From what I've learned the gong result doesn't necessarily affect the ringer. I had an elder ring the gong which granted youth resulting in another elder turning into a five year old.
When your elder turned into a 5 year old, did he stay an elder or did he lose all his skill? That's kinda neat that you get to hold onto a villager that was going to probably die soon another 50 plus years!

Fluteteacher