May is Older Americans Month.

A whole month dedicated to looking at wellness, active living and celebrating the contributions made by seniors to our community. Unfortunately, it also makes us aware of a few misconceptions about the aging community and of what they are capable.

We all know, age is just a number. The number that many people believe leads to older adults being limited, but the reality is that age is not what limits us.

Health issues, muscle loss and reduced mobility are factors that can lead to limitations, but not age. So let’s dive a little deeper into other stereotypes that are just not accurate.

First is that all older adults experience physical decline.

The belief that older adults are frail, sick or simply disabled is false. Yes, some older adults may have health concerns. And yes, some older adults may experience muscle loss or be frail.

But this is not only because they are older. Reduced activity or a sedentary lifestyle is often considered a reason for the breakdown of muscle, not just age. To avoid this breakdown requires that we stay active and find activities we enjoy. Walking, working in the garden or yard, and chair yoga are just some ways for us to combat physical decline.

The second misconception is that cognitive decline is inevitable and memory loss cannot be avoided. Not all older adults experience memory issues and cognitive decline is not universal. Yes, some individuals do have memory issues, but others do not.

To combat memory loss, it is important to engage in regular and stimulating activities. Playing games like chess or cards and practicing crosswords and word searches keep our brains thinking. Staying social and interacting with friends and family also helps.

The third stereotype is the belief that because of the false view regarding the cognitive decline in older adults than those same adults cannot make decisions regarding their own life and are therefore incompetent. Unfortunately, when a person is exposed to these negative stereotypes repeatedly, that person can start to question their own abilities and might result in feeling less confident in what they accomplish each day. This self-fulfilling prophecy can lead to a person losing autonomy and can result in unnecessary loss of independence.

All of these and other stereotypes are a form of ageism. Ageism against older adults is using stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination based on age.

This practice can result in internalized shame and reduced mental and physical health.

People begin to think they cannot do something just because they happen to be older, but this is not true. You may have to adjust how you do gardening because you do not want your back to cause you pain, but that does not mean you cannot do what you have always done to bring yourself joy.

Do not let these misconceptions affect you! Be proud of your life experiences. Stand up for yourself and stay active so you are as healthy as you can be.

Don’t let someone else’s negative thoughts affect your physical health and wellbeing.