FORUMS

Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

  • 47,612Members
  • 1,358,869Posts
  • 1,400,000Visitors
Recovery Club

Seniors Matter

Seniors Matter

Senior Matters 'cause Seniors Matter!

Q&A

What do you picture when you think of a senior person?

What age decade do you think someone becomes a senior?

When should a senior retire?

How do other cultures treat their seniors?

When you think of 70 year olds acting like 50, or a 50 year old living like they're 70... The line becomes quite blurred, with who's 'older'

Of cause everyone would agree that an 80 year old is definately a 'senior' citizen.

So where is the official line that defines Aussies as Seniors?

The answer is 60 years old.

I applied for my seniors card, to try claim all the discounts (I never remember to ask for... when I received the card I was delighted to read the official letter thanking me for being such a wonderful contributer to the Australian community 😇👍 but deep down... something inside me screaming... I'M NOT OLD!

The years of constantly struggling with CPTD anxiety & depression... the years have got away with me and now, im old 😞.... reality is... my body is ageing... the mirror says so, there's wrinkles, there's grey and white streaks, its harder to move, I'm forgetful, i get nervous, lack confidence, I dither and rummage in my handbag, people are starting to pop off around me more, hospital doctors all look 12 yrs old and my friend's kids have grandkids.... This is entirely unacceptable state of affairs and I need support.

I go to the doctor... but sadly even doctors bother less with our aches and pains and worries. She says:

"All part of ageing" -

"not much we can do"...

"not much point doing an x-ray when it's almost definately just arthritis..." 😞 In other words

SUCK IT UP!

Why don't they just have a 'morning after 60 pill' or a euthenasia back door.. How can i face this ageing thing and all the sadness by myself when the doctors even don't care.? Really triggers the SI, how can they not know this and be kinda?

There

was a distinct difference in the way I'm treated since turning 60.

Always echoing in my mind is the comment a GP said about one of his older seniors "past her useby date" Oh dear, it's like we're already dead, but

we just gotta go on like we're not and won't. 😟 😞 Can't stop the decline. Just have to

- roll with the punches

- go with the flow

- age gracefully ...

But sadly, even in Mental Health, there's this undercurrent that "it's too late" for us seniors. Set in our ways they say... the less likely we are to change... and that might be true because we've seen so much, morphed for others a million times, and yes, kinda somewhat disillusioned with constantly changing systems that focus on money more than humanity... Sometimes I wonder if some structures are created to puff out the workforce more than service provision.

But truth is, my biggest hurdle is my deep beliefs about ageing.

- I planned to 'check out' at 50 because everyone gets sick after 50...

- i should have it all together at my age (ha, not happening, getting worse)

- the Kidz will bring the grandkids over for Sunday lunch and I'll love cooking for them... (not happening)

- my hubby will grow old with me, and talk together and hold me close every night. (didn't happen😞)

DOES ANYONE RELATE? OR HAVE A SENIOR ISSUE TO TALK ABOUT?

Appleblossom and Peace have raised senior issues this week...

- RETIREMENT and MOBILITY

I'm hesitant to reveal my age these days, so when it's non consequential, I take off 10yrs. People listen more to 52yr old than they do to 60yr old.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE 60 TO CHAT HERE. OR REVEAL YOUR AGE.

Just love to hear your experiences.

EOR 💌

136 replies

91 - 100 of 136
1...91011...14

In response to: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Yeah @Adge, I have noticed your absence. Sorry you're struggling. Sucks! I know. Is it just everything getting you down? Or something specific? Guessing you've not had much luck finding work which is really hard. I use to pretend job seeking & rejections WAS my work, why they paid me $250wk (or whatever Newstart / the DOL was. Have to play these little games in me head, to survive. I really hope good news comes your way soon. Let's share a lottery ticket or something, for my birthday this w'end. I'm on a winning streak... Won $13 last week (spent $15 lol), anyway. Yep, I'm 7yrs older than you Adge, sad I know. Ageing starts getting difficult n ya 50s, we actually have to actively fight it off to slow it down, I'm not good at work. Anyway, my son said he'll take me out to lunch, so guess I'm blessed to have someone. Haven't passed on my new address to everyone so probably not cards. No matter, I recycle last year's when nothing comes (lol another mind trick I play - someone use to love me).

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Feeling my age today @Former-Member @Adge @Emelia8 and wondering why I am still in the work force.

Trying to remain positive and move forward. Will I spend the rest of my days living like this? I have my “work face” on today, fully made up, corporate clothes...playing the public service game...attending meetings.

I really should be more grateful for what I have but I just feel a fraud.

