Often, when people think of what it means to be a senior citizen, they think of things like discounts at the movie theatre, retirement, and that they’re the demographic that can’t use a computer.
Most dictionaries define a senior citizen as an elderly person particularly, one who has retired. But that’s not exactly true. According to the Social Security Administration, we don’t qualify for Medicare until we’re 65 or older (except in special circumstances where there is a disability present) so maybe 65 is the number (especially in America). Yet certain senior discounts can start as young as 50. So, maybe being a senior is just a state of mind.
While the definition is a bit subjective and cloudy, there’s no denying that getting older has its ups and downs. Some lean more one way or the other. Some see the word old as negative and actively fight against it. Others embrace age and celebrate the years lived.
As they say, growing older is privilege denied to many. It’s important to not take it for granted. While it’s important to stay positive as we age, there is something to be said for being realistic about it. Let’s get prepared for our golden years by checking out what it means to be a senior citizen.
Natural Weakening
We all accept that, over time, our hair will start to turn grey, our skin will begin to wrinkle, we’ll start walking slower, and we’ll say what? a lot when talking to people. The last one, however, doesn’t have to be the case. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), around one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss.
Therefore, having access to affordable hearing aids is a must. By getting regular hearing tests and following directions for preventing hearing loss (or, furthering hearing loss) we can continue to live our lives being able to talk with people, hear music, and even hear the birds chirping.
Visiting The Doctor
According to familydoctor.org, preventive care is especially important the older we get because diseases become more and more common as we age. By going to the doctor regularly, we can live longer and more comfortably. However, if it’s already too late for that and we require assisted living, consider checking out the healthcare center in Waterbury, CT where we can go through rehabilitation comfortably with nursing staff to keep an eye on us.
Expecting Grandchildren
According to the Pew Research Center, a survey found that 83 percent of people 65 and older report having grandkids. Remember how rewarding, but stressful raising our children was? Well, now we get all the perks of enjoying the little ones without the stress of child-rearing. The Pew Research Center also found that among this age group (65 and older), the majority reported that spending more time with family and spending time with grandchildren was a top benefit of growing older.
Struggling More With Mobility
As we age it could (and very likely will) get harder and harder to get around like we used to. Walking, getting up off the couch or the toilet, and getting into the bathtub are all going to become increasingly difficult the longer we are aging. According to the CDC, disability is more likely as we age. This is indicated by the fact that roughly 2 in 5 adults over 65 have a disability. The CDC also reports that the most common type of disability is issues with mobility and that people with a disability are more prone to diabetes, heart disease, and issues with their weight.
Meeting Peace
According to a study done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, senior citizens have lower levels of anxiety regarding death compared to their children. The study found that the elderly fear the process of dying more than they fear death itself. Perhaps this is where the saying, with age comes wisdom stems from. It’s not very wise to fear the inevitable. We must become less anxious and wiser the longer we live.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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