MATTHEWS, N.C. — A 94-year-old man, who strives to stay active, says some people may underestimate people his age. 

 

What You Need To Know

Ageism is stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination based on a person’s age

Lee Rea is a 94-year-old who goes to classes at the YMCA twice a week 

Rea said limitations older people have may lead to incorrect assumptions

 

Lee Rea visits the pool at the Brace Family YMCA in Matthews twice a week. 

“More than anything, it’s a chance for me to get out and get some exercise that I can’t get otherwise,” Rea said. 

He participates in a water arthritis class.

“I get to know people who are younger than me, and that’s a good thing,” Rea said. 

He said being in the pool helps with his arthritis and gives him other health benefits. 

“I do things in the water that I can’t do out on the land,” Rea said.

When Rea is not in the pool, he uses a walker to get around. 

“I like to do more than I do, but there are limitations,” Rea said. 

Some of his limitations include not driving anymore.

He said having limitations can lead to assumptions about other things.

“If you don’t hear real well, if you don’t see real well, people assume you are worse than you really are. I think they underestimate you a little bit,” Rea said.

One little thing he wants you to know is that age doesn’t prevent you from learning, growing and staying informed. 

“They think you are living in the past all the time, and that’s not necessarily true,” Rea said. “I’m interested in what’s going on every day and everything.”

Ageism means stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination based on a person’s age. 

A University of Michigan National Poll on Aging reveals 82% of adults ages 50 to 80 reported at least one form of everyday ageism in their lives.

Rea said ageism probably happened to him, but it may have not been obvious at the time. 

He said one little thing that may be helpful with misconceptions whether it’s age or something else is not judging people without knowing them. 

“I found the majority of people are good people,” Rea said.

The survey also showed 15% of adults ages 50 to 80 said people assumed they didn’t do anything important or valuable. 

Rea is a father, grandfather and great-grandfather and an active member of the YMCA. 

Before retiring, he worked for the City of Charlotte engineering department and ran a smaller beef cattle farm.