How Old is Old?
When I was young, about sixty-five or so, I used to wonder about the folks who were Really Old — about eighty or ninety or even the one person that I knew who lived to be over 100.
Why did they walk so slowly? Was it that hard to walk? Did their legs hurt or what? Well, now I can answer that for me, anyway. I walk slow because of my balance. I used to have to evaluate how my patients walked outside on uneven ground and found many of them wanted to use a cane for support. I find that even the slightest change in the ground beneath you can throw off your whole equilibrium and over you can go. Grandma found that out the hard way as she approached her eighties. She was negotiating a declining slope in the parking area of the Gildersleeve store when she lost her bearing and landed in the dirt right on her face! We took her down to the doctor as fast as we could, probably the first time she had ever been there and he cleaned her face and applied antiseptic. Always after that she was very careful and walked just as slowly as she wanted to be safe. And I never knew her to fall again.
Why do I eat so slowly? I have to be careful now as to what kind of food I order in a restaurant as I do chew my food very carefully and very slowly. I guess it is a combination of a lower partial plate and wanting to be ready for easy digestion and not wanting to be the last one chewing while the others are waiting for me to finish. So I look for soft food and although I love salads they are definitely not restaurant fare for me now.
Why don’t they like to be helped getting out of cars, upstairs or even walking? Well, here’s the reason for me and I don’t know if others feel differently. I want to be as independent as I possibly can as I approach my eightieth birthday. If I don’t need help I won’t ask for it and if I do I will ask for it. It is downright dangerous to walk up to an older person and grab them from the back to assist them. It is called “unsolicited assistance” and most of the time isn’t needed.
What about taking trips? It depends on the person and just what their personal problems are as far as physical needs go. I know that I cannot drive distances alone anymore and have to stop that very important independent activity. It has been hard to admit that I have to refrain from getting into my car and driving more than about thirty miles away, especially if I am not sure of my destination and how to get there. I am probably on the conservative side of this decision but after some experiences lately I have got to make that decision.
What about living alone? Well, here I am over twenty-two years living alone in my own home. It is a problem that I have got to face some day but just want to put it off as long as possible. I just ordered a Mobile Help Kit but have to have it installed. I had a few scares this year but things are looking up right now and I hope I can continue to live here even if I am “old.”
There are many other questions that I could post about this subject but these are enough for a start. So, I ask again, “how old is old?” Guess it depends on the person. I don’t feel old inside of me my brain seems about the same, only, I would say a little smarter BUT my body is telling me something else. Well, there are many of those who would say, “Growing old isn’t easy” and I can say that I agree with them.
