Do you worry about getting old?

the keen edge

I don't mean reaching your 30's,40's,50's or even 60's.

I mean becoming elderly.
The point in life where you start to worry about cold winters, being seen as a vulnerable member of society, being fearful of loud teenagers hanging out on street corners, having to accept being probed and prodded by medical staff "doing what they can for you". Or god forbid dementia.

I'm a very independent person, no doubt as many of you are.
I had to spend six weeks in crutches a couple of years back, and even then as a young man with a relative minor injury, the realization of how easily my independence which I took for granted could be taken away shocked me.

I suppose the only sure way not to grow old and infirm is to kick the bucket just after your life peaks.

Does anybody else ponder this impending doom, to which we're all relentlessly heading towards.

FatherLen

i am 23. i will worry about that in 40 years. and by that stage i wont need to worry about it because of advances in technology.

Lapin

If you start worrying about old age in your 20's, you're already old my friend.

Sala

When someone you know loses their spouse I always dread getting to that stage in life, when your spouse dies, and you are pretty much hanging around for an unforseen number of years waiting to go yourself:(

ygolometsipe

senile -> wont give a ****!

Eathrin

Yes I worry about it hugely because I'd say I'm coming into the prime time of my life now. But I suppose you've git to remember that it doesn't happen overnight and it,s something you adapt to. No reason to give up on life just because you're elderly. I'm sure there's plenty of enjoyment to be had in retirement if you take care of yourself properly.

IM0

No Im out a here before it happens.

Pottler

No, I smoke 40 a day and breath noxious fumes at work routinely. So, elderly,I doubt it.

Loopie

Well, not exactly looking forward to sh*tting myself, but I'm sure it happens to the best of us...

mackg

Sala wrote: »

When someone you know loses their spouse I always dread getting to that stage in life, when your spouse dies, and you are pretty much hanging around for an unforseen number of years waiting to go yourself:(

in the case of very elderly couples this is true a lot of the time but there are plenty people who go on and make the most of their own life.

superstoner90

Id love to be old. You get to use cool words like "whipper-snappers"

You can get a chair that carrys you up the stairs.

You get to wear wellys everwhere.

You can retire from your job.

And so on...

the keen edge

Eathrin wrote: »

Yes I worry about it hugely because I'd say I'm coming into the prime time of my life now. But I suppose you've git to remember that it doesn't happen overnight and it,s something you adapt to. No reason to give up on life just because you're elderly. I'm sure there's plenty of enjoyment to be had in retirement if you take care of yourself properly.

Yeah I reckon this is how it works.

You don't go from being 35 years of age to 80 years of age. Life, and growing old is a day to day progression.

Pherekydes

Incontinence, impotence, baldness, AMD, deafness, senile dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis...


Aaaah, all the good stuff...

Where To

I hate the thought of getting old but I'm not all that keen on the alternative either.

TeddyTedson

My Granny had dementia so I definitely don't want to inherit that.
Not something I really worry about though, I'm unfortunately for myself, very short sighted.
I have a feeling I'll die young though, not that I want to live to be too old.
I'd happily die young for a good cause.
Not having control over my life is one of the things that stresses me out.

Smidge

I'm terrified of getting old:eek:
As the years start ticking away faster and faster and the knees and various other joints creak more and more, the reality of disease and illness that come with old age scare the sh*t out of me:(

grindle

the keen edge wrote: »

A.The point in life where you start to worry about cold winters...
B.Being seen as a vulnerable member of society
C.Being fearful of loud teenagers hanging out on street corners
D.Having to accept being probed and prodded by medical staff "doing what they can for you".
E.Or god forbid dementia.
.

A. Nope.
B. Yup.
C. Yup
D. Nope
E. Nope

According to you I'm 40% elderly, and have been all my life.

stovelid

No. The thought of it sucks.

Run_to_da_hills

I did an one time but now I see a reason for life.

Eathrin

the keen edge wrote: »

Yeah I reckon this is how it works.

You don't go from being 35 years of age to 80 years of age. Life, and growing old is a day to day progression.

Alas a concept my childlike mind struggled to comprehend in the nappy days but I've come more to grasps with the idea in recent days. Thanks for the clarification though.

Teyla Emmagan

Yes. Who will look after me???

Dudess

No. Pointless worrying about something you can't avoid. Thinking about it too much, especially when it's decades away, can make a person prematurely old I reckon. And cause them to imagine signs of ageing that are inconsequential.

Giselle

I don't worry about just being old.

What I worry about is being old and alone.:(

Dudess

Giselle wrote: »

I don't worry about just being old.

What I worry about is being old and alone.:(

Should that happen though, the person can find a way of coping with it - never underestimate human resolve.

stovelid

Giselle wrote: »

What I worry about is being old and alone.:(

Get a mannequin for the sitting room?

the keen edge

grindle wrote: »

A. Nope.
B. Yup.
C. Yup
D. Nope
E. Nope

According to you I'm 40% elderly, and have been all my life.

70/100*40=28.

You're 28 years of age aren't ya?

There now, you see the my hypothesis is correct, you cant argue with results.

Loopie

I remember being at my nan's funeral a few years back and being taken aback by the lack of non-family people - mam was telling me that a lot of her friends had already died. Remember thinking it was so sad!

Sunnyisland

Nope don't worry about it, do worry about the younger ones growing up though.

grindle

the keen edge wrote: »

70/100*40=28.

You're 28 years of age aren't ya?

There now, you see the my hypothesis is correct, you cant argue with results.

29. Fuuck you're good.

But I wasn't 29 when I was 16 (oddly).

Hypothesis... crumbling...

stovelid

realies wrote: »

Nope don't worry about it, do worry about the younger ones growing up though.

