Summary Discussion The Fear of Aging
Last week in the discussion We spoke about the fear of aging> I would like to add a little more to it of the 5 fears of aging and what they mean.
As we all begin to get older we are faced with some concerns for ourselves. I know personally I am going to be 60 soon and wonder do I have my life where it needs to be and to what means can I make to make sure my life ones are taken care of.
There are 5 main fear to people as we get old:
1. Losing independence - We fear as we grow older the need to ask family or friends for help because we can not do things like we did when we were younger. We may ask for help around the inside and outside of our homes because we can not bend or carry things we need to do in keeping our homes looking good.
We may ask in helping to take care of ourselves if we are living with our children because we grew to old to live alone. We may have a hard time cooking or just plain taking care of our hygiene.
2. Deteriorating health - As we begin to age we may be faced with medical bot mental and physical health problems. We may have a stroke enabling us not to function with daily activities. We may have a heart attack , cancer or alzeheimer disease.
3. Loneliness - When we live alone because our children grew old enough to leave home or lost a spouse to passing away we experience being sad to be alone. Our children may live in another star or country and seeing them like we did can cause loneliness.
4. Financial insecurities - As we age we begin to worry if we will have money to survive as the economy is changing, forcing more demand on rent, gas for vehicles, food increases and medication increases. We begin to wonder if our Social Security will be enough to make ends meet or will we have to take on part time jobs just to survive.
5. Death - not a topic I want to think about but it is a way of life and we need to make sure our finances are in place if we should leave it to others to take care of. Many begin to feel if there will be pain and suffering experienced when we do pass.
How can we deal with these fears mentioned above, we can keep a healthy intake of our lives. We can eat and exercise more to prolong a healthy life style. We begin to take hold of our emotional help speaking to family or friends maybe even seeing a therapist to help us cope with it.
We can get involved in community activities to keep our time going and not be lonely. Take courses on aging so we can be better prepared for the process.
What are some fears you may have and how can we support each other so we are not alone?
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@pamharley003 good thread. You hit on many good points. What about loss of meaning and purpose?
@soulsings absolutely! I always feel that there is an ignorance and arrogance of some youngsters, thinking that they know it all, feeling invincible, but for a few they are aware that there is more to life and that experience and wisdom gives some of that more. After all "you don't know what you don't know!"
@pamharley003
Good post Pam, some interesting points.
I think one aspect that youngsters don't even think about is the fact that as we all get older we sometimes actually lose more friends through illnesses and old age rather than any other cause.
Life is almost like a pyramid ride. We start off with millions being born at the base and then end up with very few reaching 💯+
@pamharley003
You did an amazing job on this thread pam!
What are some fears you may have and how can we support each other so we are not alone?
My biggest fear would be losing mobility and getting Alzheimer's, but I believe there will be some sort of solution by getting help. I learn a lot here and find coming here gives me much support.
@pamharley003
What are some fears you may have?
Not so much fears, but what is happening to elders (especially in Western society):
- lack of employment opportunity based on age (ageism)
- that 'elders' have nothing to contribute to society /economy anymore, or are no longer to 'learn' new things
- ageist beliefs & policies - not everyone in 'elder' years get 'stuck' in their 'ways'
How can we support each other so we are not alone?
- Check in regularly with our elders, whether by phone or in real life.
- Invite/plan get together, whether just to go for a walk, coffee/tea, a phone call
- just MAKE TIME for our elders, in whatever that looks like