“Age Is Just A Number”

Speak about denial. Somebody made up a ridiculous story about growing old, that it’s merely a quantity, implying that it means nothing. This fable seems regularly within the media, in advertisements, in tales and typically in faux conversations. What’s ridiculous about it’s that growing old is a course of. No matter one’s age, together with the elders in our personal households, we acknowledge that the method takes its regular toll. We cling to that fable after we can’t face it that the method of getting older is basically taking place to us or our family members.

The Fact

Regardless of America’s unfavorable angle about growing old on the whole, and the stereotyping of older adults as frail, “out of it”, decrepit or ineffective, many elders are doing reasonably nicely regardless of their years. A few of us have growing old mother and father of their 90s who’re outstanding examples of wholesome growing old. However, virtually with out exception, these profitable agers are doing one thing proper. They honor the growing old course of by how they reside. They’ve sturdy social connections with household and neighborhood. They have an inclination to keep away from issues that may hurt well being. They transfer their our bodies frequently, no less than just a little. Those with a agency grasp of actuality don’t proclaim that their age is “only a quantity” however reasonably one thing they acknowledge, respect, and work to gradual and handle. There isn’t a must fake that they don’t seem to be on their very own growing old journeys.

Why The Hype About “Simply A Quantity”?

Typically, in our society, we appear to be unwilling to face that each one residing organisms have a life cycle. All come into existence, and develop over time. All die on the finish of the life cycle. There aren’t any exceptions, it doesn’t matter what you purchase to attempt to keep away from this. However see how the merchandise which can be promoted to “cease growing old” , “ take years off”, make you “look youthful” and so on. are promoting so nicely. We don’t need to come to grips with the reality that if we don’t do all we are able to to handle ourselves and the older ones we love, we’ll have numerous diseases. I don’t suppose anybody with coronary heart illness that threatens their existence would inform you that age is only a quantity. They most likely don’t hum that to themselves as they take their drugs and get their blood strain checked.

Medicine Commercials

As a retired R.N. and Public Well being Nurse, I admit to a pet peeve about numerous TV advertisements suggesting that drugs are enjoyable merchandise and people taking them are dancing round joyously about their medicine. It’s not enjoyable to have persistent diseases. I by no means met a single affected person among the many greater than 10,00o for whom I had private accountability who was joyful about taking their meds for any persistent illness.

The continued growth of latest drugs solely tells us that science is working onerous to assist handle these a number of persistent situations that dominate the well being panorama of growing old adults. We might be glad therapies do exist however let’s not be fooled by the parable that anybody taking the drugs isn’t growing old. I doubt that individuals taking any of those closely promoted drugs, usually for all times, would say that they see their very own age as “simply” a quantity.

A Optimistic Angle—Not Fable

Every of us should deal with our personal growing old course of in our personal method, with our particular person mixture of things that contribute to the way it goes. We do have specific amount of management over that, as we select a wholesome life-style or not. It makes extra sense to acknowledge that as we become old, issues inevitably change. Our our bodies exhibit put on and tear. Individuals round us who’re the identical age as we’re change into impaired a method or one other. Pals and older members of the family move away. All of this reminds us of the reality: as we age, our time right here is proscribed and it’s sensible to make one of the best of it.

The Takeaways

1. Don’t ever be fooled by the hype that the growing old course of is “simply” a quantity and no massive deal. That hype suggests that you simply don’t must work at wholesome growing old.
2. Getting old nicely isn’t going to be achieved by pretending that it’s enjoyable to take drugs or that you simply’ll be simply high quality in the event you do nothing else. Get out of denial.
3. Assist your loved ones and your self by accepting the adjustments you undergo because the years move and plan for methods to make your individual journey with growing old go in addition to you probably can.