I AM 85 AND FEEL LOUSY ALL THE TIME. MY LEG IS SORE . I HAVE BACK SPASMS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS ME. I STILL TRY TO GO TO CASINO AND OUT WITH FRIENDS. I WILL HANG ON TILL THE END.

Its. Crap..since I hit 60. al l went wrong.6eye opps.pa.n reitis .no sexFeeling..so many tablets. Blood preSure tabs .make u Impotent.thyroid tabs all around me.. d

It's really sad when one loses the will to live & deteriorates. Help should be given in the form of councelling. Dear ZZZTOP, looking after oneself means loving yourself. It is also something to occupy yourself & not be pained about unhappy events. There are advantages of being old....like nobody cares & you can reciprocate that feeling.You can carry on unattached, happiness or sorrow, walking on. Try natural remedy ideas by reading about your diet,activity... Try to
keep calm. Remember, we all have to come to the end of our life cycle.So instead of brooding over it, let's think....the time is now or never to do,try the lil things we wanted to do. Trust me, when you have a positive attitude no one can pull you down. You can bring a smile to someone's face, just by smiling at them Be Brave!

I,am 73 I was always so active and had my dogs. (2) years ago I had breast implants that ruptured the surgery was 4 1/2 hrs, long silicone was everwhere. this was 11/1/2013 my chest is a mess no breast scars I FEEL TIRE BORED UN HAPPY I GAI NED 40LBS, I HATE AGIN G I HAVE ARTHRITIS IN M Y KNEES, MY BACK IT COMES A ND GOES. I HAVE NO FAMILY MY DAUGHTER DIED 1/18/2003 MY MARRIGAE IS NOT GOOD. IN 3 YEARS I HAVE GOT TO THE POINT I DON ,T WANT TO WALK NO MORE. I FEEL DIFFERANT I FEEL OLD I TAKE PROZAC AN D 4MG,XANAX THAT IS IT. I M ISS A FAMILY ENERGY LOVE. MY SOCIAL SCURITY IS SO LOW. $688.00 A MONTH. IT IS LIKE I DON,T CARE NO MORE . M Y DOG IS DYING OF CANCER. i FEEL LIKE AFTER THAT HORRIBLE OPERATION SOMETHING JUST HAPPENED TO M E. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SICK A DAY IN M Y LIFE WHAT IS HAPPEN ING TO M E. AND I DON ,T GO TO N O DOCTORS DON,T TRUST THEM .iT IS LIKE I JUST W ANT TO BE HOME NOW ON MY BED AND COMPUTER . I STILL HAVE MY HAIR DONE. BUT SO FAT NOW I SMOKE I DON,T CARE. I HAD A HORIBLE CHILD HOOD ALCHOLIC FATHER , BROTHER KILLED, MOTHER FOUND HER DEAD (SLEEPING PILLS) POLICE I HAVE BEEN ON XANAX AND PROZAC FOR YEARS IT HELPS A LITTLE. BUT WHEN I WAS YOUNG I WAS SO PRETTY DARLING FIGUER LOVE TO DANCE HAD 4 HUSBANDS BIG MESS. I JUST FEEL WORN OUT . I HATE WALKING NOW OR GYMS, STOMACK LOOKS SO BIG. CHRISTMAS COMING. SO LON LEY THEN MY DAUGHTER DIED OF lUPUS JAN 1,2003 SHE WAS IN HOSPITAL DYING 81 DAYS THEY LACERATED HER LIVER........ WELL I BETTER CLOSE HAVE TO GET UP. NO BREAST NO MORE 38DD NOTHING NOW NIPPLES GONE. WELL HAVE TO GO MY BACK HURTS KNEES. HEADACH. I MUST SOUND CRAZY BUT IT IS ALL THE TRUTH AND I DO FEEL SOOOOO OLD. ZZZTOP

im only 56 but i hope to get so holed up here in my bunker that navy seals and bunker busting bombs wont bring me outta here . blind , crippled and crazy oughtta be within my rights and on my own terms .

kumara, I thought the same way back when I was 62, then bingo, all heck broke loose... I was diagnosed with serious illness... it came out of the blue with no warning... me?... say what?.... but, but I was doing everything right.

Oh my gosh, now at 68 I feel like my parents feel who are in their 90's, expect I can still walk without a cane. My freq flyer days have been grounded forever, plus the stress of dealing with my parents is aging me quickly, too :(

Where is my rocking chair !!

