Meet my mother. She is a wonderful Southern lady, with Stage 4 Alzheimer's Disease.
Mother's are hard to replace. They raise us, wipe our tears, treat our bobo's, love us
unconditionally. I Love Her, so and it is my mission to help find a cure for this horrible
disease that not only affects terrific people but the love ones around them as well.
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New Article; Am I Elderly?
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2010
Am I Elderly?
Who is Elderly? I set out to answer the question.
Funny, in past years, defining someone, elderly, would mean, "old."
Again, the question is paramount, what is, "old?" Ask any 16 year old,
"anyone past the age of 40," most often the answer. The same question
given to an individual in their 30's, without much thought, answer," 60."
Therefore, I gave myself the assignment; determine within
what demographic "Elderly," fall. My research and fact finding
may surprise you. My mission writing, issue sound, helpful, and
fact based information to my audience. Interesting, my reader's will be
determined by the outcome of the answer.
Reading articles, data, facts, and figures from many internet
sites, I have determined the following. The U.S. Census, models the
demographic group over the age of 65 as "Elderly." Included in
the same study, "Baby Boomer," has been classified as those
after age 42, but before 60.
On Dictionary.com, the following definition for the word is given:
someone old; of or pertaining to persons in later life. Well, that
surely answers the question. At least my baby boomer status is
correct for the moment. But, where do I fall between 61 and 65?
http://www.wikipedia.org was good to define my current age
grouping as, "old age." Old age, according to our U.S. Census,
again, is 55+. My research resembled an onion. The more I looked,
the more information was forth coming, but confusing. I also note
the published book by, Erik Erikson titled, "Eight Stages of
Life." His theory of elderly, defined by a period of, "Integrity vs.
Despair." What?
In fairness to old, senior, or elderly, I issue you a challenge.
Decide which demographic group I personally belong?
This is a small look inside my lifestyle and personality, adding a
few characteristics along the way.
I was born in 1950. Active, play golf, scuba dive, garden, and
walk, as physical activity. I work in the real estate industry,
busy full-time. Blessed, family life, including a grown married
daughter, with a grandson, 11, and about to be 3 time
grandmother with twin girls, joining our family in the Fall.
Writing, publishing short stories, and children's books,
keep my mind busy and hopefully, sharp. From the medical
view, medicine for blood pressure, fat in my blood, osteopenia,
as well, I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Additionally, it is
heartbreaking to say, my mother is in stage 4, Alzheimers.
Physical limitations, if "squatting," I need help getting up.
You tell me, am I, "elderly?" I found this topic interesting after watching those commanding
and controller our future. Funny, the average age of our government
officials, we elect to represent us, fall at "60." This begs the
question, at what age do they deem themselves, elderly? Those,
conducting ongoing debate and ushering in bills, controlling the
lives of "elderly" Americans, in itself, seem to fail to
recognize they change their own lives, as well.
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