Old age is not for sissies

Elderly man at a village market confused with payment methods, but is helped by patient people. Reflects on the future and vulnerability in old age. Author discusses strategies for old age: accepting the inevitable and planning for loss of independence. Importance of family and community support. Preparation for old age and death is necessary. Hello, Jeremy Dieter and welcome to the Insight Post for the 11th of February 2024. Old age is not for sissies. The elderly gentleman standing next to me was having difficulties. He had brought provisions from the book to the stall at our local village market and was trying to pay on a card. Unfortunately, he was confused by the contents of his wallet and attempted to settle with a loyalty card instead of a credit card. Fortunately, the village market works at a gentle pace and everyone was patient. We offered the gentleman our help but he could see the absence bruising his pride and undermining his independence and he persevered. Eventually, he decided to pay by cash instead of a card and the cost was rounded down as by the stallkeeper to avoid too much small change. A mirror of our future selves. Nevertheless, the incident was distressing because we could see ourselves in the gentleman in a few years, probably why everyone was patient, kind and helpful. Good things have been different. I did not know the gentleman's story, however, it is not my first time witnessing such a situation. I suspect we have all been there and wonder how someone could allow themselves to become so vulnerable. It is easy to be critical but I have often talked to clients about how to make the last years of their lives as easy and fulfilling as possible and, just as importantly, how to make life easy for those who might have to look after you in your old age and wind up your life after it's over. Two strategies for old age. I find two things to be helpful. The first is to let go. I know it's not easy and flies in the face of our innate survival instinct and fear of our loss of independence and death. But if you can accept the inevitable, it is much easier to do the second thing, a plan for your old age and loss of independence. It's not just about money, although that is important, it's about your family and community, the people who will be there for you when you cannot do it yourself. It certainly helps to make your wishes known beforehand and get your family and support networks agreement. Old age ain't no place for sisters, as the saying goes, and, like taxes, death is inevitable. So it pays to prepare for both well before they happen.