Information Related to "Positives for Older People, Part 1"
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Positives for Older People, Part 1 By Graemme Marshall When the United Nation's General Assembly designated 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons, it was long overdue.
here has been a significant shift in Western attitudes toward aging and the elderly in the past few decades. Retirement coming at an earlier age has spawned a far-reaching trend: a huge pool of still vigorous men and women who too often are involved in a restless floating around the country. In and out of part-time jobs or in self-employment ventures, they search for effective meaning in this vital stage of their lives. As governments' deficit spending eats away their retirement savings, there is an emerging gray army of still capable workers needing to pay ever-present bills. In the Indian subcontinent, Asia, China and South America, the economic value of older people seems better appreciated. Because of cultural and economic necessity, many of the so-called underdeveloped countries still value senior citizens. As a result, though walking into the sunset of their lives, they often maintain fitness, health and mental faculty. Perhaps these countries are actually ahead of the affluent West. Only now are some Western governments beginning to see the need to treat those in their "golden years" with more dignity. Changing attitudes toward aging Western economics based on "consumption and planned obsolescence" have applied questionable values to older people through the policy of mandatory retirement. After that often comes abandonment of the elderly to old age and nursing homes. There is, however, a changing demographic that governments can no longer ignore. A predominantly aged population is bringing to the forefront "gray power." Springing up in response to being told, "Sorry, you are too old for the job," are home service businesses called "the gray army." Staffed by formerly employed tradespeople ages 45 to 70, these qualified workers offer such home repair services as plumbing, electrical, tiling, carpentry or painting. They bring experience, reliability and competence along with reasonable rates. Authors like Gail Sheehy in her book New Passages proclaim that older persons, if in good health, do not have seriously diminished competence. She asserts, "For the first time in the history of the world most people in the advanced societies can expect to live into the long late afternoon of life." She notes that aging studies suggest that "a woman who reaches 50 today -- and remains free of cancer and heart disease -- can expect to see her ninety-second birthday" (page 5).
Social conditioning can trap older people into despair The idea of retirement itself tends to push some older people into discouragement and despair. Boredom can result after the sudden loss of employment. After all, who are you when you are no longer defined by your work?
What older people need is to politely assert their own vital potential, as in this story: A well-meaning young senator was showing a party of seniors around the Senate chamber. He treated them as schoolchildren by explaining the legislative process in words of one syllable and shouting as if they were all deaf. Finally, turning to one of the group, the senator asked, "And what used you to be?" The old man fixed him with a beady eye and replied, "I still am." Debunking myths about getting old The brain keeps growing. According to recent studies, brain cells do not die off in extensive numbers leading to mental decline. Rather, they shrink or grow dormant in old age, especially from the lack of stimulation or challenge. There is normally no change in intelligence or learning. There is strong evidence to suggest that using your mind preserves intellectual ability. For the brain to stay mentally fit, it must be exercised. Sharp older people become dull through inactivity and boredom, not through a loss of neurons. One can expect to continue to enjoy full mental alertness throughout later age.
Just because someone looks old doesn't mean their brain is feeble too! And old people are not more handicapped than those younger. Anyone at any age can have sickness or become incapacitated, even from birth. A handicap is not solely the result of advanced age. Memory doesn't run out. No one, unless affected by serious illness, runs out of memory just because of age. Certainly input and recall can slow down. The index file is still there but the office worker is older and takes longer to get to the filing cabinet, search through the files and come up with the right one. Most people in their 50s notice that they can't instantly recall names until some time later. Is it really that much different to a lot of children's responses when their parents ask, "Where is your jacket? Where are your shoes?" The typical youthful answer can be, "I don't know, must be somewhere." Aging does not automatically equal forgetfulness. The challenge for older people -- a new career goal There are still challenges for an older person. Getting old isn't the end; it is, in fact, a new venture that only the elderly can appreciate. Psalm 92 is positively encouraging: Part of the blessing of being "the righteous" is also that "they shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing" (verse 14).
If every day is welcomed with a joy for life and God's truth, you'll never feel too old. You will just keep on growing. Reconciliation and facing death Reconciliation opportunities always exist, but we often procrastinate and let them slip by. It is of little help to others, when we want to make up for past mistakes, if we fail to do so before we die. Each day is a window of opportunity to correct interpersonal mistakes. Cleanse the conscience; confront what has been too hard to address in the past. In the sunset of life, you will feel less embarrassment at losing face. We are best prepared by life's wisdom to humbly accept blame for wrongs. The mellowing of age equips us to forgo pride in favor of doing the right thing. The best gift we can give a child, spouse or friend is to set things straight while we still have the mental faculty, agility of mind and heart to do so. The older we get, the harder it is to lie to ourselves. How much happier we could be by clearing away a guilty conscience!
Aged believers have a better realization of how close they are to the Kingdom of God. They stand on the brink of eternity. They have a sense of the urgency to make the most of each day, be closer to God and be concerned how true Christian works will be judged and viewed. A new and better world waits beyond the grave. With this thought in mind, gloom and pessimism should fade. The final heartbeat is not an end, but a grand beginning. As some of the inconveniences of old age arrive -- serious health conditions, aches and pains -- the expectation of life again in a new world order shines more brightly. This is to be more prized than any other physical possession.
Old age should not be the "trash heap" portion of human life. For God's people it is a new phase that looks more wisely ahead to the imminent Kingdom of God. Successful aging means not viewing death as a full stop, ending a sentence, but rather a comma that briefly interrupts a sentence that has yet more to say. Please read next month's issue of "Virtual Christian Magazine" for part 2 of this article. Recommended reading To learn more about God's amazing plan for mankind and how all people, young and old, fit into His plan, please request the free booklet . Copyright 2007 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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