What Do Older Americans Want to Be Called? From politics to the pandemic, older Americans are at the forefront of some of our most pressing issues, labeled by the media in ways that range from traditional (“senior citizens”) to respectful (“mature adults”) to snide (“OK, boomer!”). The research team at The Senior List felt it was important to determine how the group itself would like to be described and surveyed more than 600 people aged 55 and older to find out (theseniorlist.com/data/seniorlabel-study). They learned that, while individual preferences varied, older adults primarily want to be recognized as integral parts of society rather than as burdening outsiders. Overall, the conclusions are nuanced, but several points are apparent: “Senior” terms are on their way out. Traditional labels like “senior” or “senior citizen” were only preferred by a small percentage of older adults: 17% and 10%, respectively. Younger respondents were less tolerant of both terms, foreshadowing a continued decline in popularity. Inclusive terms are most appreciated. Terms that slightly altered words
like “adult” were most embraced by the group. 79% were positive about being called “older adults” or “mature adults.” On the flip side, terms that might make older adults feel alienated, like “the elderly” or “golden agers,” proved least popular. Emphasis on lifestyle was preferred over longevity. The only term that focused on status rather than age (“retiree”) performed surprisingly well. Though half of respondents were under 65, only 17% disliked the term “retiree,” suggesting that older Americans may prefer stage-of-life labels over references to lifespan. Preferred Titles among Older Adults In the search for a favorite descriptor, we asked older Americans which of eight widely used labels they most preferred, and results varied dramatically. No term garnered more than one-fifth of the votes, with “mature adults” and “older adults” narrowly ahead of “seniors” and “retirees,” followed by “senior citizens.” “Other” and “none” combined for significant numbers, outpacing declining terms like “elders,” “the elderly,” and “golden agers.”
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