatically think they are frail, helpless, and losing their memory. Exercise is very important to the Senior sect. I know Seniors playing tennis in their eighties. If the diet is right there is little need for supplements. Most people get what they need from the food they eat. Supplements will not necessarily prolong your life but the main purpose is to help a person harness more energy .

3)Being Senile: Since Alzheimer’s largely is associated with the older generation, it naturally stirs the conversation. The truth is doctors will attest to the fact that if a person lives long enough he or she will get some form of Alzheimer’s’. There are 7 stages of Alzheimer’s’. It isn’t until about the 6th stage that speech is impaired. Most Senior citizens live a productive life well into their 80’s.

4)Disposition: “That old guy sure is cranky”, he is old so what do you expect. The facts are that if you have a rotten attitude and a mean spirit, you have had it all your life even as a kid. Personalities don’t change just because you are getting old.

5)Sexy No Longer: Wow!! What a joke. Ask many a younger person what they think of a Clint Eastwood, President Clinton, Meryl Streep, Anthony Hopkins and others. Men and women become more distinguished as they grow older. Granted they do not have the trim and youthful bodies they once had but they still exude confidence and sexual attraction. There is no age limit to sexuality in human beings. Health factors take a toll on how sexually active a person can be. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and prostate problems can affect the sex a person has. A diminished Libido can be helped with products such as Viagra and Cialis for men or in some cases a herbal supplement.

6)Older Men/Younger Girl: Taboo no longer. It used to be frowned upon by society and the older person labeled a pervert or sicko. However here are some of the benefits. First of all the older man is usually more secure financially. They have worked most of their life to attain this stature. This also has allowed them to own things like a home or car. On the down side there are also side effects. The older man might not be willing to start a new family with children. He did that already. Many are separated or divorced. Some of their finances are paying for support or alimony.

These are some of the basic Myths associated with the older generation. There are exceptions to everything.