The United Nations and the World Health Organization have determined that every year on October 1 – that is, today – the International Day of Aging will be marked. Literally translated from English, it is the International Day of Older Persons.
The purpose of this day is to raise public awareness of issues related to aging, and to express appreciation for the contribution of older people to society.
The use of the word elderly, and worse, elderly, reflects the confusion of the appropriate name for old age, and the fact that for more than two decades there has been a debate among professionals about the correct name for the elderly: the elderly, the elderly, retirees, senior citizens, seniors, senior citizens, and more. A study by Dr. Sarit Okun and Prof. Liat Ayalon of Bar-Ilan University found that Israelis aged 90-65 prefer to be called "senior citizens," a term adopted by the Israeli authorities.
Many terms, and none of them describe this period of life well enough, not even old citizenship. Shoshana Bahat and Yigal Yanai z"l answered the question of what people of advanced age should be called. The "Answers of the Scientific Secretariat" section states that "there is no point in flawing the word beard, since there is no escape from old age, and any word that adheres to the meaning of advanced age – a person will want to convert it" (from "Beard as a Taboo Word in Israeli Hebrew", Academy of the Hebrew Language, Hadassah Kantor).
Therefore, more important than the word itself, the meaning and the images associated with it, which will more accurately reflect the period, the variation and the different shades of old age, that will be less inclusive, that will reflect and emphasize the natural, and that will embody the fact that despite the changes that the years bring with them, the spirit and the driving force of man do not change.
The period of old age is a new age and an age of discovery, since life does not end yet, it continues. They usually grow stronger and richer, vitality often persists and it is time to rediscover it and ourselves. The period should be normalized, as it is a natural and significant part of life.
A study by Dr. Sarit Okun and Prof. Liat Ayalon of Bar-Ilan University found that Israelis aged 90-65 prefer to be called "senior citizens," a term adopted by the Israeli authorities
Within the life cycle, and precisely during this period, there is room for optimism, learning, development, change for the better, new experiences and acquaintances, new discoveries.
We as a society have a place and a role to enable the age of discovery, to encourage maintaining the joy of life and the sparkle in our eyes even in old age, to believe in ourselves and in the words of the song "Everything is open, it's not too late" for all of us at any age. Let's try to challenge conventional perceptions and norms towards old age, with positive inspiration, but also responsible, without ignoring the gaps, physical, emotional and economic difficulties, losses, struggles and struggles that are inherited from age.
Many philosophers and sociologists have shown how discourse, terminology and language preserve and reproduce the balance of power in society. Language, as we know, changes consciousness - therefore, even when October arrives, and in general throughout the year, it is worthwhile to raise awareness and attention - not to old age but to the next age we hopefully have to do for the better.
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