MYTHS ABOUT AGING - It’s an unfair blanket statement to assume that every person over the age of 60 has ‘old ways’ of thinking. Not every aging person experiences memory loss. Eating right, getting enough exercise and rest all contribute to healthy aging. Elderly people have faced countless challenges and situations of change by the time they reach a certain age, so while they may be a bit slower to adapt, they are certainly capable of change. Many people of retirement age enjoy active lives. Many people take up hobbies or crafts in their senior years that actually lead to a second career and/or income. People that choose to be happy, usually continue that mindset into their golden years. It all comes down to attitude. Many elderly people retain abilities to understand, make rational decisions and participate in and simply enjoy life. As people age, they or society in general may take on some assumptions about them. There are many myths about aging or elderly people that simple aren’t true. Fellowship Square debunks the myths about aging that should never be assumed about senior citizens. Every individual – young and old – has his or her own unique thoughts and feelings about society. It’s an unfair blanket statement to assume that every person over (or under!) the age of 60 has the same beliefs. Taking some time to speak with elderly people about their thoughts about the world – and their own past experiences – can shed some light on this truth.

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

10 Myths about Aging

People that choose to be happy, usually continue that mindset into their golden years - it all comes down to attitude

.

It’s an unfair blanket statement to assume that every person over the age of 60 has ‘old ways’ of thinking. Not every aging person experiences memory loss. Eating right, getting enough exercise and rest all contribute to healthy aging. Elderly people have faced countless challenges and situations of change by the time they reach a certain age, so while they may be a bit slower to adapt, they are certainly capable of change. Many people of retirement age enjoy active lives. Many people take up hobbies or crafts in their senior years that actually lead to a second career and/or income. Many elderly people retain abilities to understand, make rational decisions and participate in and simply enjoy life.

Fellowship Square

 

As people age, they or society in general may take on some assumptions about them.

There are many myths about aging or elderly people that simple aren’t true.

Fellowship Square debunks the myths about aging that should never be assumed about senior citizens.

Myth: “Old people have ‘old ways’ of thinking.”

Truth: Every individual – young and old – has his or her own unique thoughts and feelings about society. It’s an unfair blanket statement to assume that every person over (or under!) the age of 60 has the same beliefs. Taking some time to speak with elderly people about their thoughts about the world – and their own past experiences – can shed some light on this truth.

Myth: “People lose their memory as they age.”

Truth: Not every aging person experiences memory loss diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. According to Psychology Today, only 6 to 8 percent of people over the age of 65 have been diagnosed with dementia.

Myth: Genetic health conditions can’t be avoided as people age.

Truth: While it’s true that genetics play a certain role in each person’s body and health, health and wellness is largely in the hands of each individual. Eating right, getting enough exercise and rest all contribute to healthy aging.

Myth: Elderly people are less adaptable to change.

Truth: This is a personal preference – some people enjoy the newness and thrill of change, while others may be more apprehensive about change. However, this is not an age-related issue. Elderly people have faced countless challenges and situations of change by the time they reach a certain age, so while they may be a bit slower to adapt, they are certainly capable of change.

Myth: Elderly people are less adventurous.

Truth: There are many elderly people who have waited their entire lives for the opportunity to be in retirement so they can travel the world and see new things.

Myth: People become less productive as they age.

Truth: Retirement doesn’t mean elderly people just want to sit around all day! While at a certain age and depending on health concerns, some elderly people may need to rest more throughout the day, many people of retirement age enjoy active lives, help with care for their grandchildren and volunteer. A report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 24% of senior citizens volunteer throughout their retirement years.

Myth: People are less creative as they age.

Truth: Many people take up hobbies or crafts in their senior years that actually lead to a second career and/or income. Whether its woodworking, art or knitting, creative activities keep seniors’ brains and dexterity sharp.

Myth: “Old people are crabby or depressed.”

Truth: Depression is a real, diagnosable disease, not a feeling that can be used as a blanket statement. There is no evidence that shows that older people are crankier – people that are generally “crabby” in their younger years may continue that way. People that choose to be happy, usually continue that mindset into their golden years. It all comes down to attitude.

