How many times do you hear people talking about all the negatives of getting older or attributing a negative characteristic, such as being grumpy or slow, to someone because they’re old? There are a lot of myths out there about ageing and older people, so let’s bust a few of them.

I’m too old to change or learn something new

We always have the ability to learn something new, including how to use technology better, a second language, an instrument or complete a PhD! Learning something new takes patience and time which we often have more of when we’re older.

Older people are lonely

Did you know that depression in older people is less common than in young people? Everyone can experience loneliness particularly when they lose friends, family and relationships but often older people have stronger and longer-lasting relationships and a lifetime of memories to think about and share with others. Often there’s more time to catch up socially with family and friends when you’re older as well as joining groups with like-minded people.

Everyone ends up in a nursing home

Only five percent of adults over 65 years of age live in a nursing home, and most older adults live independently. Whilst we often need more care as we get older, the majority of Australians live in their own homes.

Older people can’t exercise because they might injure themselves

Studies have shown that we need to move our bodies at any age and that it’s actually inactivity as we age that causes health concerns and injuries. Physical activity keeps our joints moving, our bones strong, our hearts beating, and leads to a longer life. Exercise is great for our mental health as it can relieve stress and can be social. Moving our bodies when we are older also helps improve our balance and stability and can help prevent falls and injuries.

Older people are grumpy

Older people are often happier than younger people. When asked, studies have found that older adults tend to describe their lives as enjoyable and less stressful compared to how they perceive younger people’s lives today. It’s understandable if you have health issues or are in pain that you’ll be more irritable, but that’s not an age thing. You can be irritable at any age – think of teenagers for example.

You lose your memory when you’re older

Whilst they might have occasional incidents of forgetfulness, most older adults do not have significant declines in their memory. As we age, we accumulate more knowledge, have more experiences and more insights. Learning something new is a great way to keep our brains engaged and intact and many studies have found that our memory can improve if we keep challenging it with new things.

So, get out there and create new memories, new experiences and keep active.

If you are having concerns as you age, check in with your doctor to rule out anything serious and work on any strategies that can assist.