Modern Age Gives Outdated Aging Terms an Update

On January 11, Modern Age launched the Aging Index: a glossary of refreshed phrases that modernizes commonly used yet outdated aging terms.

The stigma that comes with aging can make it challenging to embrace it. This challenge has led to a national fear of getting older. In a recent survey of Modern Age’s community, 97% of respondents said they think about aging at least once a week, and over 75% of respondents said they are afraid of the aging process.

Getting over the fear of aging starts with changing the words we use everyday to talk about it. The launch of Modern Age’s Aging Index is just one step in changing the way Americans think about aging. With this launch, Modern Age is pledging to use the updated terms across all content as part of the brand’s mission to help people age fearlessly.

Modern Age’s Aging Index:

• [Old Term] Senior Citizen → [New Term] Seasoned Citizen
• [Old Term] Middle-Age → [New Term] Evolved
• [Old Term] Over-the-hill → [New Term] In the Prime of Life
• [Old Term] Boomer → [New Term] 20th Century Modern
• [Old Term] Geriatric →  [New Term] Advanced
• [Old Term] Retiree → [New Term] Post-career
• [Old Term] Sunset years → [New Term] Vital Years
• [Old Term] Senile → [New Term] Relaxed Tempo
• [Old Term] Old-timer → [New Term] Venerable
• [Old Term] Elder → [New Term] Wise Adult

Modern Age Index Survey Results*: 

*Results based on a survey of Modern Age’s Community 

• 77% say they’re afraid of aging
• 54% of people are more afraid of aging than public speaking
• 84% of people believe that women are called more age-based names than men
• 97% of respondents said they think about aging at least once a week