Betty White: Role Model for the Senior Set

This year, 2010 A.D., there are more than 40 million Americans who are 65 years of age or older. The prototype of the ordinary senior citizen is not flattering; we are often pictured tottering along with the aid of a walker, sitting on a park bench feeding the pigeons, or watching the world go by from a rocking chair on the front porch.

All of us "golden oldies" need an attractive role model to emulate. Who would be a better candidate for this position than one of the original "Golden Girls", Betty White? She qualifies as a ideal senior icon for many reasons.

Age

She is older than many of the seniors who will be inspired by her life and activities through the upcoming years ; she was 88 in January, 2010.

Appearance

Betty is very attractive. She totes none of the blue-white tresses often visible on the heads of senior ladies; nor is there any evidence of thinning hair, a receding hairline or a bald spot. This senior star's head is covered with bouncy blond curls that many a twenty-year-old might envy.

She has enough wrinkles and laugh lines to testify to the fact that she is not a big fan of plastic surgery, yet her lipstick and makeup are so artfully applied that she retains much of the attractiveness of her earlier years.

Her wardrobe is stylish, colorful, and designed to camouflage any faults resulting from the normal aging process. There are no somber "widow's weeds" apparent here.

Attitude

Betty has an upbeat attitude. Although her spouse, Alan Ludden, passed away in 1981, she continues to find joy and meaning in life. She is still working and continues to accept new challenges. On May 8, 2010 at age 88, she became the oldest person to host the TV show, "Saturday Night Live".

In June of 2010, she appeared as on TV Land's original sitcom "Hot in Cleveland". She will pose for her own calendar for the year 2011. Along with contemporary shots, it will feature photos from her career and she will also be pictured with various species of animals.

Like many seniors, Betty finds new technology puzzling. She didn't know about the computer site, "Facebook", until it was explained to her. Then, typically, she spoke her mind, saying that she thought it sounded like a huge waste of time.

Charities

Once again, like many of her peers, Betty White loves animals. She has supported the Los Angeles SPCA for over 35 years and has been on the board of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for 30 years. She has several pets of her own at home.

Betty will continue to be a popular personality as long as the senior element of the population continues to expand. We can identify with her. She is a widow who has made a special place for herself in society. She is vibrant, attractive, funny, and people really enjoy her company.

For her, there is none of the loneliness, isolation or depression which so often accompany the so-called "Golden Years". Betty has accepted the inevitable physical limitations and coped with them well. She continues to enjoy life and to make a contribution to society and to the charities which she loves.

As the number of seniors grows, this lady will be their ideal role model. Her popularity is assured as long as she is able to appear before her many fans who already encompass every age group, and most certainly will continue to do so.