According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the word elderly means “rather old; be over fifty; characteristics of later life. When someone is categorized as elderly they feel insulted and may immediately become defensive, this is because society has played a major role in how we interpret the word “elderly”. Some people use the famous expression "You are as old as you feel" because they are quite comfortable with themselves and nothing anyone says could influence how they feel. The truth is that every day after a person is born, he or she grows older, and thus saying that a person is old should not be taken in a bad perspective, but rather seen as a blessing of long life. As individuals, we are all guilty of planning our lives. retirement, yet some of us view retired people in a negative light. In this essay, I would endeavor to examine the factors that may have triggered negative perceptions and discernment and how they relate to the term ageism and its effects on older adults. The essay would also explore theories of modernization and egalitarianism and also examine ways in which society can change its perception of older people. Growing up as a child, I remember very well that the elderly people in your area or any area were treated. with the greatest respect. They were held in high esteem and their opinions and advice were valued. Elderly people were people you turned to when you were not feeling well or when you needed someone to look after your children. You would never dare pass them in the street without saying “hello, good evening or good night”. If a person spending time on the road used explicit language, they would instantly stop and express middle of paper...for them. In conclusion, the perception of older people is attributed to how society perceives them, so let's change this perception as a society and maybe some of the moral and values ​​of our country will return, thus reducing the number of negative events in our country.ReferencesDefinition of an elderly or aged person. (nd). WHO. Accessed April 5, 2014, from http://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/ageingdefnolder/en/ Street, D. (January 1, 2002). Status of the elderly: modernization. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved April 7, 2014 from http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3402200387.htmlWhat is ageism?. (nd). Age in the UK. Retrieved April 7, 2014 from http://www.ageuk.org.uk/work-and-learning/discrimination-and-rights/what-is-ageism/elderly. (nd). Merriam Webster. Retrieved April 4, 2014 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elderly