topic Re: Elderly! in Wellness

Elderly!

catprincess — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 20:48:01 GMT

My husband went to a new family practice geriatric Dr. recently. My husband is 64 and needed his BP checked & pills refilled. He called my husband elderly while he was examining him. It really bothered both of us! He said we must realize that we are not middle aged any more. It is all true and at 64 you began to feel old! It took me a long time to realize that people see us as old people, but we are and that a fact! Anyone else had a rude awakening like this?

Re: Elderly!

Feline Fine — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 08:25:33 GMT

JMHO, but I consider ages 60-79 to be senior and 80+ to be elderly.

But, as along as you stay young at heart/soul/mind/spirit, there really is no such thing as "middle-aged" or whatever. 8)

Re: Elderly!

upNorth — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 08:58:31 GMT

On 12/31/2013 shy bobcat said:
When I was 38 I was stunned when my boss, who was an MD, said I was middle aged. Double your age and see where the middle years of life are.

Yes, I agree with you 100%. I often hear people getting so offended at being called middle aged. Why? I will be 50 in three weeks. I arrived at middle age some time ago. As you say, double your age. If you are 60, and refuse to believe you are middle aged, do you really plan to live to be 120?

Why are we so offended and frightened by the process of aging? You get older, or you die young. Which would you prefer?

I do not feel old at all. I feel quite young. But that does not take away the fact that I am the age that I am. So what? I take each passing birthday gladly.

Re: Elderly!

Desertdi — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 09:09:40 GMT

""Elderly"" is a state of mind that I have no intention of adopting.................

Re: Elderly!

Georgiagrama — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 09:25:02 GMT

On 12/31/2013 Tyak said:
I'm 68 and I'm happy for every day I get. Many people don't get the gift of long life.

AMEN to that!! I'm right there with you. My husband and I got a late start having children and 3 years ago my daughter gave us our first grandchild at the age of 40.

We feel blessed every day that we have had a good life together and have lived to see our granddaughter. Regardless of your age, things can happen -- accidents happen every day, health problems happen. I consider us elderly, and I am happy to be here. If anyone else wants to refer to me as elderly, more power to them. They don't realize that they are just acknowledging a gift of years that many others haven't had.

Re: Elderly!

Georgiagrama — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 09:27:23 GMT

On 12/31/2013 happy housewife said: I really wonder why a man who is only 64 was seeing a geriatric doctor.

Re: Elderly!

sylviahomeatlast — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 09:53:06 GMT

I'm old and I'm still in a state of shock at the number of my age---if you are a Colorado college alum, you can see my picture on the back page of the current "Bulletin""---I actually wear almost everything I want---old ness is creeping up but I'm still alive)

Re: Elderly!

sylviahomeatlast — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 09:54:11 GMT

On 1/1/2014 Desertdi said:
""Elderly"" is a state of mind that I have no intention of adopting.................

there you go...

Re: Elderly!

haddon9 — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 10:02:48 GMT

60 is the new 40....I'll be 60 this year and that's how I feel!

Re: Elderly!

sylviahomeatlast — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 10:07:15 GMT

I had a baby at 40

Re: Elderly!

ennui1 — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 10:21:30 GMT

On 1/1/2014 upNorth said:
On 12/31/2013 shy bobcat said:
When I was 38 I was stunned when my boss, who was an MD, said I was middle aged. Double your age and see where the middle years of life are.

Yes, I agree with you 100%. I often hear people getting so offended at being called middle aged. Why? I will be 50 in three weeks. I arrived at middle age some time ago. As you say, double your age. If you are 60, and refuse to believe you are middle aged, do you really plan to live to be 120?

Why are we so offended and frightened by the process of aging? You get older, or you die young. Which would you prefer?

Exactly. Middle age is not sixties.

Re: Elderly!

qualitygal — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 12:24:12 GMT

It just kind of creeps up on you and jumps on your back! Welcome to the world of fun!!LOL

But really, 80's is OLD to me now.

Re: Elderly!

judgejudith — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 13:17:19 GMT

On 12/31/2013 viwanton said:
Oh, lighten up! It was meant as a joke.

Viwanton...you're too funny

Re: Elderly!

violann — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:14:27 GMT

When I was pregnant with my first child at 38, I was referred to as "elderly". It's just a word. You know if you really are or you realky aren't!

Re: Elderly!

violann — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:15:40 GMT

On 12/31/2013 viwanton said:
I think the word elderly needs a new definition. Some people are old and act young. Some people are young and seem quite old.

Totally agree!

Re: Elderly!

151949 — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:41:08 GMT

On 12/31/2013 NYwoman said:
Well, if being called "elderly" would allow me to see an MD and not be shoved off to an RN, I would put up with it. I am in my 60s and don't consider myself elderly.

My pet peeve is this relegating Medicare patients to RNs. Seems like we are not good enough for the MDs. With the ACA (I'm being PC), seniors really get worst treatment.

There is nothing in the ACA that says seniors can't be seen by doctors. where do you people get this stuff ?

Re: Elderly!

Ms X — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:45:21 GMT

Happy Housewife: The ACA cuts reimbursement to doctors under Medicare. This is why many doctors don't take new Medicare patients and why patients see RNs. As with any worker or business, they can't afford to take customers on whom they lose money. Even Howard Dean has expressed concern about this, calling it a form of rationing. I am very much against them cutting payments to medical providers to the bone, as it will hurt patients and worsen the doctor shortage. Why doesn't Congress cut reimbursements to the doctors who treat them and their families? Hmmm?

Re: Elderly!

kattie — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:51:00 GMT

On 12/31/2013 Desertdi said:
On 12/31/2013 Harpa said:
I don't feel old; I'm 60. I still have a lot of youthful vigor. I'm planning on keeping it, too.

But my DH and I are realizing that we are the grandparents now, the older generation. His DM just passed away; my DM is 90.

The only time I somewhat feel old (and give away my age) is when I tell my students that I personally remember the British Invasion.

They probably think you mean the Revolutionary War................

Thanks, I needed a good laugh.

Re: Elderly!

paShar — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 15:59:50 GMT

We used to have a gentleman in our church whose self-appointed task was to visit elderly church members in nursing homes and who were shut-in's. He would spend a couple of days a week just visiting and chatting with them. This guy was no spring chicken himself - he was in his 80's but very active and he thought like a much younger person. He was actually older than some of the folks he was visiting.

His wife always used to laugh because when he left the house he told her he was going to visit the old people!

I guess ""elderly"" or ""old"" is really a state of mind.

Re: Elderly!

151949 — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 18:38:01 GMT

On 1/1/2014 Ms X said:
Happy Housewife: The ACA cuts reimbursement to doctors under Medicare. This is why many doctors don't take new Medicare patients and why patients see RNs. As with any worker or business, they can't afford to take customers on whom they lose money. Even Howard Dean has expressed concern about this, calling it a form of rationing. I am very much against them cutting payments to medical providers to the bone, as it will hurt patients and worsen the doctor shortage. Why doesn't Congress cut reimbursements to the doctors who treat them and their families? Hmmm?

So you don't think that your doctor makes enough money?? That he and his wife and all his kids all driving around in mercedes and living in million dollar homes is inadequate income???? someone needed to reel in the access that was on the back of the taxpayers. Trust me -i have several friends who are doctors - and NONE of them are hurting financially. I have been in their homes and been invited to things like kids graduation parties and they are not simple backyard affairs. Are they Po'ed their income is going to drop - sure - but that doesn't mean any of them are going to be hurting for money. i would not be crying for them.