Getting older

I guess when you work with the elderly you realize that one day that will be you someone is helping in and out of the bed etc, and you see yourself in them and you start to fear getting like them and not being able to look after yourself and relying heavily on someone else. I would hate to lose my faculties and that is what worries me. I am single and always will be so won't have anyone to look after me, I am too independent, it's losing my independence that worries me. Providing I am fit and healthy I will be ok, It's relying on others that I have a problem with.

I am 27 now and I have a 3 year old daughter, I find myself thinking about getting old and hoping that I can save enough now that I won't be a financial burden on my daughter and will be able to have a nice house and travel a bit before I get too old to do so. I look forward to seeing my daughter grown up and have a family of her own. So staying healthy is a big priority. I often wonder how old I will be when I die. My grandmother developed Alzheimers which scares me, becuase that is something that I certainly don't won't to happen to me. It is a horrible disease.

I thought about. I am preparing myself mentally, emotionally and physically. The older we get, the weaker our immune system becomes, so I am doing my best to keep my immune system strong.

Actually I'm looking forward to getting older! I'm only 74 and still working every day. I'm having more fun now that ever before. AS you age life continues to get better. Its important to realise that Life is exactly what you Make it.If you enjoy aches and pains rest assured you will have Aches and Pains! I enjoy good health and I love my Job. Have a Great Family, and I'm in Love with Life!

Hi marilynlynn, I don't Think about it much at all. I perfer just to take life one day at a time, I can understand you thinking about it more as you work with the elderly. Blessings.

I think about it sometimes. I still young, but I feel like I am 20 years older than I am. I don't go out and party like "normal" college students do. I stay home, work, and spend time with my son and family. I like to think about future trips when my son gets older, but not so much me getting older at the moment.

I'm almost 50 now so yes I do think of it. It seems the older I get the faster time goes by. I don't really mind getting old its the fact that I don't feel well now. My mind says I'm still 18, but my body is telling a whole different story. I do worry about the fact that if I become disabled, who will take care of me, I don't want to be a burden either. But we don't know what is in store for us, I guess we'll have to do the best we can, and pray.

I havent' really thought about getting older until recently. The reason I have started thinking about it is becasue my mom is 77 and has never had any problems with her health. All of the sudden, she seems to be falling apart!! I keep hoping that I can be as active and healthy as she is when I am 77 or older.

Hello there, I respect you because you have a career that is truly respectable. A lot of youngsters wouldn't even want to apply for jobs that deal with elderly people and for that, I really think that it is really honorable of you to have a job like that. Now to answer your question, I have thought a few times before about how my life would be when I get older or old in fact. I think that by then, I would have a wife and a few children and they would all be grown up, leading their own lives. And I would be alone to cherish the "remaining years" in my life with my wife. The older I get each year after my birthday, I do think a lot too, and trying to think of ways to handle my life. Like what I'm going to do in future etc.

I do not tend to dwell on it too much, although I hope I am in good health and have enough money to get by comfortably on instead of having to struggle like so many old people do these days. I used to work in a care home looking after the elderly and people with dementia and alzheimers, that was heartbreaking work sometimes and it always used to make me think that I hoped I did not end up like them.

You are very wise to be thinking about what life will be like for you when you get older. Like most young people, I never paid much attention to age-related issues when I was younger. But now, in my sixties, I realize that many important issues come up later in life and I really wish I had prepared for them before it was too late to do anything about it. Things like health issues, health insurance, estate planning, retirement plans, etc. When you reach retirement age, you often cannot, or don't want to, work any longer. You will lose your employee health plan and must wait until age 65 for Medicare so you are on your own for a few years and without health insurance it can be so costly. More health problems arise after age 60 that you never dreamed would happen in your 40's so without preparation you are in a really bad spot. Cost of living goes up every year but your income goes down when you retire. Social Security is no gold mine, believe me. A plan for your family or loved ones is important when you pass away. Without a will or plan in place you must leave it up to the state to decide who gets what. There is so much to do now, before you get older, that will make life easier when you do get there. Plan now and bear the inconvenience before time slips away.

I think it just a natural thing to think about the ageing process Lyn....as we get older the mirror image changes...and maybe we arent so sure about what we see....but that person still remains the same underneath the crinkly bits!!!...im 52 now...and when i was 30..i thought i would never be 40...then lol..before you know it im here!!! But ive had some good adventures along the way!!..and im still hoping to have a few more!!!!Probably because you work with the elderly it tends to affect you a little.....we all think in terms of the future..our health being the major issue..will we keep our mobility?...will we lose our marbles??...and so on and so forth...but maybe just to take eeach day as it comes...and make the very most of it....that is good enough for any of us!!!

i do think about that, in the sense that i want to grow old - i want to live up to 80 years old.

i think if im getting older im sitting on my wheel chair :P

I want to grow old with grace,

I do. I tend to think alot about my future and how things will be when I am older. I worry about whether or not I will be able to retire or if I am going to have to keep working until the day I die. How many grand kids am I going to have. There are so many things to think about. I try not to dwell on it, but it crosses my mind most everyday.

Oh Marilyn, this seems to be at the fore front of my brain constantly lately. I just turned 47 and beginning the first stages of the big "M". So it has consumed how I am thinking about the next half of my life. But I am not giving in to being old rather looking for way to highlight the youth I have. I intend to grow old gracefully but with help if you know what I mean.

No I don't... You have to live for the present and enjoy every minute of it... as you don't get a second chance. Why spoil the present by worrying about the future? Most people adapt to their circumstances... and as you get older... you will adapt to it... and learn to live with it.

I think about it all of the time. I work seven days a week right now and my husband does too. We do nothing but work just to make ends meet. He is 15 years older than I am and I am scred that he will pass on before me. I am so afraid to live alone in this worl dveen though I do have my daughter with me also. I feel myself aging daily. Work is taking its toll on me. I get about 4 hours of sleep per day.

Yes there are times that these thoughts would cross my mind which often time leaves me a feeling of fear...As I see those old people now, I think they are having much difficulties coz they start to have so many problems such, they start to have difficulties in seeing, walking, and doing so many things as a result of old age, so most of the time I would tell myself I don't to get old...old, to the point that I can't be able to do my activities of daily living, I don't want to be a burden for anybody...Sometimes I would even say that when I grow old I would just have to admit myself to a institution for the old people...