It's just a number: How to embrace the ageing process

Time to smash the stereotypes during Positive Ageing Week

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Be positive, maintain strong social connections and prioritise your physical and mental health - all this can help you embrace the ageing process, say experts.

In a society that often idolises youth, ageing can trigger fears of losing relevance, beauty and vitality - and a recent Age UK survey of 2,121 UK adults aged 50-65 highlights this concern.

The research, which used Kantar online polling, found that nearly half (46 per cent) of midlife respondents fear getting older, and almost two-thirds (64 per cent) worry about whether they'll still be able to enjoy life as they age. In addition, more than half (56 per cent) expressed concerns about others, assuming they're less capable as they age.

To mark Positive Ageing Week (September 26-October 3) - which aims to highlight the positive aspects of ageing and promote a more inclusive society for older adults - we spoke with Paul Farmer, CEO of Age UK. He shared some insight into what drives these negative perceptions and offered some advice on how we can shift our mindset and start to embrace ageing with confidence, curiosity and joy.

Why are so many people scared of ageing?

"It's understandable that people do fear ageing because as a society we've created this world where that sense of ageing is a bad thing," reflects Farmer.