Most seniors are very much engaged. Decline in mental function. This is the most frightening myth for most people. Old people are abandoned by their families. Not the norm at all.
Most seniors have frequent contact with their children, siblings and friends.
The common denominator in all of the above is fear of losing independence. They arise because we know someone to whom they have happened. As is human nature, we then tend to focus on that negative aspect. We have a tendency to lump all seniors into one demographic group. But the term senior can cover a span of 40 or 50 years.