The Department for Work and Pensions has commissioned research to see if there was any evidence that age and deterioration of the body and mind were linked in those reaching 65 years.
The report 'facts and misconceptions about age, health status and employability' was published in May 2005. This research found that the majority of mental and physical ability does not deteriorate with age. Two exceptions were eye sight and hearing where employers can make the necessary adjustments to accommodate any deficit in this area. The study examined nine common assumptions employers made and about employing older workers and used data from the Office of National Statistics, published journal articles and reports. The conclusions arising from the evidence is that older adults are vastly different from each other.
Debunking the myths
'Age determines health and age brings illness and disease'
This was found not to be true, the general health and longevity for older adults is improving.
'Getting old is associated with loss of cognitive capacity'
Cognitive functions are mental processes such as memory, reasoning, thinking etc. However decline with age is not inevitable.
'Older workers have less physical strength and endurance'
This is not true. Physical strength and endurance is very specific to individuals. Fewer jobs today are physically demanding and those adults choosing those types of jobs are often those who have a higher level of physical ability. Physical demands from work can also often be minimised through changes in work design or use of equipment.
'Older workers have poorer sensory abilities such as sight and hearing'
Sensory ability tends to deteriorate with age. However loss is not consistent in all older adults and most sensory loss can either be compensated for or overcome using for example aids or by making adjustment to the workplace.
'Older adults have difficulty adapting to change'
This myth is not true. Often any difficulties may occur as a resistance to change and this may occur at any age.
'Older adults find it harder to learn new information making their knowledge and skills outdated'
This is incorrect, all workers will benefit from a continuous learning environment within the organisation and older workers should be offered training opportunities in the same way as younger workers.
'Older workers take more time off work'
This is not true, older workers show lower levels of short term or non-certified sickness absence than younger workers. This type of absence is the biggest source of absence.
'Older workers have more accidents in the workplace'
This myth is untrue. Accidents rates vary in terms of a number of factors such as type of accident, but in general younger workers have been found to have a higher accident risk.
'Older workers are less productive'
Again this is untrue. There is great individual variation in ability to work with age, and older workers may be able to compensate for any decreases in speed by increases in quality and accuracy.
