11 Myths About Ageing That Are Just Plain Wrong

Plus; The New Oldest Living Person - And The New Pope

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11 Myths About Ageing That Are Just Plain Wrong

1. Old Age means loneliness.

   Being old does not have to mean being lonely. Cultivating a network of friends sounds hard but it is possible. Joining community groups, volunteering and pursuing hobbies keeps you busy and helps make new friends.

2. Ageing treats us all the same.

   The initial determinants we are born with have a lasting effect on how we will age and how long we will live, so we all age differently.

3. Older people don’t need so much sleep

   We still need 6-8 hours of quality sleep a night, though it will vary from person to person. How we spend our days will have an effect on how well we sleep. If we lead busy, fulfilling lives we are more likely to need to sleep longer.

4. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks

   meaning older people can’t learn new things. Its not true. We can go on learning throughout our lives, if the will is there.

5. All older people get dementia.

   The risk increases as we get older but not everyone will get it. Many older adults experience cognitive decline but don’t go on to get dementia. Others live their whole lives in good physical and mental health.

6. Older people should not exercise, to avoid injury

   Daily exercise is vital to maintaining a fully functioning life, regardless of age, but particularly when you get older.

7. Osteoporosis is a problem only for older women

   After the menopause women are more at risk of the bone thinning condition and 1 in 5 women will get it, but 1 in 20 men will get it too.

8. Depression is normal for older people

   It is not normal for older people to be depressed and it’s not a natural part of ageing. If anyone experiences symptoms of depression they should seek help.

9. Aging is all about loss and decline

   We do experience loss in older age, as friends and older family members die. However, ageing is not all about loss, there are gains, too. Research reveals that we are happier as we get older, and emotionally more stable, more able to cope. As for decline, our lifestyle will dictate that. It doesn’t have to be that way, we can take control by leading a healthy lifestyle.

10. We have no control over our ageing

    We do have agency and can take control of how we age. Retaining strength and mobility by exercise, and eating a nutritious diet, being socially connected, getting good sleep, managing stress and staying curious and active are ways we can age more healthily, all of which are in our control.

11. It’s too late to give up smoking when we’re old

    It’s never too late to stop. No matter how long you’ve been smoking or how many, ceasing will have a positive effect on your health. Your lungs will begin to clear, you’ll get fewer colds and bugs, and you’ll have more energy.

The New Oldest Living Person - And The new Pope

Two people have recently succeeded in roles vacated by the death of their predecessor. One is a man, the other a woman. The man was elected to a position that has always been filled by men. The woman automatically filled her role when the previous title holder died; all she had to do was be the validated longest living person alive. Predecessors have not always been women, but they usually are, because women tend to live longer than men (see my recent post about this).

Both roles hold a fascination for the public, though one has immense power over lives. The other intrigues people as to the lifestyle of the incumbent, and nothing much beyond that.

The Catholic Church has remained staunch in its almost 2,000 year history, in keeping women out of roles of authority in the Church, citing Jesus as their example who chose only men as his apostles. So when Pope Francis died recently, it was only men who stood for election to replace him.

The famous wisp of white smoke announced when the replacement had been chosen. It was Robert Francis Prevost, aged 69, who took on the new papal name of Leo XIV. It’s been claimed in the media that he’s the first American to hold the title, but this is contested elsewhere.

The oldest known living person is now Ethel Caterham of the United Kingdom, aged 115 years. The oldest known living man is João Marinho Neto of Brazil, aged 112 years. Ethel Caterham lives in a care home in Surrey, England. She became the title holder when the Brazilian nun who was the previous mantle holder, Sister Ina Canabarro Lucas, died aged 116 at the end of April this year. Ethel is the first British person to hold the title.

She was born in 1909 in Hampshire, the second youngest of eight children. One of her sisters lived to 104, and another, 96. Her paternal grandmother also lived to 96. She drove a car until she was 97 and played bridge as a centenarian. In 2020, when she was 110, she caught coronavirus but successfully recovered, making her one of the oldest survivors of the disease. She is a widow and a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and, in an interview, put her super-longevity down to “never arguing”. She went on, “I listen and do what I like.”

So what do these new incumbents mean for us? Unless you’re a Catholic or live in a Catholic country, the new pope will not have much influence on your life. My father was a Catholic, from a long line of Irish Catholics. He married his first wife when he was 19. She deserted him just a few years later, along with their three small daughters, who were left in a park to find their own way home. He filed for divorce on the grounds of desertion when he was 35 and had met my mother.

He carried the guilt of the divorce for the rest of his life. No doubt, he would have approved of pope Leo. According to an article in Forbes. the previous Leo XIII, “….wasn’t a Marxist. But he did rail against capitalism when it was unmoored from ethics.”

The fact that Robert Prevost chose to continue the papal name indicates a shared belief in support for the working class. Also in Forbes, “He lived for nearly 20 years in the slums of northern Peru. His spiritual DNA reflects that legacy: radical humility, deep contemplation, and a theology that demands action.” It was reported that, instead of the showy red papal shoes worn by popes with their official garb, Leo XIV wore ordinary black shoes signifying his intention to identify with the people.

As for Ethel Caterham, what we can learn from her is that, judging by the number of people in her family who lived long lives, she was fortunate to have good genes for longevity, which would have given her resilience. She’s outlived her husband and both of her children. We don’t know about her diet or how active she was in her later years. In another interview, when asked her secret to a long life, she replied, “Have a positive mental attitude and have everything in moderation.” So there’s our lesson.

Next week’s newsletter is dedicated to how we can (and do) keep moving to stay fit and strong in life’s second half. In a couple of month’s time, I’ll be 78 and in a couple of year’s time, I’ll be 80 - that thought blows my mind! I stay fit and well with regular exercise and I’m always looking for new ways to keep moving. I share with you in next week’s newsletter, what I’ve found, as well as what I already do.

DISCUSSION

Do you think the new Pope is a positive addition to the Catholic Church, to the world, even?

What do you think about Ethel Caterham’s claim that never arguing is the key to long life?

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Disclaimer: The content of my posts is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, psychological, health, or wellness advice. Information is current at the time of publication but may become outdated, so please verify details with the most current sources available. Do not make health-related decisions based on this content alone. Always consult a qualified health professional. What I share here is meant to provide information to help you explore what’s right for you.