Many seniors say that “right now” is the best time in their lives. They see “now” as a clean slate, a reprieve from the pressures and expectations of young and middle adulthood. Now their time can be fashioned into their version of meaning and importance.

Aging is not a uniform description because age is different for each person. It will always have some effects you won’t be able to ignore or prevent, but lifelong healthy practices have the potential to significantly extend a healthy life, making aging even more worthwhile.

Don’t be limited by stereotypes and myths

Stereotypes and myths cover every aspect of aging—some of them funnier than others. There are preconceived ideas about everything from mental health to physical health, from relationships with friends, family and lovers to satisfaction with life and depression. And, as with most generalizations, many are false.

What are your perceptions of aging?

The older you get, the more set in your ways you become.
For many, their vocabulary, conceptual and creative skills often grow after age 60. They are the fastest growing segment of the population to take up the computer.

To be old is to be sick.
Even in advanced old age, the overwhelming majority of seniors have little functional disability.

The proportion of disabled older Americans is going down, not up. Only about 5 percent of older people live in nursing homes; the rest live in the community at large.

As you age, you lose interest in sex.
The National Council on Aging found that half of all seniors surveyed are still sexually active and 40 percent would like sex more often. There is no biological clock that signals an end to sexual feelings, desires and abilities.

It’s too late to make lifestyle changes.
There is no point-of-no-return in life. People in their 60s and older who stop smoking, start exercising and adopt a healthy diet can make a positive impact on their lives.

People become crankier as they age.
The aging personality remains remarkably stable. Someone who was cheerful and optimistic as a young person will usually remain so throughout life. The reverse is also true.

Just different

Aging doesn’t mean various body parts don’t work any more. They may just work a little differently.

Sexuality

Both men and women undergo hormone changes as they age. Women generally go through menopause between ages 45 and 55. At age 40, most men experience a drop in testosterone levels.

Many believe that sexual behavior among the elderly is an anomaly. But they would be wrong. Sexual behavior is an integral part of the intimacy shared between two individuals of any age. For healthy adults, there is no progressive decline in sex. A person’s sexual history through midlife is a good indication who will stay interested in an active sex life.

While sexual activity tends to decline with age, individual differences do play a role. These differences can be cultural norms, health or illness, or the availability of sexual or romantic partners.

Urinary System

The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and in men, the prostate.

As you age, your kidneys have to work harder because you begin to lose nephrons, the filtering unit of the kidney.

Aging does not cause incontinence, but there are several reasons why older people suffer from it. For women, the most common causes are pregnancy and childbirth which stretch and weaken the pelvic muscles that support the bladder.

For men, the prostate is the most likely cause. Many men develop an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that presses on the bladder, causing the sensation of needing to urinate. It can also squeeze the urethra, making it difficult to urinate. The prostate continues to grow throughout a man’s life so more than half of men in their 60s and as many as 90 percent of men in their 70s and 80s have symptoms.

Prostate cancer is generally diagnosed early and surgical or radiation treatments allow men to lead a quality life. Bladder cancer is more common and more severe in both men and women who have smoked for many years.