Seniors Aren’t Staying Golden Anymore [PHIL-OSOPHY]

There must be something in the water in Massachusetts.

Just recently, the Oxford Council on Aging officially voted in support of changing the name of the Oxford Senior Center to the Oxford Social Center because the word "senior" can be perceived as disparaging, discourteous and derogatory toward older people. In fact, the vote on July 9 was unanimous in favor of changing the slanderous word.

They wanted to freshen up the word "senior" because they believe it conveys ageism and frailty, and the bouncy seniors there are anything but brittle. Especially for the seniors who don't feel like they're 65, 75 or 85; they don't want to be associated with a pejorative.

For over a year, the unyoung ones considered names like Oxford Living Life Center or (cue up Ol' Blue Eyes) Oxford Young at Heart Center. Whoops, I didn't mean to say "Ol'" Blue Eyes because some could perceive that as insulting.

I'm not just picking on Oxford, because there are quite a few municipalities in the state that are trying to change the perception of ageism. The Barnstable Senior Center in Hyannis became the Barnstable Adult Community Center and Plymouth went with the Center for Active Living. There are others, but you get the gist.

I don't get it. I'm a senior and it's something I'm very proud of. This movement is ridiculous. Do you think they'll start changing senior discounts to community life markdowns?

Where's my sage Betty White when I need her? Her advice for seniors to stay young is simple: get eight hours of beauty sleep every night, nine hours if you're ugly.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.