Age, Ageing, Aged - what is the difference?

by Marian Sherratt, Executive Director, Bermuda Council on Ageing

The ageing of a population-which is the focus of the Bermuda Council on Ageing-is driven by two main factors. One is the rapid and exponential growth in number of people over age 65, with those 80-plus being the fastest growing segment of the population. Second is a low birth rate. Put together, the two factors of more people aged 65 living longer and women having fewer babies result in an ageing population. But what are the differences between age, ageing, and aged?

First of all, age is a number. But even the idea of age being just a number can get pretty complicated, depending upon your belief system regarding the beginning of life. Does life begin at conception? Does it begin at a particular stage of pregnancy? Or does it begin at birth? In Bermuda, as in most of the world, we tend to believe that our actual age begins at birth for legal and statistical purposes, and we prove it with a birth certificate.

Ageing, on the other hand, is a process that takes place over a lifetime. It does not suddenly begin at a magic age or stage of life, such as 65 or retirement. Some people age faster than others, depending on their genetic make-up and other factors. For example, ageing is affected by geographic location, economic class, and opportunities that may or may not allow people to live a good, long, healthy life. We also know that ageing is both a mental and a physical process. Who hasn't told a badly behaved teenager or adult to "grow up?" And who can argue with the fountain of youth that Tina Turner found as she strutted the stage into her late sixties?

To define the term aged, however, presents a bit of a problem. This is the most difficult term to define, as it depends on whose point of view you are taking. Ask a 15- year-old, and he will think a 50-year-old is ancient. Ask a 90-year-old, and she will think a 50-year-old is a 'spring chicken.'

Then we have the term seniors, that loosely means retired or over age 65. The American Association of Retired Persons is now known only as AARP, and its membership begins at age 50. At a conference on ageing held in Chicago earlier this year, the AARP presenter jokingly said they are considering changing their name to the "American Association of Resourceful Persons," and I suspect most Baby Boomers would welcome such a change.

But however we define the terms, the impact of an ageing population and the needs of seniors present two very different, yet linked, sets of challenges.

On the social side of the equation, an ageing population means that we need to take a broad view of ageing and its impact on every man, woman, and child in our society. There are now more generations within the family, and it is not unusual to find three or more generations living under one roof to share cost of housing and minimize cost of caregiving, thus causing family stress and conflict.

On the economic side, an ageing population has a significant impact on all aspects of life, including education, immigration, work, housing, transportation, and health, not to mention our pension funds. The reality of a 70-year-old caring for a 90-plus parent, while struggling to pay rent on a minimal pension, is not anyone's idea of retirement.

Whatever our age, we are all affected by an ageing population. The demographic shift has been swift, and it shows no signs of slowing down for the foreseeable future. We need to meet the needs of our rapidly changing society in the 21st century by updating laws and policies while developing appropriate programmes and services. Our social and economic wellbeing depend on it.

Marian Sherratt is Executive Director, Bermuda Council on Ageing. She writes on issues concerning ageing each fortnight in The Royal Gazette. Send email responses to info@bdaca.org.