Is 60 The New 40?

It’s a topic that seems to crop up with increasing frequency, suggesting a shift in societal norms where age no longer dictates vitality. People are living longer, healthier lives and embracing all life offers. However, amidst this celebration of youthfulness, there lurks a pervasive culture fixated on staying forever young. And that is more true for women than men. The double standard persists and is damaging to the health of women, young and old.

Shockingly, at least, cosmetic surgeries abound among the twenty-somethings, while individuals in their forties are prematurely deemed too old for certain professions. If you are over fifty you can almost wave a new full-time position goodbye. When I lived in Europe in the 90s and through 2008, I noticed how mandatory early retirement at 50 years old affected people (mostly men), and the picture wasn’t pretty. Early retirement is, in the USA, an act of attrition to get more and more people out of the workforce, painting a paradoxical picture where, despite feeling younger, society perceives them as older. In that respect, people over 45 need to get their game on and either become mid-life entrepreneurs or take several menial jobs. Perhaps, in the realm of perceptions, 40 has become the new 60.

Now, onto the brighter side of the coin: statistics paint a promising picture. The average age for nursing home admittance has significantly risen, signaling prolonged independence and vitality. Surveys show a growing trend of individuals planning vibrant second acts in their careers post-retirement. The older…