Elderly Health Problems

[_19disnA]

Elderly people may have various medical conditions that causes them to not process/filter information the way they could in the past. When one of our elderly relatives/parents/friends wants to talk about some inappropriate topic, we usually just let them know we don't need all of those details and move the conversation to some other subject. Aging can bring about all sorts of issues and we find it best to gently move them to some other topic since they probably don't grasp what they saying isn't an appropriate conversation topic.

 

[tvguy]

I was the fastest growing part of the population but it has almost reached the end of it. Very soon it will start to decline as we move out of the way to make room for the youth. Just part of the circle of life. Boomers were by far, the largest group. They were those born between 1946 and 1964. However the bulk were between 1946 and 1958. So it is tapering off and will be declining in numbers after 2022. Those born in 1946 are now 76 and those in 1958 are now 64. Will we still need them, will we still feed them when their 64? My parents had their last child in 1956 and it was fairly late in life for them.

I'm 65 so i am in that group. My parents were late in life having me. Dad was 46 and mom 34.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I was the fastest growing part of the population but it has almost reached the end of it. Very soon it will start to decline as we move out of the way to make room for the youth. Just part of the circle of life. Boomers were by far, the largest group. They were those born between 1946 and 1964. However the bulk were between 1946 and 1958. So it is tapering off and will be declining in numbers after 2022. Those born in 1946 are now 76 and those in 1958 are now 64. Will we still need them, will we still feed them when their 64? My parents had their last child in 1956 and it was fairly late in life for them.

I sure hope so! We saw Paul McCartney in Orlando in May when he was just a week or so from turning 80...sure looks and SOUNDS good to me LOL and he's way past 64! That was the best three hours of my life!

 

[georgina]

Conversations always turn to health issues when I get together with my older siblings. There is a lot going on! My only advice is don't ask someone 'how are you' unless you really want to know!

 

[ronandannette]

at 60 you become protected by elder abuse laws.

4 years from now, I will have to make a point of telling this to some of my customers. (I manage a warranty department and some people are monsters.)

 

[Micca]

I sure hope so! We saw Paul McCartney in Orlando in May when he was just a week or so from turning 80...sure looks and SOUNDS good to me LOL and he's way past 64! That was the best three hours of my life!

Sir Paul is a miracle of modern aging. He is a gift from "The great Magnet"

 

[barkley]

4 years from now, I will have to make a point of telling this to some of my customers. (I manage a warranty department and some people are monsters.)

we used to tease our kids as they approached the age of 18 to 'watch out b/c you're were moving from child abuse to simple assault territory', as i approached 60 the warning changed to 'be nice to me i'm moving into elder abuse territory'

 

[tvguy]

we used to tease our kids as they approached the age of 18 to 'watch out b/c you're were moving from child abuse to simple assault territory', as i approached 60 the warning changed to 'be nice to me i'm moving into elder abuse territory'

And my kids remind me that THEY will be picking the nursing home my wife and I end up in, if we need one.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Don’t forget, “Omg, we’re turning into our parents!”

 

[C&Jx2]

I have to actually ask these people about such things. And view graphics.

You can imagine how those conversations sometimes go!

Yeaaahhhhhhh

 

[goofyernmost]

Just 3 weeks ago, my husband and I walked 90,000 steps in 4 days on vacation.

Life has a way of jumping up and smacking you in the face sometimes.

Never know when it's you who needs the listening ear to lean on.

The bolded line tells it all. This is a message that everyone should let sink in. You never know what the next minute will bring. In our youth we rightfully never thought about that because, for one thing, our bodies usually could bounce back quickly from physical setbacks. That, however isn't true when you age.

Last December I was playing golf sometimes two times a week and was feeling strong and almost smugly invincible. Two weeks later I could hardly walk. I spent the last year being tested, diagnosed, had spinal fusions and am finally starting to get some of my extremities to work. Even doing this typing has been a real chore. I cannot tell you how many times I have to correct errors because my fingers are just now slowly starting to recover normal fingertip feeling. It was a spinal stenosis (basically pinched nerve) but even now 12 weeks since the surgery I am having to go to Physical Therapy just trying to get hands and legs to get back to at least near normal. Don't take things for granted, they can be taken away in a heartbeat.

 

[NannyBeBe]

When my kids or grandkids make fun of something that I do or say, I just remind them that "Where I am, you shall be."

 

[MrsPete]

I'm within a decade of retirement, and I do have some health problems, and I find myself actively guarding against the tendency of people my age and older to veer into discussions of health issues as a "safe" topic of conversation. Somehow it's the old folks' equivalent of talking about the weather.

I've told my DH to just shoot me if I ever actually start one of those conversations in a social setting.

I just retired, and I don't really have any health problems -- yet -- but I am solidly girding myself against discussing them. Two reasons:

- My mother-in-law's hobby is being unhealthy. I am seriously tired of hearing about every little this-and-that. It's ALL she talks about.
- I read once that you shouldn't discuss aches and pains with younger people, and then when they themselves become elderly and encounter the inevitable, they'll say, "Wow, how did Granny ever manage this? She must've been made of sturdy stuff!"

 

[shh]

We don't know what might be serious or just a normal aging thing. Many have no one to talk to about it.

Exactly this. Many people don't have supportive family or friends - not a soul they can really confide in. Too many folks nowadays are only interested in "friends" to superficially socialize and make inane "small talk" about the latest stupid gossip or entertainment.

Don't get me wrong: I don't care for those who constantly complain about every little health issue either - and I definitely try not to be that person ever. But having someone who will show genuine caring, taking time to listen to someone's fears or problems and help/reassure them is such a rare quality. Especially as one gets older.

 

[shh]

Conversations always turn to health issues when I get together with my older siblings. There is a lot going on! My only advice is don't ask someone 'how are you' unless you really want to know!

This is so true! I do think some people need to better understand that a "hey - how are you" is a social convention/greeting - not an invitation to hear 20 minutes of their medical history. lol

 

[MrsPete]

This is so true! I do think some people need to better understand that a "hey - how are you" is a social convention/greeting - not an invitation to hear 20 minutes of their medical history. lol

Instead of saying, "How are you?" Ask, "What have you done lately?"
It's less likely to get you a run-down of the individual's last doctor's visit.