Americans are getting older but not the way our parents and grandparents did.

The face of America is changing and it's going gray. Look around you. We are all getting older. It's not just happening in our neighborhood but around the world; populations most everywhere are showing signs of aging. Did you know the number of U.S. workers between ages 55 and 64 will grow 51% to 25 million? It is the fastest growing segment of our society.

Just two or three decades ago, when a person had gray hair and moved a little slower then the rest of us, we called them old or elderly. They were called retirees, wore strange clothes, baked cookies, and chased us off their lawns. We called them grandma and grandpa, ma'am and sir. We called them "grumpy", behind their backs, of course. Sometimes we were scared of them. We couldn't imagine that one day, those old folks would be us; we would be the one the grocery bagger would be calling sir or ma'am. But many of us are here.

There has been a major shift in perceptions and the way we talk and think about growing old. Now words like senior citizen, old or elderly have negative connotations, conveying an attitude based on stereotypes of sickness and a degree of helplessness. In reality this couldn't be further from the truth. Advances made in medical technology and a shift in attitudes about the aging process have made today's seniors a breed apart from their predecessors just a generation or two ago. Most folks over 50 are vibrant and full of life. Many work well past retirement age because they want to stay active and connected to the world and feel like they have something to contribute. They sure don't act like our grandparents did. What they are NOT is useless, sickly or helpless.

So how should we refer to these seniors in a way that reflects respect, compassion and understanding? When I teach people in our community how to be empathetic to the needs of seniors during senior sensitivity training, we discuss at length, just what do you call older people? There are several schools of thought. One suggests elder, a term which implies wisdom and respect, as in the elders of a church. Another suggests mature American. Still others believe older adult is the most neutral description. My suggestion: why we don't just ask these folks what terms they are most comfortable with and let this guide our choice of words.

Why should we bother to see beyond labels, beyond the graying hair, the slowing gait and the creases? As I near my own senior hood, I know that if we look only at the outer wrappings of a person we miss the best elements, the ones not so obvious.

What do I see when I cross paths with someone from a previous generation? I see experience, wisdom, and history. I see people who helped create many of the vibrant institutions we enjoy today. I see innovators who made our lives change for the better. I see soldiers and sailors who survived world wars and preserved democracy. I see a generation who experienced change beyond comprehension. I see grandmothers and mothers who nurtured us to adulthood. I see grandfathers and fathers who taught us to be strong and told us silly jokes. I see a generation who taught us to expect more from ourselves then we ever thought possible. And I want to say thank you because without these folks, our world would be a vastly different place.