Paralysis of elders faced with the future

Present social images and structures cast the elders of society into a parochial context and rigid roles. The overemphasis on being economical productive as the major criteria for social usefulness renders retirement as a time of death in relation to society and its needs.

Because they are unable to accept the whole of past experience, including tragic as well as happy occurrences, older people are unable to identify with the present fast pace of society; they cannot see demands on their skills as part of historical development; nor can they use their insight into history to generate a vision of the future.