I could relate on what you said about old people and having an irrational fear when I was growing up.
I remember that I didn not want to be near them because I was afraid of catching the Death germs.
Like you when I was young it was explained to me that old people die and so I had this irrational fear that being around them or if touched I could get death.
Ah - the confusion that well-meaning adults unintentionally spread!