A friend emailed me one of those "maps that makes you think". It purported to show which states were most favorable for "active seniors". It listed the average age for each state that seniors remained "active".
It looked to me like they took the median life expectancy and subtracted ten years from that number, but it got me to thinking, "How would you measure that? Is there a standard for what defines an active-adult?"
It turns out that Occupational Therapists and people who study senior citizens do have a measure and it has little to do with how physically fit you are.
The Basic Activities of Daily Living
- The ability to move yourself from one location to the next (usually in your home) as you go about your daily routine
- Personal hygiene, brushing your teeth
- Showering and bathing (which combines novel movements and slippery surfaces with hygiene
- Toileting and cleaning up afterward
- Dressing, including selecting appropriate clothing for the day
- Self-feeding
Instrumental/Intellectual Activities of Daily Living
- Housekeeping, laundry, and other home chores
- Money management
- Meal Preparation
- Moving or changing residents
- Managing your medications (including arranging doctor visits)
- Using the telephone or computer to communicate and get information
A sad reality
It is a sad reality that many people feel righteous in ripping-off old people.
If they bother to rationalize their actions, they say that the only reason an old person can afford something is because "they exploited others" during their working years.
A million years ago, an older people had no problems finding a neighborhood "kid" to mow the grass with a push mower, rake the leaves, shovel the snow or clean the gutters on the roof.
Now you have to hire a business to do those chores on an annual basis. They show up driving $50k trucks and pulling another $15k in high-speed equipment. The only way they will do anything extra (like not mow down your prize peonies) is if you pay the EXTRA money.
And the entire "money management" issue has become a goat-festival. We are being pushed into "Apps" that come and go at a bewildering rate. We get messages "We discontinued this app here at the Doctors office and you have to sign up for this new one".
Oh, and data breaches happen daily. So how do we discern if the message is real or bogus?
It is no longer safe to put checks (in envelops) into your mailbox for the mailman to pick up. Scammers pull outgoing mail and "wash" the checks to create a signed but otherwise-blank-check on YOUR account. Note: Uniball 207 pens are more resistant to "washing" than most other pens.
At least the thief has to put some effort into stealing your money when you use paper checks. He can't do it from the other side of the globe with the push of a mouse-button.
And don't get me started on inflation and the heat-death of Social Security.
Yes, modern technology has advantages. Ride-share apps are a life-saver for my blind sister-in-law. Home delivery of groceries can take the sting out of the inevitable restrictions on driving.
It doesn't mean that I have to like it.
I have a BIL who has a side gig doing yardwork in San Antonio Texas. Located low enough so that landscaping is a 12 month job (i.e. no - little snowfall). His vehicle hauling around is early 2000's mid size truck hauling said trailer which does have commercial grade tools. He tells me that these tools rarely fail so that his work is not only expedited, he spends less on yearly maintenance. The speed increase gives him at least three more jobs in full day, so at least $200 increase in pay. So in long run - the tools do pay off. He is a school teacher but does this business during weekends and occasionally a job or two during weekdays for favored customers. Urban - suburban, so the lots are city lots and in truth, the land owner could do it themselves.
ReplyDeleteBut they make enough $$$ now, so that time is spent in the gym ... :^)