The General 'Seniors' Chat thread

sac said:
I refuse to categorize myself as a Senior, and will continue to refuse at least until I am eligible to take advantage of Senior benefits like Medicare, Senior discounts, etc. But I'm starting to think and plan for that phase of my life so glad to see we are discussing these issues.

I'm not a senior and I'm following this thread ...

I've always been surrounded my seniors and get a long with them perfectly. I love hearing there stories.

I'm in my mid 30s and mom is 80 now

I'm on the fringes of senior life. Because of Meniere's Disease, I am on disability and medicare, and I'm a member of AARP. But I don't think of myself as a "senior," no matter how many things I qualify for.

OTOH, I think senior subjects affect us all, whether it is for ourselves or our parents or other loved ones. Once our parents are not with us any longer, we become the seniors in short order, so it's good to know what to expect and what resources are out there.

And it's always good just to share and talk about all this stuff, if only for the company.

What PeggyC ..

Plus one of the reason why I decided to include senior services in my business. I enjoy being around them and like I said I love hearing their stories

According to the UN, a 'senior' is anyone over age 45years.

In 'first world' societies, there's usually a set age at which you can start to receive discounts, benefits (medical, transport etc) and/or a pension due to your older age. That's the point people may grudgingly accept the term 'senior' but think of themselves as 'middle-aged'. When the grandkids are leaving high school, that's when people might wonder if 'senior' really fits - but 'old age' = frailty = Death's Doorstep (or at least the front garden), so never ever use that around them!!

Well, the UN is definitely insane on that point. I don't even think of people over 55 as being seniors. Maybe 65... but maybe not. And 45 is most definitely not where you start getting benefits due to older age in the U.S. Are you sure about that???? I'm fairly certain people don't get benefits here until 65.

Wow, this sort of comment makes me feel about 120 years old. I'm picturing myself--one of "them"--on a wooden rocker, recounting rusty stories of my youth.

I hate the term "senior." It screams "old." But perhaps that's just my own mind set.

HarleyQuinn said:

Plus one of the reason why I decided to include senior services in my business. I enjoy being around them and like I said I love hearing their stories ">

I rather prefer to include 'senior' as part of a progression. For example: Middle-aged, Senior, Elderly, Frail.

I tend to think of Middle-aged as a range of ages; Senior beginning at the various ages when one can get discounts but with no 'age defined' end of the range; Elderly when a senior begins to get 'old'; and Frail as when one is really old. While the first two categories are somewhat age defined, the latter two are not and are based more on a bunch of factors--health, attitude (!), mobility, etc.

unicorn33 said:
Wow, this sort of comment makes me feel about 120 years old. I'm picturing myself--one of "them"--on a wooden rocker, recounting rusty stories of my youth.
I hate the term "senior." It screams "old." But perhaps that's just my own mind set.

HarleyQuinn said:

Plus one of the reason why I decided to include senior services in my business. I enjoy being around them and like I said I love hearing their stories ">

I agree the word "senior" has change from being a "top" tier level at school or work to someone collecting SS a long time ago, but now it is being used for those 55 and over in most "active adult" communities. That term is essentially a cover for senior in my view.

I was well over 65 when I retired, but have never really quit working. Being a grandmother to 7 is an occupation! My husband called it a day at 83, and then began to enjoy having the time to pursue his avocation as an artist.

I like the term, "Seasoned Citizen" which I heard a few years ago, but it has never caught on. Maybe "the older generation" is kinder to the ear?

Whatever euphemism is coined for those blessed and fortunate to live to a long life, we should respond with pride and not shy away from that reality.

For full disclosure, I tried denial for years!

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Seen in the paper the other day: I'm now older than sin, but less active.

lisat - Condolences on your loss! I'm confident your dad heard and took comfort from your song. So glad you could be with him.

My grandson has taken over my house with two renters and I live in my apartment attached to the house. I have a huge front window that oversees the circular driveway. The renters call me Grandma and so do all of their friends. They usually wave to me through my window as they come and go. Now these are young guys and gals in their early twenties and like Harley says, they all seem to like interacting with me. Sure, I'm senior to them in years and experience yet they never make me feel like an outsider. I am my grandson's grandma and I feel so respected by all that come and go. Anyone of them will help me, have helped me, and I like the interaction of generations. They know I will help them as well. I was raised this way with love for my grandparents and aunts and uncles. A magical childhood and now it is continuing. Big smile on my face and that is all I have to say about that.

I have to admit I was quite shocked when I read that definition in a Population Health journal a few years ago. And then I read it in context.

Globally, millions of people are lucky to reach their 60s. Yes, even these days. In some places 58 or 59 is an amazing age, especially if you have most of your teeth and all your limbs. And as we're witnessing now, even places that had fairly advanced societies can be swiftly reduced to very basic conditions with poor sanitation, food safety, almost no public health services and little hope of speedy recovery.

That's a quick way to increasing your child mortality rates and reducing your aged population.

*************

I like the 'seasoned citizen' approach, but I can tell you my ladies would say they're not 'done like your dinner' yet! They think of themselves as 'mature'.