Myth: Elderly people are lonely.

Truth: The loving, caring environments of retirement communities and assisted living facilities such as Fellowship Square intend to make their residents feel at home and offer a vast social calendar of activities to keep seniors interactive with their neighbors. Many elderly people have kept an active social life and now that they have more time in retirement, actually have a very busy calendar.

Myth: “Old people are incompetent.”

Truth: Elderly people that continue to challenge their brains, exercise their bodies and feed their soul with religion and spiritual beliefs are perfectly competent into their senior years. Even as they age and experience some memory loss or dementia, many elderly people retain abilities to understand, make rational decisions and participate in and simply enjoy life!

Sharing Blessings, Serving Others, Celebrating Age

Since 1979, Christian Care has been dedicated to providing the highest quality of affordable senior housing, programs and services. Over the years, Christian Care has grown from a 64-bed skilled nursing center in Phoenix to six caring communities statewide, offering independent and assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, home health and support services.

To this day, our mission is at the heart of everything we do.

Christian Care Foundation is devoted to developing community partners, volunteers and loyal donors who will join us in our commitment to support the continuation of Christian Care's legacy. Your tax-deductible donation will help fund programs, services and housing for seniors - regardless of their economic circumstances.

https://www.fellowshipsquareseniorliving.org/fellowship-square-blog/posts/2017/10/9/10-myths-about-aging/

You might also like:

Seasons Of Change

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2019/01/seasons-of-change-theres-season-for.html

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Aging Well

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricare.blogspot.com/2020/11/aging-well-staying-healthy-and-feeling.html

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Joy in Your Golden Years

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2019/06/joy-in-your-golden-years-we-feel-alone.html

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Age-Related Memory Loss

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricare.blogspot.com/2020/12/age-related-memory-loss-brain-is.html

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Why Time Flies As We Get Older

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricare.blogspot.com/2020/01/why-time-flies-as-we-get-older.html

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Dementia

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2020/04/dementia-dementia-is-one-of-tragedies.html 

 

GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY - It is up to us to choose how we want to make our life worthwhile - All our frenzied activity while we’re younger is focused on getting old -- either preparing for retirement or avoiding the idea of getting old. We need to be wise in the way we plan for our future and we need to take care of ourselves, but if that is our only focus, we truly do miss out on the life we’ve been given now. Growing old gracefully is taking time to smell the roses. Take time to appreciate the air you breathe -- breathe in deeply and exhale all the toxins of the day’s stress. Take a walk in the park and talk to the ducks -- you might look crazy but the ducks will thank you! Go for coffee with a friend and take the time to listen -- you’ll hear their heart-words and it will make a difference. Spend extra time with your spouse and find ways to make them laugh -- that secret moment will be a wonderful memory shared by only the two of you. In and of themselves, these things don’t take a lot of time. The choices we make now will make a difference when we get old. Did I say that perhaps the most important thing to foster is a sense of humor? Well, it is... laughter does good, like a medicine. We need to learn how to laugh at ourselves, at life, and not let getting old get us down.

..............................................................................................................................................................

Growing Old Gracefully

It is up to us to choose how
 we want to make our life worthwhile

Flo Belanger

The simple things...

Whatever happened to the idea of growing old gracefully?

Why do we fight against the inevitable? What do we have to gain, except perhaps an ulcer?

We stress and fuss about staying young, looking like we did at twenty, hiding all the gray hair, and taking whatever pills necessary to mask our aches and pains.

Where, in all of this, do we actually enjoy the present, or appreciate life as it is?

I, for one, want to grow old gracefully, which means I will grow old!

There, I’ve said it... I’m going to get old. I’m already halfway there!

What an achievement really, don’t you think?

I’ve survived many of life’s twists and turns and learned some wisdom along the way. I’ve got the gray hair to prove it.

This does not mean that I want to neglect my responsibility to try to live in such a way that growing old will be a more pleasant experience.

I breathe so my body has the oxygen it needs to function properly.

