We tend to underestimate older people when, in reality, they have a wealth of knowledge and experience that makes them wiser and more resourceful than the younger generations. Besides, a lot of them are past the age of caring what anyone else thinks about them, which often results in funny situations.
Speaking of… Many such instances await you in the list below, collected by our Bored Panda team. The sense of humor of these older folks truly aged like fine wine and proves that age is really just a state of mind.
While you're scrolling through, don't forget to check out a conversation with Dr. Marianne Matzo, a certified advanced nurse practitioner specializing in gerontology and founder of a non-profit organization and podcast, Everyone Dies, who kindly agreed to talk with us more about ageism and how we can overcome it.
#1 It's Been 16 Months Since My Grandmother's Last Radiation Treatment To Cure Her Breast Cancer
Image credits: explodingcreeper55
#2 I Live In NYC, And This Is The Doormat Of The 92 Year Old Woman Who Lives In My Building
Image credits: reddit.com
#3 My Grandparents Dressed For Halloween 1967
Image credits: jimmycat5000
Somehow, along the way, our culture led us to believe that getting old is something to be avoided at all costs. There are many inaccurate stereotypes surrounding old age that negatively affect the generations before us, and they’re so ingrained in our culture that we often don’t even notice them.
A few that Dr. Marianne Matzo, a certified advanced nurse practitioner specializing in gerontology and founder of a non-profit organization and podcast, Everyone Dies, mentions are:
- Age brings illness and disability.
- Aging means a reduction in mental sharpness.
- People become rigid and narrow-minded with age.
- Being old equals being sad, lonely, and nonproductive.
#4 Grandma's Boyfriend Showing Us His Favorite Printed Memes
Image credits: Secure-Range9518
#5 My Grandparents Suprised Me By Building Me A Kitchen. This Is How I Found Out. Can't Stop Laughing At My Grandma's Pose
Image credits: KatokaMika
#6 After Last Years "Happy Birthday Jesus" Cake, Grandma Decided To Wipe Religion Right Out Of The Family Christmas Party Yesterday
Image credits: Bostonlurker
The previous statements are complete myths, as research and statistics paint a different picture about aging. "Over the past few decades, chronic diseases have become less common, and 3/4 of those 75-84 years old report no disability," explains Dr. Matzo.
"Age brings greater risk of disease, but how we age is determined by our lifestyle choices. Behavioral and socioeconomic risk factors such as physical activity, smoking status, education, and household income are associated with self-reported poor health and have important and complex relationships with each other and physical health status," she further explains.
#7 My Grandfather Worked His Whole Career As An Engineer. Yesterday He Bought Himself This Shirt
Image credits: SpacebarOddity
#8 I Had No Idea That My Dad Had These Digital Skills. This Came As One Of 11 Emails Containing One Photo In Each Email. This One Was Captioned “Look What We Found In The Kitty Cave”
Image credits: encantalasmontaas
#9 My 70 Year Old Grandma Got Some New Coasters
Image credits: tatsmith
When it comes to older adults' mental capabilities, research shows no drastic mental sharpness decline. Only 20% of older adults have Alzheimer’s Disease, and 50% have some cognitive decline, which is often limited to storing new information, notes Dr. Matzo.
They also don't become more rigid or narrow-minded with age, as many people tend to believe, since personality traits were found to remain relatively consistent. In addition, anthropologists believe that the “self” is ageless, while the elderly report little change in self-image with age, says Dr. Matzo.
#10 Took My Grandmother To The Doctors Today And She Pulls Out These Bat Sunglass She Got Of Etsy! Words Can’t Describe How Much This Women Means To Me
Image credits: doomsay87
#11 My Grandma Likes This Picture Of My Brother And Me On Her Fridge, But Isn't Particularly Fond Of My Ex
Image credits: kidsasquarebenny
#12 Grandpa's Collection
Image credits: CompetentVicente
In general, older people are happier and have higher life satisfaction than younger people. They also can be very productive, as 1/3 of elders are employed and volunteer regularly, and only 8-15% report feelings of loneliness, says Dr. Matzo.
However, according to her, the stereotypes that persist due to not taking the time or opportunity to get to know older adults, fear of growing old, and media presentations of elders (although that is changing in the USA with the aging of the baby boomers) are negatively affecting older people’s physical and mental well-being.
#13 This Old Man Is Next Level
Image credits: Elevat0r_Guy
#14 Found In My Grandpa’s Office
Image credits: reddit.com
#15 Owner Of The Store Is A 70 Year Old Man Who Changes The Sign Himself Every Couple Of Days. Very Wholesome Indeed
Image credits: Madd-Nigrulo
They can create a deep sense of self-doubt and an overall more negative self-image in older people. They might start to convince themselves that their best years are behind them and that they’re becoming a burden to their family. Older people may also begin blaming their sedentary lifestyle habits or forgetting something on their age. Such thinking only reinforces existing stereotypes and stops older people from doing the things they’re perfectly capable of doing.
