Facing the Truth of Getting Old(er)

[SarahLancaster]

Seraphim, have you considered knee replacement?

[SarahLancaster]

I go out to eat once a month with a group of retired teachers. After a while, we instituted a new rule: Only 15 minutes will be allotted for 'health talk.'

[Seraphim]

They won’t do it at 52. They made my mom wait until 71.

Seraphim, have you considered knee replacement?

[RayRay63]

... -then sleep till late morning -once till 1pm. I actually don't think my body would let me sleep that late anymore.

 

I am happy to admit to some of those.

 

It is marvelously liberating to turn off the alarm when you realize you do not have to get up and look after someone else.

 

Mind you, don't go thinking they are going to cost you less.

 

There is a great Dave Gilmour song - "There's no way out of here, when you come in you're in for good".

[boltnrun]

They won’t do it at 52. They made my mom wait until 71.

 

My mom had it done at age 50.

 

Who is the "they"? Seems arbitrary and a bit insensitive.

[Seraphim]

Since the province pays for it they get to decide when they will do it.

My mom had it done at age 50.

 

Who is the "they"? Seems arbitrary and a bit insensitive.

[SarahLancaster]

Seraphim, where on earth do you live that they won't do it at 52?

[Seraphim]

I am in Canada. Usually the government only wants to pay for this ONCE so they will wait until you are pretty much immobile until they do it. My mom had to wait until she could only walk 30 seconds at a time . My father-in-law was 75 when he got his knees replaced .

Seraphim, where on earth do you live that they won't do it at 52?

[RayRay63]

I am in Canada.

 

We are much more socialist in Australia.

 

You get it when you need it, and with a 15 year repeat with the new techinques, you get another one - because the tax system involves a life time levy that funds it all.

 

I find it hard to understand why any sophisticated western economy does not have this type of healthcare system in place.

[Seraphim]

We are much more socialist in Australia.

 

You get it when you need it, and with a 15 year repeat with the new techinques, you get another one - because the tax system involves a life time levy that funds it all.

 

I find it hard to understand why any sophisticated western economy does not have this type of healthcare system in place.

Well, don’t want to be political. ;)

[RayRay63]

Well, don’t want to be political. ;)

 

You vote for the party that puts it in place. We've had it since the 1970s. It's not rocket science, it's just funding.

 

Maybe you live in the country the Scots built, whereas I live in the one the Irish built. Maybe there is something to that.

[Seraphim]

You vote for the party that puts it in place. We've had it since the 1970s. It's not rocket science, it's just funding.

 

Maybe you live in the country the Scots built, whereas I live in the one the Irish built. Maybe there is something to that.

Well, being political here buys infractions and closes threads so I won’t talk about my political persuasions.

[RayRay63]

Fair enough, although I think that was more an objective socio-historical observation, than an advertently political statement.

 

I hope the mods are intellectually equipped to tell the difference. Because they should be.

[itsallgrand]

It's true what Seraphim is saying. It has to do with the Baby Boomers getting older and there is a strain to provide all that is needed.

It's a problem as far as permanent care homes as well. There simply aren't enough - beds, staff, money.

 

I remember in high school we were discussing a class about the major issues that would be facing the country as we got to the age I am now - health care and housing for Baby Boomers was one they taught in social studies!

 

I'm turning 40 soon. Reading along, hope it's ok, getting tips and wisdom here.

[Seraphim]

It's true what Seraphim is saying. It has to do with the Baby Boomers getting older and there is a strain to provide all that is needed.

It's a problem as far as permanent care homes as well. There simply aren't enough - beds, staff, money.

 

I remember in high school we were discussing a class about the major issues that would be facing the country as we got to the age I am now - health care and housing for Baby Boomers was one they taught in social studies!

 

I'm turning 40 soon. Reading along, hope it's ok, getting tips and wisdom here.

Yes, my mom is a boomer. It is a MASSIVE generation. Mine is much smaller and is paying to support the massive generation living longer and longer and longer. My husband’s parent’s generation is even older and many like his parents now 86 almost 87still alive and requiring massive amounts of care.

