The “Heartwarming Stories” Facebook page is dedicated to wholesome, cute and just happy posts. We also got in touch with Charles de Vilmorin, CEO and Co-founder of “Old People Are Cool,” an advocacy group for the elderly to learn more. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to comment your thoughts below.
More info: Facebook | Old People Are Cool
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Bored Panda got in touch with Charles de Vilmorin, CEO and Co-founder of “Old People Are Cool,” an organization dedicated to changing the way people see the elderly. First and foremost, we wanted to hear if there was a story behind him creating the group.
“Yes! I was meeting with a professor in New Hampshire and saw these 4 words graffiti on a wall; driving back I thought I had seen something awesome that day. I printed stickers and handed them out at a Senior Living trade show where we were exhibiting. People were rushing to get them and we started having amazing conversations. This has then led to the start of the Old People Are Cool campaign to fight ageism.”
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Naturally, we were then interested to learn more about ageism and general misconceptions about the elderly. So we asked Charles to give some examples of what many people misunderstand or get wrong about older folks. For example “They aren't happy, it's the reverse, see the happiness curve,” he suggested.
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This refers to the idea that, for most people, their 40s tend to be their most unhappy years, while joy actually increases as the person gets older. This doesn’t necessarily mean an actually higher quality of life, just the self-perception of happiness. You can think of it as a U-shaped curve, with high happiness at the start and at the end.
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Other misconceptions Charles shared: “They have great physical and cognitive decline - While some physical and cognitive changes are normal with aging, many older adults remain physically active and mentally sharp well into their later years. They are not resistant to change.”
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“They are not productive - Some of the great inventors, entrepreneurs and contributors to society produced their best work in later ages. They bring valuable experience, wisdom, and skills to the workforce and volunteer activities, making significant contributions to their communities.”
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“They don't have sex and relationships - this is not true,” he shared. “They are all the same - they are as diverse as any other segment of the population. They are a burden on Society: Some may use more healthcare services, many contribute economically and socially through work, volunteering, and caregiving.”
