What it says on the tin. Perhaps the harsh realities can be grasped more in the actual watching of the video than the expressed content.
10 Harsh Realities of Being a 77-Year-Old-Man
Spoiler Alert: no spoilers.
5 Likes
On this site, I am fascinated with everyone’s portrayals and strategies within the chronological age they exist, when looking ahead. I think this gentleman has valid insights not generally highlighted. One interesting comment in the video was how he categorized dementia. Not as a condition, but that dementia “killed” two of his good friends. One slowly, the other fast.
2 Likes
Good video. At 84 years old, I agree with most of what he says.
One of his lifestyle choices I would never make is moving to a retirement community. I would find that very depressing. Of course, you would constantly be reminded of your mortality as your neighbors die of various illnesses.
One of the things I don’t do that he doesn’t mention is that I never dwell on the past.
10 Likes
I’m not impressed with this video. It sounds like he is convincing himself (and us) that he is old and dying. And he doesn’t look good. Hope he doesn’t die tomorrow. He repeated the word “die”probably more than 100 times. It’s like programming yourself that you are old and you are dying. The message should be “don’t die”! Resist dying! Stay young! Do things that young ppl do (dancing, skating, jogging, traveling, driving, etc.). And never move to a retirement community. @desertshores is right! Of course I’m not 77 yet, and I may not know now how it feels, but I’m pretty sure that it’s different for everybody. My mother was still dating at 78.
8 Likes
I am 74 - and I moved to a retirement community in Florida with my wife(deceased in 2024) 14 years ago. I now regret living here because do many people die all the time. Mu next door house had 5 deaths in 3 years with 3 different owners. Husband and wife (home sold by children)- then husband(wife sold the home) - then husband and wife.
7 Likes
I can only imagine how depressing that has to be.
In my very limited experience, I’ve heard about dramatic stories at the opposite end of the spectrum. Some people seem to go downhill quickly and find it depressing, on the other hand, just as many people seem to thrive and make social connections they haven’t had in years. I wonder how to know in advance which way it would be for a particular person?
1 Like
I’m not yet at retirement age (I’m in my early 50s, still), but have been looking ahead. In the case of my parents, who lived in a retirement village for a time, there were little things most don’t think about, but that can cause problems. For example, how good are the sidewalks in case you want to take a walk? – because if they just go around and around in a small circle and you can’t walk to nearby stores, say, because the sidewalks end, then you’ll see the same short, boring route every day, and nothing else. Another overlooked issue is, what is the food like in the cafeteria? Because if you don’t like it, if it tastes cheap and unappetizing, it’s hard to change.
Another problem is, will you have enough money? You see all the time people in their late 60s or older with little jobs (like at restaurants, say, or to cook and clean for even older people), that probably wish they didn’t have to work. What will they do when they’re too old to work anymore? Even people who have a few million in their 401k could have problems. e.g. if they get cancer and have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital bills (in case the insurance doesn’t cover it); or wind up in a nursing home and have to pay $20k or more per month. The money can go fast!
I think AI will eventually (maybe 10 years from now) help with some of this. e.g. perhaps we’ll have a near-future like that movie Robot and Frank where robots can help people “live in place”, without needing eldercare or expensive nursing home care.
1 Like
None of this is unexpected. But some of it applies also to younger ages. Time is the most precious commodity - YES… at any age. Health is your most important priority - YES… at any age. Financial security is fundamental to a good life - YES… at any age. Close Relationships enhances your experience of life - YES… at any age. Enjoy the Now appreciation of the small things right now makes for happiness - YES… at any age.
Of course there are nuances, when young you might feel (often mistakenly!) that you’ve got all the time in the world, and it’s the time to sow your wild oats, be adventurous and take risks… but time flies shockingly fast. Time is still important. When young with no health problems you take it for granted. Sometimes you bank problems for later. Finances, you can get by with less and focus on other things than making money, but don’t delay for too long, being old and poor is not fun. Relationships, you have to earn, so be the best you can be so you have something great to offer, but OK some do really well solo, if you can great, but let that be your choice, not a sad necessity.
Good advice for any age. But to each their own, everyone is on their own path and we all die in the end, so let’s try not just to delay death, but make life truly worth living. YMMV.
2 Likes
I have three to four funerals a month here, each time sad music and fire crackers for two days. Now with the heat, old farts croaking like flies around here. The noise really sucks but it is also a great motivation, constantly reminding me to exercise and eat healthy. It is wise to keep death in mind, like the church did in medieval times.
1 Like