5 Truths about Aging in America

America is a country where many people fight for their rights. The Black community and the LGBTQ+ community, among others, are fighting for equality. However, one section of the population still has many stigmas attached to it, namely, the elderly. Many countries, like Japan, place a high priority on parents and those who are older, but America generally tends to disregard or ignore the elderly rather than honor them.

However, becoming older is seen as a detriment to beauty in America. This bias is especially true for women, who tend to be judged based on their beauty. Women are seen as not beautiful when hair turns gray and wrinkles form. This stigma is also true for older people. Once people begin to show their age, people disregard them.

They don’t see it as a sign of accomplishment or a natural part of life. Americans spend billions of dollars in advertisements on television marketing anti-aging products to people over the age of thirty-five. Because of these stigmas, Americans have many misconceptions about aging in America.

5 Truths About Aging in America

Here are five truths about aging in America:

Aging can be beautiful

Wrinkles and gray hair don’t have to be ugly. Additionally, aging people don’t have to be seen as inferior to those younger and still have youth and vitality. If people were to embrace their natural aging process, America could reverse the stigma associated with aging. The Bible says, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” (Proverbs 16:31).

Aging is a sign of wisdom

The Bible reveres older people as wise and people whom younger people should listen to. Titus 2:3-5 says, “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in how they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then, they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God.”

Americans often treat older people as people who don’t know much about the world. For example, younger people dismiss their grandparents as being too old or not up with the current problems in society. Yet even though past generations may not have had to deal with the technological advances or other issues associated with technology that kids must face today, grandparents have been around for a while.

They know things, and they have lived a lot of life. They have made mistakes, and they’ve also learned from them and grown from them. Grandparents are an excellent resource for people to listen to their stories and hear about how they became who they are today.

By hearing what they have to share regarding life years ago, younger people could embrace the simplicity of the past and understand that older people may not have faced these issues but had similar issues they needed to face. Listen to the elderly’s stories. Honor the elderly for their contributions to society and allow them to become valued and useful to their families and the world.

Aging provides a different perspective

Older people see the world through a different lens. Not only was the world a simpler time in years past, but it also held different values. For example, how they consume entertainment is quite different from how people consume entertainment today. Today, kids can turn on their Smart TV, go to any streaming app, and access any content they want.

However, years ago, people had one television in the home. At night, every family gathered to watch the same television show. Big networks like ABC and NBC dictated what Americans could watch. Therefore, the values chosen by the network were what families embraced.

Furthermore, older people valued the role religion played in their lives. In years past, families went to church together. Not only did they worship on Sundays, but they also participated in programs on other days of the week.

Serving was also a big part of a family’s life. They were others-centered, and they chose to give back to their communities. Today, church attendance and service are not requirements but options. These are not the values that older people held in previous generations.

They believed that prayer, reading the Bible, and church held the family together. Although those values may be old-fashioned today, they were wise and held that perspective. More kids are leaving the faith than ever before.

Older people understood that it bonded them when the family did things together. Older families no longer let their kids hop from sports to recreational activities. Instead, they all went and worshipped together in church. When the values switched, so did people’s view of religion’s role.

Take the time to listen to an older person’s point of view. It may seem old-fashioned at the time, but you may want to adopt those older values as you consider it. Simply because something is older does not mean it’s not helpful.

Older people have loyalty

Not only was religion a significant value in families, but also characteristics like loyalty, integrity, and morality. People understood right from wrong. However, in this new generation, everyone differs in what is right and wrong.

Because of this, there is no cohesive unit in a family. Older people bridged the gap between understanding old moral values and connecting them to today’s issues. We must value the older people in our lives because they know basic things, and they value things like morality and integrity.

Furthermore, older generations valued family units. The father was a revered member of the household. Kids had someone to look up to who could help them and teach them right from wrong. Today, kids are left to figure out right and wrong on their own. This lack of counsel is a slippery slope and could lead to making wrong decisions which have dire consequences for their lives if they aren’t careful.

Additionally, families understood loyalty. They understood how to stick with the family unit no matter what. Today, people need to understand the importance of cohesiveness and unity. Millennials and Gen. Z often cut off their appearance in the name of boundaries rather than having the perseverance to work out family tension. Because family is so low-valued, millennials and Gen. Z miss the beauty that comes when open families are bonded together.

Aging is something to look forward to

Aging is not something to dread; it’s something to embrace. Each decade brings with it beauty and joy in and of themselves. For example, people in their thirties often raise their children. However, it was a busy time of life, and parents and young people got to enjoy their younger children.

The forties bring with them raising teens and watching them go off to college and start their own lives. Although these can be bittersweet moments for parents, enjoying kids in new life stages has its worth and value.

The fifties bring with them adult children and, with them, grandchildren. Older people then enjoy imparting their wisdom to their children as they teach them and lead by example how to raise a family. Young people face the same trials as they raise their kids, and older people can come alongside their adult children and help them raise their grandchildren.

There are also fewer stresses, such as working long hours to make ends meet. People in their fifties and sixties often enjoy the benefit of paying off homes and cars and not having such a financial burden. Depending on their income status, this can also free them up to work less or even retire.

Next Steps: Christian Counseling for Older Adults

Although people may fear the aging process, each decade brings with it beauty and joy to be embraced. Don’t believe the hype that youth is the only way to live. Look forward to the older years that come with them: emotional freedom, financial abundance, and the beauty of watching new generations grow up before your eyes.

If you’re looking for additional support regarding aging in America, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office to schedule an appointment with a Christian counselor.