The importance of seniority

While sticks and stones may indeed break our bones, how much do names really hurt us? And as we get older, does it get any easier to brush off a case of name-calling?

Over the past few weeks, the Georgian has noticed that an otherwise innocuous word can muster up a fair bit of emotion.

Senior.

What does it mean? Well, if you're in the working world, it generally means you are a thoroughly knowledgeable employee, oftentimes with a bigger salary or that elusive corner office. If you're in the military, it usually connotes you've risen through the ranks and earned your place among the hierarchy of command. And if you're in high school, it means you're top dog amongst your peers as you get ready to embark out into the realm of adulthood.

But what about those who've had more than a few years of experience out in the world? When do we slip from being just another person on the street to being a senior citizen? And why is that movement into the elder ranks of society such a hard idea to reckon with?

At one time, and not too long ago, being a senior often meant you were getting some sort of pension from the federal government, enjoying plenty of free time, and taking advantage of life away from the confines of a day-to-day job. Of course, it often also meant things like broken hips, forgetfulness, and leaving a certain amount of independence behind.

But with advances in health care and refined lifestyle choices, the chances of being constantly ill or reliant on other people for day-to-day tasks are happening later and later in our ever-extending lives.

Indeed, those whose age was once considered a sign of frailty or senility, are now showing the greater population that older can mean better, or at the very least, just as good as younger. But then where do we draw the line between average citizens to senior citizens?

The federal government's departmental website for seniors, aptly called Seniors Canada, provides information and services "that are relevant to older adults (55+), their families, caregivers and supporting service organizations."

While the Georgian isn't knocking the department or the work they do, we wonder how many 55-year-olds would reckon themselves as seniors?

Even those turning 65 and benefiting from a federal pension don't necessarily see this as jumping over to the senior side of the fence. The Georgian has talked to several seniors over the past little while, and even those in their 70s or 80s aren't likely to brand themselves as senior citizens.

And so, the long-held attitudes about 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90-year-olds of yesteryear oftentimes do not reflect the realities of those reaching the same ages today. Fair enough - we need to take step back and adjust our thoughts and perhaps come up with a newer title than senior for that element of the population.

Do we want to be politically correct and say 'older adult' or 'mature member of society' to differentiate between 25 and 75-year-olds? Sounds rather tedious. Saying 'retiree' isn't all that suitable, as people are often extending their work lives further past the age of once-expected retirement. 'Elderly' or 'aged' for some is a reminder of being frail or helpless, so that' won't do either.

Seems like we either need a completely new word or scrap some of the baggage surrounding the word senior. And if those born during the baby boom of the 1940s through to the 1960s has anything to do with it, we'll likely be further redefining the concept of senior for many years to come.

Whatever word we want to call them (or they call themselves), seniors have proven to the world that getting older doesn't mean curling up in a bed and waiting for the remnants of life to pass. Instead, they're showing that being active and vital members of society doesn't have an age limit.