What young people think about old people is only half right

What young people think about old people is only half rightWhat young people think about old people is only half rightEveryone, especially young people, has their stereotypes about the old they cant drive. Theyre lonely. They cant get around as well. They dont understand computers or modern technology. They dont want to go anywhere.Whether or not these assumptions are supported by evidence is another story entirely.A Place for Mom, a senior care referral service, surveyed 2,000 people aged 16-34 about their opinions about the old and the aging process, then checked their opinions against research. The survey, called Better With Age? How Young People See Seniors and the Aging progression showed that the discrepancy in opinion versus fact was surprising.When asked what age is old, respondents agreed it was age 59 female respondents chose 61, whereas those identifying as male said 56.Here are some of the statements that young people were presented with, versus realityOlder people becom e an economic burden when they get old FALSE. 65% of survey respondents disagreed with this statement, and they were correct while people over 50 are only 35% of the U.S. population, they contribute 43% of total U.S. GDP $7.4 trillion annually.Seniors are out of touch with modern technology FALSE. 55% of respondents agreed with this statement, but its mostly false, as a number of studies from the Pew Research Center have shown. They might not be on Instagram, but amajority of seniors (67%) use the internet regularly and 51% have broadband at home. A Pew study found 37% of people aged 65 and overuse social media, and 70% of older people used Facebook daily.Older people become worse drivers as they age MOSTLY FALSE. While 72% of young people thought this was true, the Federal Highway Safety Administration shows that drivers 65 and over comprise of 19% of crash victims in fact, its younger drivers aged 16-34 who make up a higher percentage, at 38%.Old people are lonely TRUE. Young p eople agreed with this statement, and theres truth to it. People spend 6 hours a day alone by age 60, and that increases to 8 hours by age 80, according to the American Time Use Survey.People dont like their bodies when they get old. FALSE. While young people thought this statement would be true, a Gallup poll of 85,145 Americans found that body acceptance hits a high in our 70s and 80s.For all their negative associations with aging, young people were excited about a number of aspects of old age having more time to spend with their loved ones and grandchildren, having more time to travel, having time to pursue a hobby, and so on. Maybe it really is better after 60.