The Senior Label
Posted by Donna Mae Scheib on September 01, 2016
The Senior Label
There seems to be no generally accepted definition of when a person is labeled as a senior. Several decades ago everybody seemed to know that when people retired at 65, they became seniors even though that term did not actually exist at that time. These people were usually referred to as old, older, elderly and even old codger. These labels often resulted in many people feeling and acting older than their physical stamina required. More and more many found themselves on the fringes of mainstream society. Some also dwelled on the fact that they had reached the last stage in the life span. Consequently, there were people who wondered if there might be more neutral and uplifting labels that could be used; and the term “senior” came into being. While there are a few academics, journalists and others who keep searching for a better label, generally speaking, this term is well received.
Just as the last couple of decades have seen a tremendous change in most areas of life, so it has been and also is with seniors. Better diets, medical and dental care, exercise choices, social gathering places, more and better housing (albeit often somewhat unaffordable), pensions, food banks, many volunteer choices, casual employment, etcetera, are resulting in people living longer. Not surprisingly, sayings such as, “80 are today’s 70” and even“ 90 is today’s 40!” have arisen.
The virtual unrelenting health providers and the media have resulted in most seniors being fully informed about how to lead a healthy lifestyle. The main ingredients seem to be sufficient sleep, a nutritious diet, socialization, and plenty of exercises. Walking and bicycle trails abound. Other exercise avenues also exist; such as swimming pools, curling, and skating rinks, gyms, regular and lawn bowling, etcetera.
Some seniors partake in extreme sports. Sky diving by seniors has increased in age and frequency. On June 12, 2016, a 100-year-old lady became the oldest skydiver in South Australia. She has also been up in a glider and traveled the world on her own. Recently 101-year-old Armand Gendresor did a Tandem parachute jump. Yes, age is just a number!
On TV last weekend, a 100-year-old man was shown running a 100km race, and he plans on running the race again next year. Interestingly, he only took up racing at 93 years of age! Also, last weekend, a 92-year-old man swam the width of Okanagan Lake.
Several years ago, a downhill ski club was formed where members have to be 79 and over. Pilots are still flying their own planes in their 80s. Betty White, who is in her 90s, is still an active and beloved actress. Some medical doctors are still actively practicing in their late 70s. Queen Elizabeth at 90 and her husband Prince Phillip at 95 are, apparently, actively pursuing their royal duties. Yes, age is, indeed, just a number!
A lot of seniors are enjoying traveling both domestically and internationally. They are doing so on their own or as part of a tour. If females cannot find travel partners, instead of foregoing a much-desired foreign trip, more and more are going by themselves. In fact, some prefer it that way because then they can choose to see exactly what they want to see. Perhaps the 100-year-old South Australian woman who has traveled the world on her own has been a good example to many women (and men) to be sufficiently independent and brave to get the most enjoyment out of their senior years. Seniors do a lot of volunteering, some well into their 80s. They, apparently, get as much joy out of doing this as they give.
Some seniors have grandchildren and even great-grandchildren who through frequent contact bring a lot of love and joy into their lives. If seniors are blessed with good health, their lives need not be boring and dull. That being said, lying in a hammock with a good book on a nice sunny day can be very satisfying.
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