I figured it had to do with the averages across the world, including third-world countries where life expectancy is very low. That's a very sobering thought. If you break it down regionally, I will probably sleep better.

"Seasoned Citizen" gets my vote, too. It's nearly impossible, though, to adopt and maintain a word for "people of a certain age" that does not eventually take on some pejorative meanings. Unfortunately, many people who are much younger than we are tend to view "seniors" as past their sell-by date, out of the loop, irrevelant, etc.

My mother noticed long ago that once she hit a certain age, people in shops and restaurants began ignoring her, speaking to her in a condescending way, and generally marginalizing her. I always thought she was oversensitive to it, but I have to admit it does happen.

oneofthegirls said:
My grandson has taken over my house with two renters and I live in my apartment attached to the house. I have a huge front window that oversees the circular driveway. The renters call me Grandma and so do all of their friends. They usually wave to me through my window as they come and go. Now these are young guys and gals in their early twenties and like Harley says, they all seem to like interacting with me. Sure, I'm senior to them in years and experience yet they never make me feel like an outsider. I am my grandson's grandma and I feel so respected by all that come and go. Anyone of them will help me, have helped me, and I like the interaction of generations. They know I will help them as well. I was raised this way with love for my grandparents and aunts and uncles. A magical childhood and now it is continuing. Big smile on my face and that is all I have to say about that. ">

Thanks Peggyc, I feel the same way.

What I am not understanding is why anyone feels the need to stereotype a certain age. I just went to my 50th class reunion and I can tell you it was like prom night all over again only better. No more competition, no more jealousies. In my twenties, thirties, forties, fifties - no one cared how much money I made so why should anyone care now that I live on SS, annuity payoff and I get discounts for train and food? I am the same person I was then and so were each of my peers at our reunion.

You don't have to call us anything else than elders. After all, if you truly want to stereotype us, that is what we are.

And I appreciate my Elders as well!

When I am in an emporium that gives senior discounts, I ask for my geriatric discount.

Was just chatting with my bigsister on the phone. She lives two States away, and is about to welcome another grandchild this time in Toronto. She's 65. She has some niggling health stuff but nothing major. I mention all this because she again (she's said it a few times in the last couple of years) 'this growing older bizo isn't any fun!' She doesn't think she'll get past her mid 70s and that's only with a lot of luck. (Huh?! She's fine! Where on earth is this coming from?!?) then she thanked me for being a good and loving sister. What???

I have noticed that in my later 60's, my mind has played funny tricks on me. I have found the key is to discover how I welcome feeling most needed, not necessarily how others need me. Without my discovery, of how I welcome to be needed, I too am done and would easily welcome my life ending in my early 70's.

Sis just adores her grandkids, even the badly behaved ones. She sees hope for them though. and she doesn't sit around with nothing to do, or just saying how terrible she feels. But she has this looming sensation that she has a short lifespan and is tidying up around her.

She calls me Pollyanna.

oneofthegirls said:
... welcome my life ending in my early 70's.

No thanks. I don't intend to go until my late 90s, at least. And, it'll be at the hands of a jealous husband

In your case, sir, that should be relatively easy - if Mrs Marksierra gives you half-a-chance!!

oneofthegirls said:
I have noticed that in my later 60's, my mind has played funny tricks on me. I have found the key is to discover how I welcome feeling most needed, not necessarily how others need me. Without my discovery, of how I welcome to be needed, I too am done and would easily welcome my life ending in my early 70's.

oneofthegirls, I am so sorry you feel this way, I am in my early 70's, with 4 grand kids and a fifth on the way. I am happily retired, go to the gym twice a week, feel great and have every reason to keep on keepin' on.

No worries Emmie. It was a 2am way of sympathizing with Joanne's sister. A looming sensation that comes and thankfully goes. ><

Yeah, we had another quick chat. I think she's working it out based on our parents but Dad had a cardiac embolism, Mum had cancer; their parents (except one) were murdered so you can't tell. Mum's mum died in her 90s. Sis is being weird.

When I first saw the thread topic, I thought it would be a place where students in their last year of high school could ponder the next step in their lives as they move on to college or career. To me, being the kind of senior actually referred to by the OP is all about moving on to the next stage in one's life with all of the eagerness and trepidation that the high school seniors must be feeling.

@Joan_Crystal

Feeling so at home in this thread!

eg:

PeggyC said her mom said people in shops and restaurants began ignoring her

Yup, though plenty of eye contact and "speaking up" generally takes care of that, not to mention going to stores where the people already "know" me.

ootg, I felt just the same about the 50-year h.s. reunion, but you put it better! It was soooo much fun!

And like joanne's sister, I'm not expecting that many more years (grandparents, mom, dad, and even darling health-conscious sister gone by mid-70s), but that's OK, I'm not eager for a long fade.

Enjoy it all, everyone!

It's all about your attitude!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-25/golden-bolt-hidekichi-miyazaki-sets-sprint-record/6804376 I love his posture!