Fear of elderly people (gerontophobia)

Gerontophobia is a fear of elderly people. It might show up as discomfort visiting care homes, unease around older relatives, or avoiding places where older people gather. Often the fear is tied to what old age represents, such as illness, frailty or loss.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek geron, meaning old man. The word is also used for prejudice against older people, which is a separate idea from fear, while the fear of growing old yourself is usually called gerascophobia. As a fear, it is not well documented clinically.

What it feels like

• Feeling tense or awkward when spending time with older people
• Putting off visits to grandparents or older relatives
• Being upset by reminders of ageing such as walking aids or care homes

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is gerontophobia the same as ageism?

Not quite. The word is used both for a fear of older people and for prejudice against them, and the two are easily confused. If the fear is linked to difficult experiences with an older person in the past, a GP or specialist counsellor can help you talk this through gently.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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