Aging: I'm not fragile or spry, I'm just old

Janice Kennedy, a retired journalist, writes that older adults resent patronizing language and stereotypes and that many remain socially active while also experiencing loss and vulnerability.

Janice Kennedy describes a recent experience in which she was repeatedly called "my dear" during a dental visit and felt patronized. She writes from the perspective of an older person who cannot change her age but wants to be seen as the same complex person she has always been. Kennedy notes that society often leans on superficial stereotypes about aging while praising visibility for stages like menopause. She argues for more honest attention to life after menopause that avoids tired caricatures and acknowledges both sorrow and small delights. Key points: - Janice Kennedy is identified as a retired journalist and contributing columnist based in Ottawa. - She recounts being addressed with patronizing terms such as "my dear" and objects to jokes or labels tied to age. - The article says many older people remain active in social life, including book clubs, sports and nature walks. - Kennedy highlights that aging involves real losses and vulnerability even as people continue to find pleasure and connection. - She contrasts recent cultural attention to menopause with what she sees as less attention to the realities of post‑menopausal aging. Summary: The article reports that patronizing language and age stereotypes contribute to a sense of marginalization among older people and can obscure their ongoing interests and capacities. Kennedy calls for more nuanced public attention to life after menopause that avoids caricature and acknowledges both loss and joy. Undetermined at this time.