#16 My Grandpa Took This Bottle Out And Says, "I Take These For My Gambling Disorder"
Image credits: scoobyn00bydoo
#17 Found This Cleaning Out My Wife's Grandfather's House
Image credits: nitro_miiike
#18 My Grandma Made This Chewbacca Bath Mat Because She Knows I Like Star Wars
Image credits: Xenocide321
Due to persisting myths, older people also tend to receive less care, attention, and treatment from healthcare staff, based on the idea that health issues are a common experience in older age. This results in lower levels of health and other issues like memory impairment and a lower will to live.
In general, ageism hinders people’s physical and mental health, increasing their care needs and reducing their quality of life as they get older. In addition, it encourages them to take up risk-taking behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, and an unhealthy diet.
#19 Grandma Always Delivers
Image credits: MrShawnsies
#20 Old Man With A Sense Of Humor
Image credits: UnreproducibleSpank
#21 Happy Thanksgiving From My Grandparents
Image credits: lolbabies
Given the negative effects of ageism, age-related stereotypes and age bias in our society should be challenged. The most effective way to do that is to spread awareness about aging and increase intergenerational contact, says Dr. Matzo.
"Talk to older adults to learn about their lives, challenge stereotypes when you encounter them, know that, unlike other stereotypes you might hold, if you are fortunate enough to get to old age, the ageist stereotypes will be about you, so don’t lament growing old—it’s a gift not everyone is given," she says.
#22 My Grandma Hiding The Candles That Show How Old She Is. Still Feisty
Image credits: aglatte
#23 There Was An Attempt To Throw Away My Grandpa's Favorite Chair
Image credits: jennipherg4
#24 Found This Hidden Behind Some Jars In My Widowed, 86 Y/O Grandma's Kitchen. I Guess We All Have Our Dirty Little Secrets
Image credits: L0rdtater
It can also be beneficial to challenge ageism by helping to change older adults’ outlook toward their own aging process, as aging successfully majorly depends on the person. Everyone has the opportunity to shape their aging process by choosing what they eat and drink, how physically active they are, and how they manage stress.
"Change in habits adds years," says Dr. Matzo. "Cardiovascular fitness is up 10 - 30% with aerobics, and strength of 80-90-year-olds triples with bodybuilding, while exercise cuts death rate 25-50% and osteoporosis lessens with strengthening exercises."
#25 My Bro Told My Grandma, Jokingly, He Wanted 100 Things From The Dollar Store For Christmas, Grandma Doesnt Like Being Challenged
Image credits: AceWayne4
#26 My Grandma As Marvin The Martian
Image credits: reddit.com
#27 This Guy's Way Of Coping With Hair Loss Is Top Level
Image credits: Hyllihylli
#28 Old Man At Carl's Jr. Not Giving A Hoot
Image credits: thebatman883
#29 My Grandpa Asked If I Was Hungry
Image credits: pizzaisdelicious
#30 Grandpa's Quality Photographs
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#31 My Grandparents Have Been Refilling The Same Soap Container Since Before I Was Born. I'm 24
Image credits: SideRepresentative38
#32 You're Never Too Old To Get Your Game On (Go Grandma!) (Pokemon Go)
Image credits: be0wulfe
#33 Grandpa Fixed The Broken Arm On My Daughter's Mermaid Doll
Image credits: meepsmops
#34 This Dummy Sat In My Grandmother's Living Room Throughout My Whole Childhood And It Always Terrified Me. Now I Have Kids, Time To Pass On The Trauma
Image credits: SilentWalrus92
#35 Grandma's Birthday Gift After Beating Us In Yahtzee
Image credits: bigghimself
#36 My Grandfather Striking A Silly Pose On A Horse
Image credits: toadfishtamer
#37 Found This In Grandma's Closet
Image credits: bugenbiria
#38 Just Told Grandma About My Dental Appointment
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#39 Found This While Cleaning Out My Grandpas Garage. Guess His Jimmies Were Rustled One Too Many Times
Image credits: reddit.com
#40 My Grandma Flexing
Image credits: Ieatmyd0g
#41 Grandma Got An Apple Watch But Still Insistent On Sporting The Rolex
Image credits: Homebarcocktails
#42 I Wonder If My Grandparents Have A Favorite
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#43 Older Lady Chose A Spicy Sweater For Her Grocery Shopping
Image credits: No_Customer_4796
#44 Said That Like She Know Him
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#45 You Had One Job, Grandpa
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#46 My 85 Year Old Grandma Likes To Annotate Her Christmas Cards
Image credits: Buttsecrets
#47 So The Twins Will Have An April Fools Surprise When They Wake Up In The Morning. Grandma Does Something Every Year To Get Them
One time it was a donut box of veggies. And some brown E’s in a tin instead of Brownies another time. Well, this one is this years! Hehe!! What are some fun April Fool’s jokes you’ve done or heard of before that are funny? I have friends coming for dinner so I have to think of something to do to them.
Image credits: milinastod
#48 Way To Go, Grandma
Image credits: KellyPSheffield
