For those of us who are seniors, what was the one thing that surprised you the most about getting older?

Speaking of squats as the OP did - I was surprised that I could learn to do squats on my 80s and am still doing them at 86, I don't do many but I try to do a few each day, as I do other exercises.

Just because you are older it doesn't mean you can't learn something new.

Employees in doctors’ offices, stores, and other places assuming that I don’t know how to use a computer. I bought my first computer in 1981 and taught myself how to use it. Computers have been a big part of my working life since then. I’ve used several versions of PC, various Macs, laptops, desktops, tablets and e-readers. Yet I still get the eye roll from snippy young know-it-alls who weren’t even born when I set up my very first computer (all by myself with no technical support).

I was surprised that I turned invisible. Waiting in line and having the cashier talk over you to help someone behind you. Ignored/talked over in a group conversation. Assumptions made you are not competent to make decisions.

At 83, I am the primary caregiver for my 100 year old husband, I am physically TIRED all the time and look forward to an afternoon nap most days. I keep forgetting that Im 83 and plan my days with much more activity than I have the ability to do without getting very tired. But probably the biggest problem I am having is that I have much more anxiety than is comfortable. I have always lived my life as an adventurous, free spirit. Now my anxiety makes me question everything I do in advance. That is a big change and makes me feel old. I live in a suburb within an hour of New York City, and on a whim would just take the train in to do something. Once a friend told me she was going to a museum and I decided on the spur of the moment to go with her, rushed home, changed my clothes and met her at the train on time to go. The day before yesterday, I met my cousin in the city for lunch. I checked the train schedule about 3 times to make sure I'd get there in time. I felt so anxious and out of breath walking to the station that I asked a woman I passed on the street and didnt know for a lift. (I was about 2 blocks away). I had a problem figuring out how to purchase the ticket from the machine as it was a new system. After all this, my train was cancelled, and I had to call my cousin to change the time. I was totally unrelaxed!!! I wound up sleeping on the train. On arrival, walking through the train station, which has been recently renovated was confusing and irritating, as was walking in the streets from the station to the restaurant because every street was undergoing construction. The noise and chaos made me feel anxious. Luckily, I had a lovely lunch with my cousin who perceives me to be in miraculous shape. Ha! On the way back, I felt the same anxiety. Then the escalator to the track was going at such a fast pace that I was afraid to get on. I decided if I made one false misstep I could see myself falling to the bottom, and at that point no one else was getting on. There was no elevator around, so I walked down what turned out to be 28 steps to get to the track. I have decided it is not worth it for me to make these trips, and will do more things locally. But as a person who in the past traveled everywhere in the world, and often on her own as my husband was not a passionate traveler, I have to accept the fact that I am feeling vulnerable and very anxious, and am no longer the free spirit I was. I know I am anxious, drained and tired from caregiving, but also I have to admit my age is probably the main contributor. I really feel OLD!!!!

I totally relate to trouble getting up from low places. People use to comment how they wished they could get down low like I did but knew they could never get back up again. It seemed like out of the blue, one day I found myself really struggling to get up from the floor. That is when I had to admit my body was aging.

What was frustrating was knowing my husband (with Parkinson’s 35 years) could get himself up from the floor if I was able to help him to his knees. He had been going to PT so I spoke to his therapist about it and he agreed my husband’s legs were strong from the leg exercises they had been doing for several years. Yes he still falls at times, but because of PT they have decreased. I got a referral from our geriatrician for PT for me and I have already seen an improvement. So now, we go together.

I highly recommend trying PT when possible for LOs and caregivers, for falls or concerns of getting up from low places. If you do, I recommend trying to find a smaller clinic. I recently learned that most hospital therapy programs will only do a limited number of visits no matter what because the demand on their services. A test case was won in 2013 that allows PT for ongoing maintenance for certain conditions.

https://www.cms.gov/center/special-topic/jimmo-settlement/faqs

Pam,

How did your aunt get around when you took her to the casino? Was it a big casino? Did you get a wheelchair for her to use? Did your mom go with y’all?

I have been going to a balance and exercise class at the senior center since I retired. I can;t believe how unsteady I feel these days! I always use handrails and take my phone when I got ourside to walk the dog,, we live in the country and I am afraid I will fall! I am 65,, never expected this! I also have to triangulate to get up off the floor, but hey at least I still can!

Tried to answer your question @Bounce, but not permitted to reply to your question in the thread.
By "clean foods", I mean no processed foods, sugars, or dairy, and I watch my proteins. Lost loads of weight and the inflammation stopped completely. Lots of pain before that. All gone now.
Hope that helps.

Still working 2 jobs! RN/ Professor of Nursing! I worked over 30 years in critical care areas and just joined the Medicare group!
I was always active in younger years and still can touch my toes to my head! I do have to watch where I am going and make myself slow down to prevent injury. I take care of my skin, with a little help from my Dermatologist, keep those lines in check. I do this for ME!
I like who I am and where I am. I would not want to be back in my 30's or 40's. I read every day and love music.
I am grateful to be living this long. Both my parents died young.
DH is ten years older, still in great shape physically but some slowing mentally and why I am on this site. I hope we can remain together in our home and not have anyone tell us that we have to go to a care facility!
My advice, live your life to your fullest! Look at the positive in everything! Be realistic and plan for the unexpected, get your documents in order! Life happens, deal with it until it doesn't!

