Thoughtless Remarks That Get Seniors Fighting Mad-- from Senior-Friendly BrightStar Care/North Suburban
Watch your language around Baby Boomers and older seniors. They don't cotton to a lot of remarks that younger people make around them. People mean well, but their ageist, careless comments can drive us batty, like granny in the picture to your right (my left).
As a Baby Boomer, this writer knows what patronizing, condescending remarks mean and do. BrightStar Care North Suburban does, too and embraces age. The organization cheerfully does all it can physically and emotionally to help seniors age in place -- with grace. But meanwhile, back at remarks few if any seniors appreciate, let's look at the following, up close and impersonal.
"How Are You Doing Young Man?"
This is someone having fun and thinking they're being kind and cool when actually -- to me and others-- this remark is saying, "Well I see you're really ancient and I'd like to take this time to point that out. I'm young and probably will live longer than you." It's condescending, patronizing and I usually come back with, "Gee, I guess my age is really showing. I didn't know I was so decrepit. Thanks for pointing it out!"
"Wow, You're Really Aging Well"
Ah, perhaps you think of us as in our "prime" like a piece of meat that has been aged in a locker. Well, the marbling part may be true. When someone says this you have to ask yourself "why is looking my actual age so horrible? Older people are revered in many parts of the world, but not here. As the aging William Butler Yeats wrote, "This is no country for old men." It sure isn't in the advertising and fashion world. Think of "Age defying make up," the anti-wrinkle creams, the TV ad where the woman puts up photos on her literal "wall" because she doesn't understand "The Facebook" (ha ha). As Rodney Dangerfield said, "we don't get no respect!" and if you don't know who Rodney Dangerfield is, well, sorry but you're too young.
"I'm Glad to See You're Still Up and Around"
As opposed to what?
"So When Are You Going to Retire?"
Either the "12th of Never" (on my Google Calendar) or shortly after The Aocalypse when jobs are going to be scarce. This comment, once again, presumes anyone over 70 (or so) must be planning on retiring. Simply stated, and obviously, many seniors can't afford to quit. Their income doesn't equal the costs of their desired lifestyle; lifespans have stretched and people are outliving the "extra" money they had stashed away for a rainy day. We're looking at a deluge of expenses today. How many folks over 65 are still in the workforce?!
According to the latest research: In May, 2017 18.8% of Americans ages 65 and older, or nearly 9 million people, reported being employed full- or part-time, continuing a steady increase that dates from 2000. In May of that year, just 12.8% of 65-and-older Americans, or about 4 million people, said they were working. So if we do the math (somebody get out an abacus), the number of seniors working has increased about 6% or about $500,000 people in 17 years.
Here's something else that's very important--many people don't want to retire. They are enjoying the vitality they feel, the money, independence, productivity and mental stimulation of still being employed. Heck, this writer does. Working and still being good at it is a gift.
"Act Your Age"
I've been told this countless times. It may have something to do with the fact that I wear a clown nose and Bozo feet. I like to dance, pretty aggressively, and somewhat (note the somewhat) in a "Clubish" style. Perhaps it looks like people are clubbing me and I'm in pain. No one's ever actually said, "Act your age," but I sense it. If acting your age means giving up dancing, or telling a joke, or laughing out loud, or not talking in church, or putting away my jean jacket, bring on the ice floe. Right now, bring on the ice floe that comes with a vodka tonic!
BrightStar Care-North Suburban Celebrates Age
For almost a decade (speaking of age), BrightStar Care North Suburban has been dedicated to helping seniors age in place with as much grace, life, love, activity, fun and passion as possible. Yes, the in-home agency provides nursing care on serious levels -- like Alzheimer's and dementia cae, but BrightStar is also about helping seniors and the adult children who love them with acts of daily assistance so seniors and others can the people we serve and have the freedom and time to get out there and dance. Put on Chance the Rapper and let's boogie.
Contact BrightStar of Northbrook at (847) 510-5750 today to learn more about our high quality home care,
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