living bridge

Tuesday 29 November 2011

old age or advanced age

Old age or advanced age ??

The words” old man” is usually expressed to imply that the person is frail, with wrinkled face, become senile and good for nothing. May be he or her is physically weak, walks with a gait ,wears hearing aid ,thick spectacle or a walker but he or her should not be counted as useless . I for one feel that the prefix old should be erased in all context and replaced by the prefix advanced. This I feel that it is more euphemistical which is appreciative of his or her attitude, caliber, who is willing to accept his limitations and limit his expectations rather than highlighting his physical appearance. We are truly old when we begin to suffer the physical disabilities needing assistance for our daily chores and not before. To assume that aged citizen is either senile or incapacitated is basically inaccurate. When a respect is restored in our thinking for the aged citizens this will bring back the need for living in a family unit. Automatic age brackets must be eliminated. Aren’t we verdurians eager to do fewer things for the first time blogging, browsing which is the antidote for dementia, rather than more things for the last time? Yes we are advancing in chronological aging but appreciative of mountains, clouds frequently displaying different pattern on the canvas of sky, the orange yellow sunset behind the mountains making us aware and wonder what next? Doesn’t speak for our eagerness. We are growing and not aching to get applause, popularity ,as we did during our professional career –the turbulence of fears,bitterness,secret tears which once irritated us are no longer there .We are truly old when we are incapacititated with disabilities and not before. We elders also think revolutionarily accepting our limitations and limiting our expectations

But the word old is so much ingrained in our mind that it may not be possible to refrain from addressing as old man or woman –at least we can delete old age home and address as retirement home

Aging is a luxury, which is held back for the youngsters.

Let us sing Robert Browning’s song together” Grow old with me the best is yet to be”

Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be
When our time has come
We will be as one
God bless our love
God bless our love
Grow old along with me
Two branches of one tree
Face the setting sun
When the day is done
God bless our love
God bless our love
Spending our lives together
Man and wife together
World without end
World without end
Grow old along with me
Whatever fate decrees
We will see it through
For our love is true
God bless our love
God bless our love