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24
of any other age group needs success.
Yet, often the elderly are the least suc–
cessful people on earth !
But WHY? WHY are the elderly dis–
carded from society to live generally
non-prod11ctive
lives? The answer is
twofold.
The "Old People" Concept
Our society has a mental concept into
which all elderly - and many not so
elderly - are automatically crammed.
What is - or was - your mental con–
cept of the elderly in general? The aver–
age person views an elderly person as
ooe who has wrinkled skín, who may
have lost most or all of his teeth.
If
he
has any hair it is probably gray. This
person supposedly has a poor memory
for recent events. He is considered by
many to be uneducated or dull - one
whose health is gone aod who has no
vigor or energy.
The elderly supposedly cannot coo–
ceotrate, ramble when they talk, and
have lost all competence for any occu–
pation - no matter how minor.
But how many of the elderly really
fit this mental concept? Sorne official
estimates say 10% at most! About 5%
of the 65-plus generation are residing in
nursiog aod rest homes. Aoother 5%
are estimated to be bed-ridden shut-ios!
But even these people do not necessarily
fit the stock image of an "old person."
Nevertheless, the "older-person-is–
useless" concept has taken root. This is
one reason why older people are pro–
gressively shut off from the mainstream
of society - why 65 is often chosen as
the place to
forceft~lly
retire employees.
The other reason why older people
become non-producers has to do with
the mental attitude of the elderly
them–
selves.
They have accepted this concept
of themselves -
that old people
degenerate physically and mentally. As
a result, they often take
themselves
out
of society - without even realizing it!
"l 'm T oo Old"
These three words create many need–
less problems for the elderly - and
worry for those who are in middle age
or beyond.
Dr. David Joseph Schwartz, Ph.D.,
author of
The Magic of Thi11king Big,
wrote, "It's surprising how few people
The
PLAlN TRUTH
feel they are 'just right' age wise. And
it's uofortunate. This excuse has closed
the door of real opportuoity to thou–
saods of individuals. They think their
age is wrong, so they doo't even bother
to try ... HOW OLD WE ARE IS NOT
JMPORTANT. lt's one's attitude toward
age that makes it a blessing or a barrí–
cacle" (pp.
31-32).
How many times have you heard
someone say, "l'm too old !" Or half
jokingly say, ' 'Well, you cao't teach an
old dog new tricks." This old age
excusitis plagues maoy citizeos.
It
need
not - because it is based on a tragic
fallacy.
It
is a common belief, especially
among the elderly, that as the body
grows old, the· mind ages
right along
with
the woro-out body. According to
this idea, first the memory starts to fade,
aod eventually senility will claim the
entire miod. In reality, oothiog could be
farther from the truth!
Most people are led to believe that
their productive years end around 65, at
which time they should retire, making
room for a new geoeration.
MOST PEOPLE ARE WRONG!
The l mpor tance of the Mind
Ooe reason why it appears that the
mind deteriorates is that it has
in
many
cases been allowed to deteriorate - as
most people allow the body to deterior–
ate. Result? By age 65 many people are
not as productive mentally as they could
be.
But it
shordd not be
this way.
By far and away the two major con–
tributors to senility are: 1) our
industry-predicated society which
restricts thinkiog and using the mind,
except for the few, and 2) a lifetime
of improper diet, lack of exercise aod
other health-wreckiog habits. These
cause a massive deterioration of the
physical
body, resulting in senile human
beings.
Then, too often the "declining years"
are spent in a rest homé where boredom
sometimes leads to further needless
senility, as in the following example.
In the next column is part of a
dialogue between a reportee and an
elderly persoo in a rest home. The
elderly perseo could be from anywhere.
March
1971
This problem is not restricted to any
regioo, or for that matter any oation.
It affects a significant mioority of the
elderly. It is graphic evidence of what
can happen to an eldedy person who
has oot actively used his mind.
lNTERVIEWER: How do you approach
each da
y?
Do you look forward to it
and what do you look forward to the
most?
EtDERLY WOMAN:
I
don't know.
Nothiog special.
lNTERVIEWER: Do you have any con–
tact with your family?
EtDERLY WOMAN: Nothing special.
lNTERVIEWER: Does your fami ly Iive
near here?
ELDERLY WOMAN: Yes, they live
near here but we don't visit together
very ofteo.
TNTERVIEWER: How long have you
beeo here?
ELDERLY WOMAN: How long have
1
been here?
1
don't know. l've beeo here
severa! years.
I
can't remember when
I
carne here now.
INTERVIEWER : What do you enjoy
most every da
y?
EtnERLY \'í'OMAN: Getting out.
INTERVIEWER: Gettiog outside?
ELDERtY WOMAN: Yeah. Walking
up aod dowo.
INTERVLEWER: Do you get any exer–
cise every day
?
ELPERLY \'\lOMAN: No,
r
don't.
INTERVlEWER: What is the most
excitin_g thing you do every day?
ELPERLY WOMAN: Work.
INTERVIEWER: What do you work
at?
ELPERLY WOMEN: Everything.
!NTERVJEWER: You do various things?
ELPERLY WOMAN: Yes. l just keep
the home in order and look forward for
better times and so on, you know, just
trying to fix everything better.
lNTERV!EWER: Have you koown Mes.
Woodly (another person in the home)
long?
ELDERLY WOM.AN: No, not very
long. I just know her for a short time.
1
really don't know her very much.
INTERVJEWER: But you enjoy your–
self here?
ELDERLY WOMAN: Yes,
1
enjoy it
here.
This woman could have had a more