 

Thank God the generations below me are a little bigger but sadly lack employment and also not paying enough taxes.

[SarahLancaster]

Well, I feel lucky that I have good insurance. I had a hip replacement this year and I'm considerably older than 52.

[Seraphim]

I have private insurance too, but here they don’t pay for operations because they don’t need to. Here it is government funded health care or go to another country and pay for a private operation. Not within the realm of 99%of most people.

Well, I feel lucky that I have good insurance. I had a hip replacement this year and I'm considerably older than 52.

[Camber 2019]

OK, enough with the politics!!

 

Anyhow - here's another one:

 

Last week we stayed in (as usual) and watched two really wonderful programs on PBS... one was about bird eggs, the other about butterflies. I (these days) find that far more entertaining than going out and having to "people" with people!!! Other than the occasional uncalled for woof (i.e."Hey, you do know I'm here -right?"), it was nice to have the company of the dogs instead!!!

[Batya33]

OK, enough with the politics!!

 

Anyhow - here's another one:

 

Last week we stayed in (as usual) and watched two really wonderful programs on PBS... one was about bird eggs, the other about butterflies. I (these days) find that far more entertaining than going out and having to "people" with people!!! Other than the occasional uncalled for woof (i.e."Hey, you do know I'm here -right?"), it was nice to have the company of the dogs instead!!!

 

For me it wasn't about age. Once I had a baby and a small child especially I found social interactions especially if my child was around pretty darn exhausting. When he's not around or when my husband or someone else is occupying him much better. I am an extrovert so this was surprising to me!

[Camber 2019]

SOrry folks...

 

I guess this belongs in Off-Topic...

 

I'll ask the Mods to move it.

[Cherylyn]

I am not the same person as I was when I was 22. I come from the school of hard knocks. I'm more outspoken for sure but I'm still polite, too. Nowadays, I've since learned to decline whereas when I was younger I was such a people pleaser and rarely declined anything. I've since learned what enforcing healthy boundaries with others really means which I very much enforce!

 

I go to bed early and awake as early as 4:15am 7 days a week. Sleeping in is 5:30am. I don't enjoy late nights out. I'm a homebody, love home cooked meals, maybe watch a movie from home on occasion, take brisk walks and more of a day person.

 

When I was younger, I ate whatever my heart desired and didn't exercise much. Now that I'm older, I'm more careful regarding my diet, don't eat much and exercise diligently at least every other day without fail. I'm pretty good about my self-discipline. It keeps my aches 'n pains at bay or at least minimizes health woes.

 

I don't like crowds and noise either. I prefer quiet.

 

As I get older, I've become more practical, sensible and logical whether it's home life, relationships, friendships and all I do or whom I interact with. When I was younger, I was naive. Nowadays, I know how to navigate myself more wisely. This comes from many years of experience, knowing what works and what fails miserably.

[Fudgie]

I'm almost 30 but I can relate to this thread. In the past several years (definitely since the age of 24 or so), I've wound down. I haven't changed too much I don't think, just sort of calmed down and matured a bit. My interests remain the same and I was never a partier at all but I used to drink more, I used to smoke a lot of tobacco products (cigars, hookah, never cigarettes), etc.

 

I drink maybe 1-2x a week now, haven't smoked in years now, and I am a bit more of a homebody, although I do still like to travel. Homecooked meals are the bomb. I am healthier than I have been in a long time. I've become a little more insular and keep to myself mostly but I am happy. I am social when I Want to be and then I go back to my place when I am done. I know what I like. If I don't want to do something, then I don't do it, dammit!

 

Looking forward to my 30s.

[Wiseman2]

Youth is wasted on the young🍼👶

[kim42]

I think it's slightly different for me, I'm 28, and I feel like I've just found myself recently. I used to be pretty shy and insecure in my early 20s, now I'm a lot more outgoing and self-confident. Some of my friends are not looking forward to their 30s, they believe they're getting 'old', as for myself, I've never been this excited about life.