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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

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In response to: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Hi @Sans911, know you're mst likely not a senior, don't have to be, but tagging you here 'cause you're going through something a lot of seniors face... LOSING THAT THING THAT MOST GIVES YOU PASSION IN LIFE... in your case the volunteer work. Feel free to vent about it here. I think you'll find going back easier once you're there. Don't give up.
I think it's even harder with underlying Depression... or loneliness. Good to see you back. I can't post pictures still or I'd send you a hug gif
🌷💙🌷💙🌷💙🌷💙🌷

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

This is a link to a factsheet here in the forums, about
AGEING WELL (hope it works)
https://www.sane.org/information-stories/facts-and-guides/ageing-well?_gl=1*11e2ncw*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE1OTE3NDIzODQuQ2p3S0NBanc1dnoyQlJBdEVpd0FiY1ZJTDR6YUVPY0VWWHdPSks4cWMwd0FMRnNDZjQyYVpveWEzNFg2N2lBRGJnMXBwQVd3N2lyQ0tSb0NJNVFRQXZEX0J3RQ..&_ga=2.48289571.403032258.1587015085-1119258981.1553418388&_gac=1.261818879.1591742387.CjwKCAjw5vz2BRAtEiwAbcVIL4zaEOcEVXwOJK8qc0wALFsCf42aZoya34X67iADbg1ppAWw7irCKRoCI5QQAvD_BwE
WHAT PART JUMPS OUT TO YOU MOST?

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

I liked the first part of HAVING A HOME. Not ready for the 'aged care facility' part, but certainly looking at easy access private rentals re (with my lower joint degeneration, and no practical family support). Security is also important.
Kinda helps me see I'm doing the right thing moving, still have doubts.

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Yes @Former-Member .. the link works. ✔😊🌸

What part seems to stand out the most to me? Maybe how important SUPPORT is in the whole scheme of things. But the other thing is definitely HAVING A HOME. Having a home/shelter is one of life's essentials. And family support is also very important.

So yes @Former-Member ... I do think you are making the right decision in moving to a home closer to family.

I note that you tagged @Sans911 into this thread. Good idea. Interesting how you would then have at least 3 former and/or current nurses adding to the conversation. You, @Peri @Sans911 and (I may have this wrong) maybe @Eve7 as well.

Sherry 🌺

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Hi @Former-Member, are you following me this morning? LOL 😉 How are you? I woke up really unsteady on my feet (brain) and internal shakes. Weird. Accept maybe that I barely slept all night.

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Oops @Former-Member, typing at same time. Do you relate to the part 'having a Home' and being closer to family? Is where U moved to near any supports? Are your stepkidz there? Do hey care about you? My former husband's former children had nothing to do with me when I left him, actually, think they felt disloyal to their mum to make room for me. life can be so complicated.

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

I promise I'm not stalking you @Former-Member 😎 Lol

I'm not too bad today thanks. Sorry to hear you have woken up a bit wobbly. Lack of sleep is not good. Severe anxiety gives me the internal shaking you describe. Not nice. Take it a bit easy today perhaps, and try to get some catch up sleep. I need to go now. Appointment for hubby, so I'm on the run now.

Sherry 💕

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Thanks @Former-Member, pretty full on your hubby's medicals... You're a good wife / carer. Catch you later. Beautiful weather here 🌄🌤️☀️

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

Yes, I was a nurse and still working in health but not as a nurse.

@Former-Member

Hoping you have a calm, peaceful day.

In response to: Re: Seniors Matter

Re: Seniors Matter

@Former-Member

Yes I do relate to the having a home and being closer to family. I have a home, which hubby and I own, which is nice. It doesnt always feel all that safe admittedly. Closer to family would be nice, because when we moved from the farm 11 years ago, we also moved away from my family. No I dont have any supports here, other than GP and psych really. And the people here on the forums of course, yourself included. 😊

My stepson and his family (4 grandkids) live about 6 hours north of us. My stepdaughter and her family (2 grandkids) live about 5.5 hours south from us. We dont get to see either of them as often as we'd like ... usually a couple of times a year. One when we try to visit them and one when they visit us. Though with hubby being so unwell the past few years, we havent travelled as much as normal.

Do the stepkids care about me? Yes I believe they do actually. We get along well and I have things in common particularly with my stepdaughter. She was 16 when I married her Dad and we became quite close.

Their Mum (hubbys ex wife) is still alive, and I actually get on well with her too. Which makes things much easier for family get togethers for things like weddings and funerals.

I'm sorry you were not closer to your former step kids. These blended and remarried family situations can be very complicated indeed.

Yes hubbys numerous serious health issues means quite the merry-go-round when it comes to specialists and other apointments. Today it was a blood test plus one of his specialist appointments, which had to be face to face. This afternoon was a telehealth appointment with his GP, so that meant we didnt have to go back into town again. Which is good. Just finished that one actually.

Yes the weather here has been beautiful too. In between appointments I even spent some time out in the yard picking up sticks from under a row of large gumtrees. Getting ready for the next mow as soon as its dry enough. We had about 3 inches of rain over the past 5 days, so its still very wet underfoot.

Okay so I best go now. Catch you later or tomorrow I hope. Although I'm feeling a little precarious here at present, so who knows?

Ahhh @Eve7 ... I'm glad I got that right. So its quite the nurses conference here then isnt it? I guess I could maybe claim that same title, especially given the amount of time I spend in Drs and specialist surgeries and hospitals the last 3 years. Its amazing how much you learn when you have to, and when nobody else seems to know whats going on. So I could maybe be an honorary nurse, without the qualifications. Just a normal carers lot I guess. 😊

Sherry 🌺

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