‘Old Age’ is not Just a Number

When do you consider someone to be old?  A person over 50? 60? 70? How about 80?  Apparently, it has nothing to do with age.  Results from a new research study by Oregon State University researcher Michelle Barnhart show that people who can do things like household chores, cooking, and go out and shop for themselves are not considered "old".   In a nutshell, if you're independent, your not among the geriatric set yet, at least according to society.  It's when people lose those abilities that they are thought of as being old.

This study did not look at when people consider themselves to be old.  Let's face it, we all resist aging to some extent.  The conflict arises when the "old" person (who doesn't consider themselves old) starts getting defensive with family members and caregivers who do consider them old and limited in their abilities.  The fight with family members to maintain independence is a common one.  To limit the conflict, the study's author suggests "responding to someone's limitations in a way that preserves dignity and value".