Jean in Newcastle Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 It all helps, Ellie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 My mom will be 74 next month and is very active. She's the community outreach coordinator for her church. As part of that role, she visits people 4-5 days a week (going to nursing homes, visiting people in the hospital, bringing dinners to new moms, etc.). She has a wonderful group of friends with whom she gets together for coffee on a regular basis. She loves working in her garden. She's an avid knitter and is constantly knitting something for someone. She also comes over to our house several days a week and helps me around the house and with the kids. In her free time (LOL) she does freelance editing work to bring in some extra money. She's not in perfect health, but she feels good and is focusing on addressing her overall health through diet and nutritional supplements. It's fun to see her so active and enjoying her life as much as she does. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 My mom is 78. She is the middle of nine children, of whom only one has passed. Her husband is 85. The switch is always flipped to "on." I tease her about not letting the grass grow underfoot. I have an uncle late 80s with a wife in her later 70s. I think of them as maybe being in their 60s. Uncle pays good attention to what he eats and stays very active. I think these folks I am related to have a force of will that keeps em going. Also, they come from farming backgrounds and are this seasoned by hard work and long days. None are in perfect health, but staying busy and active and in touch with current events takes their focus off their troubles. Sorry for your difficulties, Jean. It's hard to be a caregiver when the care-ee isn't invested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in TN Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I know a delightful couple in their late 70's - they walk together, travel to watch their grandchildrens' sporting events, volunteer at a homeless shelter, and go on medical missions trips every year. I can only hope I'll be that vibrant at their age! Hugs to you, Jean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Oh my. I posted on this before and forgot to mention my great-grandmother. I think she's getting close to having a dozen great-great-grandchildren. She's in her 90s. She did move into an assisted living home a couple years ago, but she is still sharp as a tack. She had 9 children, and she keeps track of how many children everyone has had since. I can't even remember how everyone is related, the family is so big! :huh: Until very recently, she was still traveling back and forth from Florida and Texas to New York every year as she visited different relatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna in Texas Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 My grandparents are 88 and 79. Papaw just learned to text, and they still go to Hippie Hollow. Memaw wears her clothes, I'm sure, but I'm just as sure my Papaw doesn't. At this point the only thing they *need* me for is to Google things for them. Memaw won't let Papaw have Internet because he might turn into a hypochondriac and easy access to porn. She's heard stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruby Rose Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 My next door neighbors are elderly. She is 70. He is 80, and her mother is 91. Sometimes I think the husband and wife are more active than I am. The mother has just recently become less active. They all garden regularly with the most amazing yard and flowers. Their house is like a nature preserve because so many birds frequent their property. She was a nurse and he was a chemist. He broke his hip last year and uses a scooter to get around, but he is always out raking leaves, trimming bushes, zooming around the neighborhood. She has taught me all about gardening and canning. We love them and count them as family. My other neighbor is 85. He was a biologist. He currently has a recurrence of cancer after 4 years in remission. Yet he is still very active. He also does his own yard work. But I love him best for the stories he shares. He is like an animal expert. He loves to talk about animals and their behaviors. Especially since we have so many animals it fun to learn why they do what they do. I feel so blessed to have such amazing elderly neighbors. They are so full of information. I learn so much from them. <3 Eta - like my 84 yo grandmother, they are all on Facebook and text. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 My nana is 85. She drives, vacations with the seniors in her church, and is out and about all the time. I visited her last week and she was pulling weeds in the yard. She dances around with the kids. She's a picture of health! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I forgot to mention my grandfather in-law. Je is 98 I believe. Or 96. Anyway, he was living on his own until 93. Vibrant and active. When he was 90 he took an extended vacation in Florida and came home complaining about how old everyone was. He was the oldest one there. At 88 he managed to get himself off diabeties medication by changing his diet completely. His health has been declining these past couple of years but he is still sharp as a tack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 My friend's mother is 85 or 86, lives on her own, drives, and goes dancing a couple times a week. She has some arthritis in her hands but otherwise is pretty healthy, and mentally very sharp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 These are wonderful posts. I want to re-read all of them when I have more time. I go to the track every day and see an older woman there, walking with a cane. We have become friends, and I just found out that she is 92. She gets exercise every day, started decades ago. Her son and his family live with her in her house; she drives and is intellectually vibrant. She is very social and loves being with people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 These are wonderful posts. I want to re-read all of them when I have more time. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 My grandmother is 86. She works at the old folks home helping with the elderly. G'ma doesn't count herself among the elderly. Dh's grandmother is in her 90s. She still lives at home, and helps out her family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Oh, and we have this guy in town that celebrated 100 years earlier this month. He drives, goes to mass every day, walks without any assistance. Last summer (or maybe the year before) he guest conducted the community band in the park. Dude gets around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usetoschool Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Love this thread - makes me want to take a look at my life so I can be this way. I will add my grandpa and my next door neighbor. My grandpa lived to 98. Had open heart surgery in his late 80's and then went on a senior citizens tour of China when he was 90. He lived in his own house until the day he died, cooked, went to the senior center dances and flirted with the women every Sunday night. He went the way I would like. My mom took him to the hospital because he was probably dehydrated and was kind of seeing people, but nothing really physically wrong, not sick or anything. They did some tests, the doctor came in to see him, said he would be right back with the results and when he came back grandpa was gone. Moved on with family members that had been visiting him :) My next door neighbor just lost his wife last year and is nearly 90. He lives in a large home with a beautiful yard that is well cared for, is active in his church, travels and is learning to play the piano. He is a wonderful friendly man and we are so grateful to have him as a neighbor. I attend church with several widows who are very social and active and happy. I think part of the success is their happy social and family life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Barbra Streisand is 72. She's doing a European concert tour this summer. ;) And isn't Joan Rivers 100? Betty White? Hope that helps. lol PS How old is Jessie Wise? Seems pretty vibrant to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 My paternal grandma lived to be 99 and it was only in the last couple years of her life that she started to experience health issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballardlm Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 My grandfather is in his late 80's. He has had 3 heart attacks and last November he had triple bypass surgery. He travels all the time and drives himself. He walks on the treadmill 3 times a week and lifts weights. Last week he drove 12 hours to come visit me. He is living proof that even major health problems can be overcome late in life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 My parents are in their early-to-mid 70s. In spite of having Type 1 diabetes for the last 53 years, my mom is in great health. She has taken good care of herself. She does Pilates and another fitness program each week. Both of my parents look great for their age--especially my mom. My dad could look better, but that is a heart/attitude issue. Those things show up on your face eventually. :-( My maternal grandmother is 97. She comes to our house once a week and folds my laundry for me. She also does our family's ironing. Yeah, I know. :blush: Yes, she is old and sleeps a lot, she lives with my parents and helps around their house as well. Vibrant? I don't know. But she participates in life, works and is 'productive' (which is very important to her), and has gotten to see what will probably be all of her 3 great-grandchildren. I would be grateful for the latter as a prize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Double post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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