I try to eat the right foods that will keep me as healthy as possible. I get as much exercise as I am able.

And, I use my mind in as many ways as possible to keep it from slipping away into senility. At least I hope the last part is true!

I hear from a lot of people who are working too much, that they have no time for their spouse, children, grandchildren, personal interests, or their health.

They long for the day when they can retire so they will have time to do all these things. Why wait?

None of us can guarantee that we’ll even make it to retirement (and in all likelihood, if we continue the way we are, we won’t.)

What is the point in missing out on all these things now when we don’t even know if we’ll ever get the chance to do any of it later.

We won’t actually — the moments with our family, going on that trip, spending time with friends, pursuing a hobby — these moments, the ones today, we’ll never get a chance to live again.

Have you ever stopped to think that all our frenzied activity while we’re younger is focused on getting old -- either preparing for retirement (saving, planning, investing, etc.), or avoiding the idea of getting old (anti-aging products, plastic surgery, excessive exercise, etc.)

Yes, we need to be wise in the way we plan for our future and we need to take care of ourselves, but if that is our only focus, we truly do miss out on the life we’ve been given now.

I believe growing old gracefully is taking time to smell the roses.

Take time to appreciate the air you breathe -- breathe in deeply and exhale all the toxins of the day’s stress.

Take a walk in the park and talk to the ducks -- you might look crazy but the ducks will thank you!

Go for coffee with a friend and actually take the time to listen -- you’ll hear their heart-words and it will make a difference.

Spend extra time with your spouse and find ways to make them laugh -- that secret moment will be a wonderful memory shared by only the two of you.

In and of themselves, these things don’t take a lot of time. It is up to us to choose how we want to make our life worthwhile.

I want to look back on my life and know that people have had a better experience in life because of me.

Am I the kind of person that people want to forget, or are happy to remember?

Am I making the choices now that will make me a pleasant person when I get old, or will I end up being miserable?

The choices we make now will make a difference when we get old. So, what are those choices?

If our focus is only financial, we may end up rich and lonely.

If our focus is only our body, we will be sadly disgruntled when arthritis sets in and walking gets difficult.

If we focus on our attitude, we will be able to grow old gracefully and have a great time doing it!

Did I say that perhaps the most important thing to foster is a sense of humor?

Well, it is... laughter does good, like a medicine.

We need to learn how to laugh at ourselves, at life, and not let getting old get us down.

My name is Flo Belanger and I welcome you to Heart Rest. It is my desire that this will be a place where people can come for encouragement and be challenged to change things in their life that are not working, seek answers to some deeper issues, and find solutions that will make their life better.

I publish a new article once a week (Tuesday/Wednesday) and I hope that people will be able to take just a few minutes out of their day to read and think about what I’ve written. My prayer is that at some point something that I’ve written will touch your heart and encourage your soul.

I don’t claim to be an expert on anything really…I am simply sharing what I’ve learned through the years and the challenges that are encouraging me to go to a deeper level of learning in current situations. My desire is that we can process these things together and be encouraged to grow in our lives to be better people with a greater caring attitude toward each other.

I do have some training (for those who find this to be important). I started by getting a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and have continued through self-study and courses to improve upon that knowledge. While learning with our minds is important, it is how we apply what we’ve learned in everyday life that shows what really matters. I have worked with several non-profit organizations in different capacities ranging from employee to director on the Board, locally and nationally. I have worked in the self-publishing industry, entrepreneurial support, as well as one-on-one tutoring for people seeking re-assigned employment.

The most important thing in my life is my relationship with Jesus…His unconditional love and absolute truth influences how I see the world and how I interact with people. Whether you believe the way I do or not, I think we can all learn from each other and respect each other in whatever place we are in our journey of faith.

So, come join me on this adventure and let’s see where the path takes us!!

https://hubpages.com/health/The-Fallacies-of-the-Fountain-of-Youth

You might also like:

What A Wonderful World

CLICK HERE . . . to view complete playlist . . . 

https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2019/03/what-wonderful-world-anne-murray-i-see.html