The future may not be as rosy as it used to be, and it may take longer to figure things out, but you still have a future.
It’s a lot to think about, especially if you have resigned yourself to the inevitable, but let’s not go there yet. Seniors in the past often had a different mindset because the years between retirement and well, you know, were miniscule.
Longevity has changed that, but it has also created a whole new set of concerns. People are living longer and research has opened many doors, if you choose to open them.
What do all of these predictions and statistics mean to you? It means you may have to factor an additional 10, 20 or 30 more years into your picture.
Nobody dreams of spending their later years in a care facility, but how in the world are you supposed to keep that from happening? Truth be told, people living in a controlled environment with regular meals, medication programs, enforced therapy and socialization tend to live longer. This tells us that independence is still within our grasp. It also shows us how important nutrition, exercise, socialization and mental stimulation is to the overall picture.
Planning for the future takes on a whole new dimension. Where we live does not have to change who we are, but you need to listen, learn and make some difficult decisions. I learned when I worked with seniors, long before becoming one, that we all need to listen to our elders. Their words of wisdom boiled down to “If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself.”
So, listen up. You have a future no matter where you live. You all want to feel good, remain active, and keep “all of your marbles” so that you can embrace your future.
Ultimately it may mean dropping some old habits and developing some new ones, but you already know that. Look ahead instead of behind you and make good solid decisions. There is still plenty to work on.
Leave a Reply