Are you a senior citizen? Does the term apply to you? Where did it come from anyway?
Does that label match how you see yourself and the life you’re living today? Or do the old rules around aging deserve a second look?
The phrase senior citizen became popular around the time of the creation of the Social Security Act of 1935, when the country began to recognize that people were living longer and retiring from the workforce. At the time, the intention behind the term was meant to be inclusive and meant to replace labels like “the aged” and “old folks.” Its original meaning was designed to recognize that people who spent a lifetime contributing to society deserved dignity and respect later in life.
But language evolves, and people continue to contribute to society in meaningful ways throughout their lives that go far beyond a paycheck.
The term arrived because in the 1930s and 50s people were living longer. Today, over a quarter into this new century, we are living even longer than our ancestors of nearly a century ago. In fact we’re living decades longer.
We, the so-called elderly, senior citizens of the world, are a growing force who continue to reshape how we experience aging.
We are retiring later, or choosing not to retire at all. Armed with life experience and wisdom, we are carving our own paths. We are finding meaning and making a difference. And for those living with illness or frailty, aging still holds opportunities for connection, dignity and purpose.
Over time, the image that comes to mind when we hear the term senior citizen began to change. What was once a term meant to signal dignity and respect is now linked to stereotypes of decline, dependence, and frailty. Today, the label covers a much longer life span while our experiences of aging look very different.
According to Rhode Island law, an “elderly person” is defined as someone 60 or older, while a “senior citizen” begins at 62.
When the law groups everyone over 60 into a category shaped by stereotypes of decline, it risks overlooking the wide range of ways people experience aging today. For Rep. Lauren Carson, who is committed to helping design policies that affect the growing number of older adults in Rhode Island, the words we choose matter.
In my work with older adults and their families, I see how broad, and at times confusing, that label can be. The people I work with often span decades. Sometimes they are adult children helping their parents navigate decisions about aging, sometimes individuals planning for themselves. Yet under current definitions, both generations can fall into the same category.
This disconnect between language in the written law and the way people actually experience aging today is something Rep. Lauren Carson, D-Newport has begun to question and act on. Her bill calls for replacing terms such as elderly and senior citizen in Rhode Island statutes with the phrase older adult, language that many advocates say better reflects the diversity and dignity of aging today.
“About a year ago, during a meeting of a legislative study commission I was listening to a presentation by Philip Clark, a University of Rhode Island gerontology professor,” Carson said. “He talked about the many ways our culture pins seniors as ‘old people.’ I was struck by his observations about ageism.”
For Carson, the presentation “changed everything.”
“We took the study commission on the road, and as Clark spoke about ageism and the power of language, she could see members of the audience nodding in recognition. It was clear this was real,” Carson said. “People could see this immediately. We have to change this.”
I happened to be in the audience when the presentation took place in Newport and remember nodding in recognition too.
“As soon as you start talking about things differently, it changes the frame of reference. If we can think about older people in a different way it will affect the way we look at policy and legislation for Rhode Islanders.”
“As a society, and as Rhode Islanders, we’re facing big changes as our population ages,” Carson said. “We have to start thinking about aging differently. Someone who is newly retired at 65 has very different needs than someone who is 88 and confined to a bed. As we shape policy for older adults, we have to recognize that those needs look very different.”
For many older adults, they are already living that “different way.” Now is the time for the language to catch up.
A study by the Stanford Center of Longevity notes that many adults in their 50s, 60s and 70s are entering a new stage of life focused on purpose, learning and contribution rather than retirement. At 72, Rep Carson’s personal story reflects that shift.
“One of the first jobs I had out of college in New Jersey was with the New Jersey Federation of Senior Citizens,” Carson said. “They were incredibly politically active and I learned a lot from them. In many ways, everything I know about organizing and being involved in public policy started there. They were like my grandparents at the time, and now life has come full circle.”
Carson said that perspective has shaped the way she approaches both life and public service. “I wanted to run for office 40 years ago, but life was busy raising my son and a career,” she said. “When I turned 60, I decided to run—and I loved it.”
Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks has written that the real fear that people have about aging isn’t about the passing of time itself. “People don’t fear getting older as much as they fear becoming irrelevant.” Language has the power to quietly place people into categories that can make them feel less relevant at a time when they may already feel most vulnerable.
Carson says her experience as an older adult has given her a clearer sense of perspective about what matters most.
“You lean into the things you love,” Carson said. You take care of yourself, love the people around you—I love my son very much—and pursue what matters. At this stage of my life, I’m able to focus on the things that matter most to me.”
Shifting from senior citizen and elderly to older adult isn’t as simple as a change in terms. It’s about acknowledging one another in a way that opens the door to a more relevant perspective on aging.
This goes beyond politics or party lines. At the end of the day, it’s about something we’re all doing: aging.
Words matter.
Helen Hames is an Aging Advisor and Founder of Age Ambassador,based in Rhode Island. She works with older adults and their families to navigate decisions around aging at home or transitioning to senior living, recognizing the needs and priorities of today’s older adults continue to evolve with each generation. Helen’s approach centers on understanding what matters most to each individual and helping families plan with intention, clarity and compassion. Helen was honored with the 2025 Senior Champion of the Year Award for her advocacy and personalized guidance that supports older adults in living fully through every season of life.