JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Most adults aren’t afraid of getting old — unless they’re really young! According to a poll by Forbes Health, American adults are more concerned with possibly experiencing health complications as they age, but the idea of just getting older and greyer isn’t that frightening.
Overall, 53 percent of U.S. adults don’t worry much about aging, but that figure is dramatically different when researchers only look at the youngest adults in the country. Aging can be an intimidating part of life for many reasons, especially for younger people who fear their future simply won’t be as fun or invigorating.
This lines up with what participants express in this survey of 2,000 Americans, conducted by OnePoll. Results show that fear of aging itself declines across older generations. In all, 56 percent of young adults ages 18-24 were afraid of getting old, but this number plunges to 21 percent for seniors 77 and over.
People do have genuine concerns about getting older, especially since it usually comes with weaker immune systems, reduced muscle mass, less energy, and more memory changes. According to the survey, 45 percent of respondents feared aging due to potential mobility complications like arthritis and joint health decline. Any form of cancer came in a close second (44%), and cognitive decline (such as dementia and Alzheimer’s) was third with the same percentage.
Other than health-related fears, adults were afraid of losing loved ones (52%), experiencing financial hardship (38%), losing independence (34%), feeling lonely (30%), increased boredom (20%), and having to move to assisted living centers (13%).
Interestingly, aging anxieties varied based on the age of the respondent. Gen Z Americans are more frightened by cognitive decline than any other health issue, while millennials are more afraid of getting cancer.
Like Gen Z adults, baby boomers and Gen Xers are just as afraid of cognitive decline, but a sharp increase was noted in this population according to age. Within the 66-76 age group, 55 percent of people reported this as their biggest fear. For those 77 and over, 80 percent listed it at the top of their worries.
While most people responded in fear, they also shared that they take preventative steps to maintain their health to protect their well-being and independence, which could be lost as they age. Half of the respondents (49%) say they do mind-stimulating puzzles or Sudoku. Other common activities include being regularly socially engaged, keeping up with good nutrition and supplements if needed, doing strength and cardio exercises, getting adequate sleep, and not missing health check-ups/screenings. Only eight percent of respondents weren’t doing any of these things.
Financial concerns tie heavily into all of this. Despite 87 percent of participants having health insurance, and 97 percent of those over 65 having Medicare, most were still worried about possible healthcare costs in the event that they have serious issues that call for frequent hospital visits.
This is nothing new in the U.S., considering that healthcare is often accessible while the resources to pay for it are not. This is, in part, why so many try to minimize their risks of needing medical assistance through prevention within their means. These findings helped tie together and better understand people’s feelings toward aging and the implications it has on their wellness outlooks.
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Duh. What a revelation.