I was recently at a birthday celebration where the hostess said, “The old people are all over there.” Naturally, none of us took this well.

As a gerontologist, I knew that she was definitely wrong in her terminology because we “old people” are all under the age of 65. Old refers to being over the age of 65. Age breakdowns continue: 65 to 74 is termed young old; 75 to 84 is old and the oldest old are over 85. The oldest old are one of the fastest growing cohorts in the world. The “Baby Boomers” are definitely getting older which contributes to this increase of old people. People are living longer than ever before, as well.

Younger people often don’t have a good understanding of old people. Though we are all aging, people still fear getting old despite the fact that healthy elderly people in the U.S., as well as around the world, are living longer. We now have 72,191 American centenarians, an increase by 44 percent since 2000.

Many older adults stay healthy, active and happy. Eyesight and hearing are decreased, but stored knowledge is strong in the aged. Also, overall mental health, including our moods, sense of well-being and ability to handle stress improve with age. The aged are a highly heterogeneous cohort and they have a wealth of experiences that they have gained throughout their lives. Young people have much to gain by enjoying elder wisdom.

The increasing number of elderly people contribute to society in numerous ways. They baby-sit grandchildren, shop, pay taxes and give emotional support to others. Those who have retired and finished raising their families are volunteers. In fact, they volunteer more than any other age group. Older people are known to follow through and complete the task on hand at work and home.

A number of older Americans do need help. AARP Inc. has concerns about millions of older Americans who cannot meet their basic needs for nutritious food, safe and affordable housing, adequate income, legal advocacy and personal connections. Some 13 million people over the age of 50 can no longer afford their housing costs or live in inadequate housing, and 20 million low-income people age 50 and over do not have adequate financial resources to meet their basic needs.

The AARP Foundation is working to address the senior housing crisis. It wants to make all of our communities affordable and welcoming for people regardless of age or physical ability. Social isolation is not a disease, but studies show it can cause health changes. Nine million people over the age of 50 are at risk of hunger every day. This number has risen 79 percent in 10 years.

Seniors fail to sign up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the new title for food stamps, for several reasons. They do not know how to get or fill out the forms. They don’t believe they are eligible for this need or the system requires them to enroll on a computer. Florida now requires all individuals to apply online and doesn’t have any alternative paper or person to turn to. Language barriers also exist because the forms are only in English. AARP, places of worship and charities help older people with SNAP applications.

Heart conditions, depression, dementia, incontinence, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, breathing problems, cancer, visual problems and weight loss may occur in these older years. Medicine and medical treatment are needed to tend to these serious health issues.

Here is what you can do: Visit an older person who lives alone. Recognize that old workers have different skills than younger employees. Fight for the need for safe and accessible housing, healthy food and affordable medical care as we honor our elders.

Last but not least, teach youngsters that they have a lot to learn from their wiser elders.

Deena Rubin is an educator who lives in Amherst.