Nowadays, it would seem that we never become old. We may be described as ‘elderly, ‘pensioners’ or ‘senior citizens’ - but almost never as ‘old’. This is despite the fact that ‘elderly’ in fact means somewhat old, still to reach old age itself. A recent television news programme reported on ‘an elderly man of 93 ….’. If we cannot be old at 93, at what age can we be?

Use of the word ‘old’ is often avoided, seen as having only negative connotations. This is especially so in Western cultures. In some other parts of the world, the advice of old people is often sought and valued, because they have had experiences gained over many years. Yet even in these societies use of the word ‘old’ appears to have become something of a taboo.

Denial of ever becoming old has led to many prejudices, often based on assumptions quite unsupported by facts. Of course, in very old age we may well become frail, but this varies considerably from person-to-person, and in the absence of illness, personalities seldom change a great deal as we age. Those who have grumbled through most of their lives will still be grumblers, those who have been caring will still care.

There is little evidence for the assertion ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.’ For instance, one of America’s best-known painters, Grandma Moses (1860-1961) only began painting in her seventies and sold her first picture when nearly eighty. Neither is it the case that mental and creative prowess are inevitably lost in old age. The great American political figure, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) helped edit the Declaration of Independence when over seventy and the wartime British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill (1874-1966) was still in office when he was over eighty. The English-born conductor Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) made concert appearances well into his nineties, and the Italian composer, Giuseppe Verdi (1913-1901) wrote his last opera, Falstaff, in his ninth decade.

Although these were of course exceptional, many of today’s old people contribute to society in valuable, though less spectacular, ways. A large number give their time voluntarily to charities, not just with fund-raising but in other practical ways, such as helping to staff charity shops. Others become involved in community or church projects. Families often rely on grandparents’ advice and support, either routinely or in times of crisis. Such positive and widespread help is insufficiently recognised by society at large.

If old age is valued for what it is, rather than treated as something almost unmentionable, old people will come to feel more confident. If we focus not only on what we should be doing for them, but what many of them are doing for us, the status of old people will increase.