Aging

I have always looked forward to getting older. I may change my mind about that once I'm out of my twenties but since I was very young I have always envied the life of a retired person! Who doesn't? It was very enlightening to read about some of the things that are important to be well grounded in this stage of life. Having a strong faith and its connection to better emotional and physical health, and having friendships and relationships with siblings. Both of these are very important to me now as well. I feel more at rest and peace with myself and the world when I feel close to God. I also have a really good relationship with my younger sister. We have for sure been through some stages where we talked less but it was never for a lack of wanting or caring. Life just seemed to get in the way in some way or another. Also although it was only briefly mentioned in the reading but exercise as a way of helping with frailty in later stages of life. I guess that's what I am most afraid of as I age. I don't want to spend my last months or years needing to tip toe through life. I want to be able to go on walks with my great grandchildren and make it to events such as graduation and BBQ's. In the reading it mentioned exercise. Well I exercise sometimes... not as much as I could. Building strong bones and muscles so that when I do reach old age maybe ill have a better shot at being the bad a** grandma I hope to be! This gives me more motivation than loosing weight! The last thing that really struck me in this weeks reading was the section about elder care and nursing homes. It absolutely breaks my heart to think of my mother in a nursing home! I have mentioned her in posts before and I can never put into words just how much she means to me. More than anyone else she has always been there for me. She may have not been able to financially support or back every request we ever asked for as kids and teens but she would stand right next to us and help us figure out a solution! She truly is a one of a kind woman. I hope that one day I will be able to afford to have a second home on my property (that I don't have yet... one can dream though : ) for her to live in. At the very least have a basement apartment for her so she can be close. My mother has cared for many elderly people who could no longer care for themselves in many different stages of life. Some needing full care and some just needing help with the chores and shopping and things of that nature. She has seen many cases of elder abuse or neglect and the stories are gut wrenching (as is any case of abuse). I hope and pray that not only will I be able to afford to have my mother in my home that I will have the skills as a nurse to care for her when and if she needs advanced care.