Appropriate Usage of Terms in Research on Aging and Older Adults: Discriminatory vs. Respectful Meanings Implicit in the Terms

There are many ways to break down stereotypes about the aging process and discrimination against older adults. Any researcher studying the process or the adults must have a fundamental respect for them. This editorial is intended to inform researchers that the persistence of stereotypes and discrimination depends on the terms (e.g., elderly, subjects) they choose to use throughout the research process.