They are immune to your consultations.

whiskeyman

Being in early 30s, I'm just worried about getting to old to play football as the injuries are taking much longer to heal and the knocks seem to hurt a lot more
I still have good pace, but when the rest of the younger whipper snappers rush past me, it's gonna feel terrible!

stovelid

whiskeyman wrote: »

Being in early 30s, I'm just worried about getting to old to play football as the injuries are taking much longer to heal and the knocks seem to hurt a lot more
I still have good pace, but when the rest of the younger whipper snappers rush past me, it's gonna feel terrible!

I'm 40 and played a match on Monday night.

I was sore until yesterday.

H2UMrsRobinson

I don't worry about myself getting old, but my husband is a generation older than me and I'm terrified of what I'll do when he get's old and after he's gone. He's not fond of animals and I am, so I'll probably get a little dog to keep me company when he's gone, but I will miss him dreadfully. It would be lovely if we could go together, but we've an only daughter and the thought of leaving her alone scares the pants off me too. OP so glad you brought this topic up. I won't sleep a wink tonight !!!

the keen edge

whiskeyman wrote: »

Being in early 30s, I'm just worried about getting to old to play football as the injuries are taking much longer to heal and the knocks seem to hurt a lot more
I still have good pace, but when the rest of the younger whipper snappers rush past me, it's gonna feel terrible!

You're maybe a year behind me!.

Get to terms with wanting to play in goals; and your team mates wanting you to play in goals!

Dudess

whiskeyman wrote: »

Being in early 30s, I'm just worried about getting to old to play football as the injuries are taking much longer to heal and the knocks seem to hurt a lot more
I still have good pace, but when the rest of the younger whipper snappers rush past me, it's gonna feel terrible!

Maybe do some other training on the side? I'm the same age group and friends of mine (but not me :pac:) are running/cycling marathons now. It's just in recent years they've really started to focus on fitness, and I have too but to a lesser extent.
Ten or even five years ago though? Forget it!

the keen edge

H2UMrsRobinson wrote: »

I don't worry about myself getting old, but my husband is a generation older than me and I'm terrified of what I'll do when he get's old and after he's gone. He's not fond of animals and I am, so I'll probably get a little dog to keep me company when he's gone, but I will miss him dreadfully. It would be lovely if we could go together, but we've an only daughter and the thought of leaving her alone scares the pants off me too. OP so glad you brought this topic up. I won't sleep a wink tonight !!!

Fcuk! what have I started.

Please don't go planning anything!

Sala

Too late, the floodgates have opened:D

H2UMrsRobinson

the keen edge wrote: »

Fcuk! what have I started.

Please don't go planning anything!

don't panic - I'll be grand - there are some positives

1. all of the bed to myself (and the dog)
2. 100% tv remote control possesion
3. frittering my step-children's inheritance in front of their very eyes
4. never ever having to put the loo seat down
5. having to cut the basterds toenails with secatuers, seriously they're like talons...!

grindle

Suicide thread merge! Whoop! You first, robinson! Promise I'll go next...

Pherekydes

Not worried much by teenagers on street corners (any more than I was as a teenager :pac:), in fact I'm quite taken by the idea of youth in Asia.

Giselle

Dudess wrote: »

Should that happen though, the person can find a way of coping with it - never underestimate human resolve.

I'll have a mannequin as per Stovelids suggestion.

It'll be just like being back with my ex.

grindle

Pherekydes wrote: »

Not worried much by teenagers on street corners (any more than I was as a teenager :pac:), in fact I'm quite taken by the idea of youth in Asia.

Hiya Gary!

Cú Giobach

the keen edge wrote: »

You don't go from being 35 years of age to 80 years of age. Life, and growing old is a day to day progression.

True you don't suddenly go from 35 to 80, but when your 80 it feels like you did.

Doctors have no prob giving nice drugs to the elderly, roll on the good years I say.

celticcrash

Old people complain less than young people. They have more gratitude.
I have seen old men and women crippled with arthritus shuffling along but their more content then a lot of young people I know.
They are a lot wiser and know how to have a laugh.
They have more acceptence of what life throws at them.
I know some miserable young people complaining all the time.
I myself like being around older people, theres no bull with them.
They have nothing to prove and they can just be themselves.
It all depends on attitude.

clappyhappy

My mother in law is 75 this year and I can honestly say I have never seen some one with so much energy. She drives, takes care of people on the island she lives on in outer hebridies, comes here to Ireland 3-4 times a year to spend time with grandkids,is on. Facebook, skype. I only hope that I have half as much energy as she does if I reach her age. So no I am not afraid of growing old, I hope I get to grow old.

Pottler

Pherekydes wrote: »

Not worried much by teenagers on street corners (any more than I was as a teenager :pac:), in fact I'm quite taken by the idea of youth in Asia.

sounds dodgy. Planning a future being rubbed down by teenage rent boys or just badly expounding a liking for eastern philosophies?

Dudess

Giselle wrote: »

Dudess wrote: »

Should that happen though, the person can find a way of coping with it - never underestimate human resolve.

I'll have a mannequin as per Stovelids suggestion.

It'll be just like being back with my ex.

See? a plan B is a plan B. :pac:

Bipolar Joe

Jesus, I do all that sh!t already.

El Guapo!

I don't mind getting old. It's unavoidable. It's the thoughts of getting older and people dying around me that gets to me.
But I always said if I get to the stage where I need a nappy, or am getting Alzheimer's, I'm gonna jump off a cliff..........if I can remember.

mickrock

stovelid wrote: »

They are immune to your consultations.

They're quite aware of what they're going through.

DEFTLEFTHAND

I never look that far to the future. Life could throw up anything in the intervening years and I might never experience old age, so there's no point worrying about it.