In response to: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Our fur babies do so often keep us going @Former-Member I know I would not still be here without mine - now I have another one and she is keeping me on my toes

The silver lining of my sister moving so much closer to my parents is she is a matter of minutes away from them now and can help out a lot. She still takes the dogs for a walk everyday and can help feed them until my Mum and Dad are back to better health - which is happening slowly.

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Hi @Eve7, good to see you 😊 Sounds like you're just going through the motions there with work... in some kinda autopilot or something. And Sounds like you have significant corporate responsibility ? You probably feel worse than you come across, understand the 'feeling fake' - but is that maybe an emotional disconnect? Blackdog has a way of tearing away at our successes... self image... It's good if you can hang onto a job as long as possible, maybe go part time if need be, 'cause a lot of time at home with depression & no structure is problematic too, that's what I've found anyway. I struggle without purpose. Really proud of you remaining positive and moving forward 👍. I'm certain you wont "spend the rest of ya days feeling like this" because you're getting good at creating positive memories and planning lots of self care (like taking ya holidays away and lots of soaking in fragrant bubblebaths etc) You know what I mean. Hope you can anyway.
Meanwhile, I'm sure your “work face” is lovely 😉 Keep those skills up hun, you've put the work in to build them up, be proud of your abilities, they're a part of who you are too. "Fearfully and wonderfully made" Delightfully complex, perfectly imperfect, eternally loveable...
💗💗💗 (it's true)

Hi @Zoe7 it brings joy to hear the blessing your furbabies are to you. Your sister is a gem helping your parents, living close. I had 3bros within 10min of mum & dad and they couldn't even be depended on to take the bin out every week. Dad had a few falls down the steep driveway doing it. Maybe girls are just better at self sacrifice. I'm glad you have a good sister and your parents have you both 😇

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

@Former-Member ... What a wonderful response you made to Eve7 👍💓

You are such a kind, thoughtful, practical and wise woman. And we are all very blessed to have you around. Thank you dear @Former-Member 🙏

Emelia 💞

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Thank you @Former-Member you are very encouraging as is @Emelia8

Off to Melbourne for just over 24 hours and taking gd with me as she’s never been there.

Sunny here today and rain forecast tomorrow in Melbourne grr.

Take care folks. I’ll wave to my NSW friends as we fly over.

💜🤗💜🤗💜

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Good morning @Eve7 😄

Enjoy your time away with your grand daughter. Sounds like you may be chasing the rain South. 💦

Take care, and safe travels. 🌷

Emelia 💞

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

@Former-Member My sister has been an absolute angel throughout my Mum and Dad's recovery. It must be so tiring for her but she has continued to be there every day - I am in absolute awe of her with everything she has done for them I have done very little in comparison but I also live much further away and my health has also not been very good so limited in what I can do and how much I can be there.

It is so disappointing that your siblings were not able/wanted to help more with your parents across time ...but you did all you could and you should be very proud of yourself for that

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Thanks @Zoe7 - yes I am proud, just wish those who matter most would say thanks, just once. So many 'hangups' in my family (me included lol). Hope you're ok, and tiny furbub settling. I'd be scared of rolling on her in my sleep, so tiny. Why 'clover'? Unusual name that's growing on me 🤗
Thanks @Emelia8, sometimes I surprise myself, it's hard for me to focus / concentrate most days. Thanks for saying 👍

@Eve7 - speaking of grandkids - mybro3 just tx pic of my great nephew, estranged sister's first grandbub. She always does these things before me. Mixed feelings. Maybe even a bit jealous. . Very emotional 😭 since. Wishing I could share these joys with my sister. Guess I'll mail a card that for all I know just get get chucked in the bin, she never affirms, why bother even trying. She's teaching me to live without her (guess it's what she wants and I'm letting go. Which is a death to me, each time, and triggers a SI tsunami. Still hurts 😢 No, I'll just leave her be if not being in her life makes her happy.
Loss is hard.

@Emelia8 thanks for saying, how's your day been?

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

I was concerned about squishing her too @Former-Member but she is quick so would no doubt get out of the way - when she stops trying to sleep on my head lol Clover actually came up here in the forum a while ago and it stuck with me. All my cats have had c or k names and I have a shanrock tattoo so it all kind of fitted. The name itself means 'key' and of course the four leaf clover is goodluck so altogether it was perfect for her. She is a little ratbag though - in a good way. She loves doing zoomies, attacking everything and annoying Toby ...and I have had so much joy in the last week seeing all that unfold. Tobes is doing so well though - he is slightly annoyed by her but otherwise sits and watches his bratty little sister do her thing. Cat does not like her but it is only early - she hisses when she gets close but still does her own thing so whilst I hoped she would accept Clover she doesn't really care too much either. Writing this Clover has just jumped up onto the couch for the first time

91 - 100 of 136
1...91011...14