Growing Old

美國老年人

Happy birthday! Do birthdays really make people happy? Of course they do. Birthdays celebrate the day we were born. Moreover, that extra candle on the cake represents another year of growth and maturity-or so we hope. We all like to imagine that we're getting wiser and not just older. Most of us enjoy observing the miracle of growth in others, as well. For instance, seeing our children develop and learn new things makes us feel proud. For Americans, like people in most cultures, growing up is a wonderful process. But growing old? That's a different story.

生日快樂！生日真能使人快樂嗎？這是當然的啊，慶生是慶祝我們來到世上的日子，除此之外，蛋糕上多加一支蠟燭也代表了另一年的成長與成熟--或者說至少我們希望能如此。我們都喜歡想象著自己能夠越來越有智能，而不只是變老，我們大部份人也同時較喜歡觀察別人成長的奇跡。例如：看到我們的孩子長大并學習新的事物使我們感到驕傲。而對美國人而言，就像大部份其它文化中的人們一樣，長大是一個美好的歷程，但是變老呢？那可就是另外一回事了。

Growing old is not exactly pleasant for people in youth-oriented American culture. Most Americans like to look young, act young and feel young. As the old saying goes, "You're as young as you feel." Older people joke about how many years young they are, rather than how many years old. People in some countries value the aged as a source of experience and wisdom. But Americans seem to favor those that are young, or at least "young at heart."

在美國這個以年輕人為中心的社會中，老化對人們而言并不是一件愉快的事，大部份的美國人都希望自己看起來年輕、行動年輕、并且感覺年輕，如一句古老的名言說：「你感覺自己有多年輕，你就有多年輕。」老年人說自己的年齡時常開玩笑說自己是多少 years young，而不說多少 years old 。某些文化中的人視老年人為經驗與智能的資源，可是美國人似乎比較喜歡年輕人，或者至少是「心里年輕」的人。

Many older Americans find the "golden years" to be anything but golden. Economically, "senior citizens" often struggle just to get by. Retirement-typically at age 65-brings a sharp decrease in personal income. Social Security benefits usually cannot make up the difference. Older people may suffer from poor nutrition, medical care and housing. Some even experience age discrimination. In 1987, American sociologist Pat Moore dressed up like an older person and wandered city streets. She was often treated rudely-even cheated and robbed. However, dressed as a young person, she received much more respect. Of course, not all elderly Americans have such negative experiences. But old age does present unique challenges.

許多美國的老年人覺得他們的「黃金年代」一點都不黃金。在經濟上來說，老年人常是掙扎著勉強度日。退休--通常在六十五歲的時候--使個人收入驟減，而社會保障制度的福利并不能補足差額，老年人常遭遇營養、醫療照顧、和居住環境的問題。有些人甚至曾經碰到年齡歧視的問題，在一九八七年有一位美國的社會學家派特?摩爾裝扮成老人在街上游蕩，結果人們多半對她很粗魯，甚至騙她或搶她的東西，可是當她穿著年輕時，人們就對她尊重多了。當然也不是所有的美國老人家都有這樣糟糕的經驗，不過年紀大確實會遭遇一些特別的挑戰。

Ironically, the elderly population in America is expanding-fast. Why? People are living longer. Fewer babies are being born. And middle-aged "baby boomers" are rapidly entering the ranks of the elderly. America may soon be a place where wrinkles are "in." Marketing experts are already focusing on this growing group of consumers. And even now the elderly have a great deal of political power. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), with over 30 million members, has a strong voice in Washington.

而很不幸偏偏美國老年人口又正在擴增中--很快速地擴增，為什么呢？因為現在的人越來越長命，嬰孩的出生卻減少，而當初在嬰兒潮時出生現在是中年人的很快地就要進入老年階段了，美國恐怕馬上會成為一個皺紋「很流行」的國度。行銷專家們已經開始注意這群人口持續增加中的消費者，而這群老年人現今甚至在政治上也相當有力，因為美國退休人員協會擁有超過三千萬的會員，對華盛頓具相當的影響力。

A common stereotype of older Americans is that they are usually "put away" in nursing homes and forgotten about. Actually, only about 5 percent live in some type of institution. More than half of those 65 or older live with or near at least one of their children. The vast majority of the elderly live alone and take care of themselves. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 75 percent own their own homes. Over a million senior adults live in retirement communities. These provide residents with meals, recreation, companionship, medical care and a safe environment.

一般人對美國老人家的刻板印象是被「遣送到」養護院去，然后被人遺忘。然而事實上，只有百分之五的人住在此類機構中，超過半數的六十五或六十五歲以上老人，是與孩子同住或住在其中一個孩子的附近。絕大部份的老年人是自己住并自己照顧自己的，根據美國戶口調查局的統計，他們百分之七十五擁有自己的房子，超過一百萬名老年人住在退休者的社區中，這些社區為其居民提供飲食、娛樂、友誼、醫療照顧、以及安全的環境。

Despite the challenges they face, Americans in their "twilight years" generally refuse to give up on life. They find a variety of ways to keep themselves active. To help them stay in shape, they may join mall walkers clubs, fitness programs and even the "Senior Olympics." They can enjoy hours of entertainment at senior centers and adult amusement parks. Many enroll in continuing education programs to maintain their mental skills. For Americans, if you're going to grow old, you might as well do it gracefully.

縱然他們遭遇挑戰，處在遲暮之年的美國老年人通常還是不愿意放棄他們的生活，他們尋求各種不同的方法使自己更有活力，為了保持強健的身體狀況，他們參加購物中心的競走俱樂部、健身課程、甚至奧林匹克老人運動會。他們可以在老人中心和成人公園里逍遙好幾個小時，許多人報名參加延伸制教育以維續他們的心智技能。如果你是將要進入老年期的美國人，你也可以優雅地做做這些活動。