I think it's beautifully put. I'm a Grandma, & I will try & circulate/fwd it.

what age you calling old age. I am 65 and in full control of all by body functions,.I trvel around the world solo and hope to do so for a few more years yet.
KUMARA

Well, I am old - 75 - and I understand, and will experience more as time goes on, as everyone does. I have trouble reading the TV on-screen program listings, my hearing is going - gotta do something about that, aches and pains are around, though not too bad. Fortunately cataract operations in the future will likely help my vision and a hearing aid will help that problem. Thankfully I am still quite flexible. Yes, the physical limitations increase. I really appreciate what judy wrote about her brother, and how his attitude makes such a difference. Judy, I don't think it is the old person costume, I think it is a choice - or daily choices - we all make. To be thankful for what we have, or to bitch about what we don't have. Those choices may have to be worked on more as we get older. Look around and see what other people are dealing with. There is always someone worse off than you are. We cannot prevent the aging process, even with a healthy lifestyle, but we can be in control of our attitude, barring diseases such a dementias.

What it feels like to be old...I appreciated this article. My kids resent all of the time that I spend with my parents, and they're beginning to be disgusted with the elderly in general now because of it. Well, the huge amount of snowbirds in our area is exasperating to teenage boy drivers too, so they have extra frustration! They resent that I'm tired and that I dread my time at my parents' house and that things don't run smoothly at our house anymore (this probably translates into a lesser stocked pantry because I didn't have time enough to shop properly - and food seems to be of the utmost importance to my boys!). My mother told me a long time ago that she's shocked every single time that she looks in the mirror and sees that she's an old woman. She said she expects to see her former self, and that she's the same person inside the old lady facade and its like she's wearing a wrinkly, hard to manage costume that isn't her at all. After sharing my mother's thoughts with the kids, I think they understand a little better. I do. But, I have to disagree with her being the same person, because she's not. She's turned into sort of a bitter, pity-party. My brother, on the other hand, is the most positive, easy to be around person I've ever met. He's quadriplegic. Had his neck broken in a car accident that wasn't his fault 30 years ago (yes, that's right, 30. Amazing.). He was wearing a seatbelt. My brother says to focus on the positive, whatever that may be. He said that some days are so painful and grim that he grabs whatever happy thing he can - like the sight of a butterfly flitting across the yard, or a sunset, or something silly that the cat does. He said to try to keep that feeling and hold on to it all day. He's sweet and smart and so funny, and instead of focusing on all that he's been robbed of, he chooses to enjoy whatever he can. I try to share this with my parents, but there's something about that old person costume that prevents them from trying to adopt my brother's way of thinking and they rave on with their complaints! Anyway, long story. I could go on and on with things to share about my brother. Just the thought of him makes me smile.

I wish that my kids and I (anyone for that matter) could try on the gloves and glasses that Marlo experienced for this article. What a cool way to be able to try to understand the elderly. It was a good read.

I just want to tell all the caregivers i pray for them everyday when i pray for my daughter-in-law who cares for my son with parkinson's what a blessing you are to all of us. God bless you all for keeping your charges alive and moving.if you can sign both of yourselves into an exercise class it will change your lives.

I feel like compared to you all professional oldies that I am just began. ; )

I am sorry to hear that your sister has cerebral palsy and eventually after being a caretaker for only 6 -7 months I am no angel myself and it can get the best of me for I am usually a very easy going person. yet, we all have R limits and I can believe you when you say those footprints are larger than your foot. ; ) Take care of yourself and try to find something to laugh about for it helps a lot.
I had to get the mnl law up early and that is 8am for her and drag her with me to get my fasting lab and whole time she is wandering why I cannot just leave her at the house. I try to explain she been diagnosed with mild AZ but really it is in moderate stage and she goes off with me that she couldn't believe I felt that way about her. I forgot to mention, my b/s was a low 66 and I ate glucose tab for it suppose to be fasting then right before lab it drops again down in 50's. Like good Grief give me a break and No coffee yet either, ah! Mnl has asked me about 20times how much longer will it be and why am I here..... broken record... We finally got out and i took her out for breakfast and she asked me about 10 times what she order to eat. Of course dummy here continues to answer. I finally took her paper place mat for she kept seeing a picture of a sausage biscuit and kept asking what she order, Pancakes..... I asked would she rather have a sausage biscuit. Her reply, :"Oh no, I don't like sausage." Well, how about a butter biscuit? she replies, I rather have a waffle. I took the mat sheet, flipped it over and drew a huge smiling face with a fat tongue hanging out and wrote have a nice day. and put it in front of her. She loved it and quit asking me for they were coming around corner with her pancake. Thank the Lord.

