My daughter, a palliative care social worker and a volunteer scout for this blog, sent me a link to an article by a gerontologist about the proper term for designating older adults (http://www.geripal.org/2012/03/elders-older-adults-seniors-language.html).
The press refers to us as “seniors,” the author tells us, whereas the medical and geriatric literature refers to us as “older adults” or “the elderly.” He told about being interviewed by a reporter in her seventies who writes about matters of interest to the old. “I never use the term ‘elderly,’” she said. “My readers don’t respond to ‘older adult’ either. They don’t want to be ‘older.’ We prefer the term ‘senior.’ That’s the phrase I use in all my writing.”
In that case, the gerontologist concluded, those who write for the professional literature should use the term “senior” on the principle that “we should use the term that people use to describe themselves.”
If the reporter is correct that her readers don’t want to be called “older," it suggests that they view the terms “older adults” or “the elderly” as derogatory. It’s true that we live in a culture obsessed with youth and the appearance of youth, but I for one refuse to capitulate to it. Why should I be ashamed that I'm old? I’m delighted that I’ve reached 80 and whenever anyone asks me my age (invariably a doctor or nurse), I tell it with considerable pride. I refer to myself as “old.” What’s wrong with that? And if I manage to reach 85, I’ll be happy to refer to myself as “very old.” The only time I refer to myself as a “senior” is when I request a senior discount. But now that I think of it, from now on I’ll ask for an “elder’s discount.” To effect a change in language usage, you have to start somewhere.
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