Think it's disgusting how the elderly are often treated in the us

I like the point you made about how here in the U.S young people fear getting old because they see how they're treated. Honestly I agree with you. I recently saw the movie Grudge Match and the entire time everybody was making old jokes about Stallone and De Niro, with the exception of a few of the characters. When in actuality they still had a lot of fight left in them. It did sort of make me sad how people treated them cause I think it was accurate how, as you said, old people are seen as obsolete, as if they're supposed to just sit there and die.

I agree with everything you said.
I belong to the baby boomer group. And I see disrespect to my age group.

I fear the retirement or nursing home. They are very expensive but the help there is scarey. Both grandmothers of my husband were in one. Things stolen from them. The place always smelled like urine. The help for them from the nurses was almost nill. They stressed that they were over worked.
I can't see living with my daughter and her husband and child. Their place is too small. I feel I would be more of a nuisance. And yes, she is still the champ at rolling her eyes at me, which I detest. And she knows it.
My son still lives with us. He has offered his basement when he does move out. Btw, he is joking about the basement.
I really don't know when the shift happened on the thinking of the elderly. Compassion is lost now.

I once found this on the Internet. Please read it. I sent it to my own daughter just a couple of months ago.
www.theseniorlist.com/2013/01/a-letter-from-a-mother-to...

O RLY? Didn't some Japanese politician hint that women who are past reproductive age should just go and do harakiri in a hole because they allegedly have nothing to offer to society?

I'm pretty damn old and I haven't noticed any rot setting in just yet, but, hey, what do I know? Old timer's disease has definitely set in, so I've a great excuse for anything I do that's a bit off color.
But for all of you youngsters out there that might feel like it's just not worth it to grow old, let me assure you that it certainly is. There's nothing in the "old persons rule book" that says you have to spend your old age withering away in a retirement home.
Here's an example;
"Dr. Stanley Paris, 76, sailed off in his sailboat at 7 a.m. Monday from the St. Augustine City Marina.
His goal is to sail around the world, or 27,000 miles, alone in less than 150 days. The current record is 150 days, six hours and one minute. Paris is aiming for between 120 or 130 days. If Paris is successful, he will be the oldest person to hold the new record by six years."

I don't think a high level of reverence should be given automatically just because someone is old, but I do think old people are often treated unfairly badly. Ageism (against young people and old people) is one of the few forms of discrimination that is still widely seen as acceptable. Old people are desexualised by society (even now, I can almost guarantee someone will reply to me saying "Old people sex? Gross"), removed from jobs even if they can do them well, and many old people are generally socially isolated. I can only hope it changes by the time I get old :P

This attitude isn't just in America, I reckon it's rife in most cultures, certainly prevalent here in Australia.

I DREAD getting much older than I am now: I'm in my 60's, already less able to do things myself and needing more help from others and it's very hard to cope with when I've always been independent or trying to be.

I was born and always lived in a society that has always venerated and respected their elders.
My son gets up to give seat to an elderly person. He must help every elderly he sees in trouble no matter were.
If these things fail is the fault of the education that you have at home.

You make an interesting point you know. I'm going to have to think about it while I keep making fun of old people at the gym.