Lol, no problem honey. I can say that, yes, I do know how things can be misconstrued, and my thoughts did not come out as I meant either, now that I read it back! I so related to what you said, because I have a sister 7 years younger, that was born with cerebral palsy. She is truly an angel, unlike myself--not that I am getting down on myself, and don't mean to say that I am not a good person, because I am; but I wasn't this way for a very long time, and never would have thought I could do what I am doing for such a long time! We probably all amaze ourselves in being able to give as much as we do, but we are not doing this alone--you've seen the set of footprints in the sand? Yep, they are not my sized foot, how about you? Bless you for being the caring and giving person that you are; we can only do the best we can with what we have at the time, so don't ever think you are not doing enough. :)

I apologize if I took it the wrong way and you have a great and blessed day. You know how some of us can get so sensitive sometimes.

Not sure what you are getting at, but hope you're having a great day. Keep up the good work. :)

janetrose, When you mention, "We are each made in a special way; and when I hear someone crying the blues because his/her life isn't 100%, I feel like choking them!"
I'm assuming you would be speaking about my post above for I'm only one has mention part of my past experience as when i was young and can related somewhat to how an elder person can feel. However, I would hope that you would not be applying to me for that is so insensitive as a person. I just posted that I can relate for I have been their yet at a very young age. I can relate to an elderly feeling anger, frustrated, and depressed due to having to rely on someone else. I don't want sympathy just stating that NOT "all young people take life for granted." However, I do see where the report was very helpful and hopefully an eye opener for those who due take life for granted. That way they can place themselves in an older person shoes to know how it feels and how they would like to be treated.

Bless them, and we who have a physical or mental impairment that stops us from being independent and stress-free (whatever that may be!). Being a caregiver limits us from being spontaneous, but that is very little to give up when you look at the other side. It doesn't mean I don't miss those days, but I suppose anything gets old after so long . . . all we can do is live in the moment, be as pleasant and positive as possible, especially with our elderly counterparts. We are each made in a special way; and when I hear someone crying the blues because his/her life isn't 100%, I feel like choking them! I have never met anybody who has it made, so to speak. Everyone has good things and not-so-good things in his/her life, and learning to bear the burdens and be grateful for the good things is what life is all about--at least, in my never-to-be-humble opinion!! Take care and remember to smile! God loves you, no matter what--and so does your doggie, kitty or other pet. Some things you can't put a price on, but is there for the taking for whoever decides they want it.

tonio, as long as both of yall had fun is all that matter and that was funny. I got the mnl some flowers and we put them in three of our plastic swans that I had order. She enjoyed it a little bit except when she get frustrated when she could keep up with the bag of dirt and small shovel. so i gave her one swan at a time to make it easier.

This was so informative. I wish we could have this experience. On the other hand, I went to bingo with Mom and they wiped the floor with me. Lol! Also made fun of me when i played the wrong way!

It nice to hear how it would be like from the other side if we had to wear the elder shoes. However, even though I am not old I can relate to some of these as they call it ,"Aging is not for sissies." I think the it should added illnesses as well to aging.

When my lupus sle get in full gear, it would take me 30minutes from a laying down position in the bed just to be able to sit up and boy did I have to go to the bathroom from the night before! Then, it would take me probable another 30 freaking minuets to walk to bathroom as if I was 102 yrs old pacing step by step while in agonizing pain and not to mention almost about to pee my pants. Finally, my hubby just lifted me up and toted my butt on the toilet. Of course, I felt embarrassed, humiliated and just wanted to die. It would also hurt just to try and brush my hair for my arms would be in pain and my whole spine will feel like it was on fire. Much less be able to cook for my son and hubby at the time. I went through this mess for 6 months until the dr had found a med that would finally work.
So, when the article mentions that, :"Tasks that younger people never give a second thought to, for elders represent barriers, obstacles, limitations. " Well maybe for most of them but their are young people who have or still are having challenging situations. Yet, I do understand their point to place yourself in their shoes to help understand how some of the obstacles facing an older person.