The greatest obstacle I face when teaching students between the ages of 18-22 about aging is to challenge their current perception of the aging experience. Until very recently, popular media did not portray aging in a positive light and as a result, several myths and stereotypes about aging have become pervasive throughout our culture.

 

On the first day of class, I ask my students to call out common myths and stereotypes that they have heard about aging. It is not surprising to hear suggestions like “They’re the worst drivers”, “They’re mean and grumpy”, “They smell bad”, “They don’t care about sex”, and “They all live in nursing homes”.

​

I explain to my students that by the end of the course, my goal is for them to be able to use their critical thinking skills to revisit these myths and stereotypes and confirm or reject them, based on factual evidence they will have learned throughout the course.

​

On the last day of the semester, we play a myth vs. fact game following our lecture on what successful aging means. On a slide, I list several aging myths that were presented in the American Psychological Association’s 2017 handout, Older Adults’ Health and Age-Related Changes: Reality Versus Myth. As a class, the students discuss whether they believe each statement is a myth or a fact, and then we go over the correct answers.

​

Lastly, they complete their final class activity before leaving, where I pose the following question:

 

Without looking at any of your notes or class materials, what’s something you learned about aging through taking this class? Did you have any ideas about aging that turned out to be myths?

​

This was an effective way for me to determine whether the class had truly made a meaningful impact on their perception of aging. I was elated to see that it had when I read their responses. I realized that not only would their new outlook on aging benefit them, but also make a positive impact on their interactions with aging loved ones, friends, and clients.

​

​

Click through the slideshow below to see a selection of students’ responses to the question.