I was hoping to not feel my age until after all our parents were gone . My in laws are still around and definitely feeling it in my knees , which I didn’t have while taking care of my parents .
It would be nice to not go from caregiving straight to feeling old .

The way people start treating you as if you’re stupid and invisible. Talk over the top if you and interrupt talking to you like you’re a half wit. Dismiss you

For me it's the surprising fact that clean food has made a difference. I had a very bad bout of inflammation that caused and infection, which ended up mimicking several conditions. After a year of torture, I eat only clean foods now and I have regained all of my energy back, lost loads of weight, inflammation has disappeared, and am now at my optimum.
It has totally surprised me how my whole body, mind, and daily living has changed just over eating clean.
As far as standing back up from a squatting position, I can do it but need to turn over and triangle with all fours and then push up with one hand on a piece of furniture. I take steps well and walk alot in the woods. After about an hour of walking, I admittingly don't mind sitting down for a bit. I'm in my sixties.

I think the other thing I would add is that, before my caregiving years, I felt invincible. Early 60’s but energetic, positive etc. Watching my mom’s decline has given me the impression that my strong years are behind me. It has really impaired my ability to stay positive about what is ahead. I certainly have had to put my big girl pants on and push myself to embrace life again.

How I was able to evolve from the goody two-shoes people-pleaser my mother created to a stronger more grounded person who now can say.

What I hate….when the Walgreens clerk reminds me it is senior day!

Living as long as we have!!! Who knew? We prepared as best we could but never thought we'd reach 94 (spouse, today) and 87 (me in January).

The constant, never-ending arthritic pain 24/7. The fact my mind has remained alert while my husband has Alzheimer's and I'm his care giver. Never bargained for any of this. The anger and depression caring for him. I know it's the disease, but I can't separate him from the disease. Little help, no hope.

I didn’t count on doing so much caregiving for so long .

The fact that I like myself more now. I'd love to have my young body and face back but I wouldn't want my young brain. I used to worry so much about what people thought of me. Now I don't give a blank. :)

Something I heard once:

When you are in your twenties and thirties you worry what people think of you.
When you are in your forties you don't give a sh*t what people think of you.
When you are in your fifties and beyond you realize nobody was thinking about you at all.

Also, if you think someone is giving you a dirty look they're probably just constipated.

1) When I was young I could eat anything and would still stay skinny as a board. I literally could not gain weight. Then I crossed age 29 and that all went bye bye. Now I probably eat healthier now than I did then, but I will still always be perpetually overweight.

2) The fact that all of the rock bands and TV shows that I loved as a teenager are now classic rock and retro TV. And that all of those musicians and actors that were so young and hip are now either dead or senior citizens themselves.

I'm suprised that my body is 70 and my mind is age 32.

Skin tags. Gross!

I'm going to be 60 soon. I never used to be in the "boomer Generation" till recently. My birth year is now the last generation of boomers and first year Gen X. A few years ago I saw a new PA for my physical. In the blood work list was a new huge list of tests for things like Hep C because "boomers" tended to not know they had been exposed to it. I questioned the PA about it and the response was "ohhh you might have gotten during the late 60's when IV drug use was common since you are a boomer". So I asked her if they looked at my birth year. "no". After some explanation it took them some math to figure out that I was still a child in the late 60's. Needless to say my Hep C test came back clean.

You look in the mirror? 😱

That old lady looking back at me in the mirror; how did that happen?

the long, slow deterioration of one's body - which many correctly note begins with menopause with women and the withdrawal of estrogen, that miracle drug - and COVID was detrimental in that it restricted a lot of normal activity

Just read a few responses. Golden's is what I am responding to. Cancer, anyone I know who has dealt with cancer says they just never get their full strength back. My Mom had a hysterectomy in her mid 40s and said the same thing. As did other women I know who had the same procedure. Maybe its because the ovaries are removed to. Estrogen gives us that energy. Really after menopause you lose that energy, I think. When I think of what I did in my 30s. My husband worked nights and I worked days. Ran my daughter all over after work. Kept a 1700 sq ft house clean...now I think "got to clean that bathroom. Still sitting here thinking, really should get to that bathroom. And when I do clean its one room a day. I am 73. I maintain, but have not done any "get down there and scrub work" one reason, I would need to days to pamper my back.

SO GLAD I do not have to care or worry about someone at this stage of my life. Yes, I have my 33yr old nephew, but he is competent to make his own decisions so nothing I can do there. But would like some of that "get up and go" I used to have.

I think I now understand the say, Getting old isn't for sissies.

Losing my will to live kind of snuck up on me, and I'm only 62 and in good health. Have a nice day.

Now I am surprised at how many foods that I use to enjoy now taste meh.

We always had pizza for Sundays, but the pizza now taste like the box it comes in.... [sigh].

Now I understand why my parents had so many sweet items on their grocery list !!