To our older Seniors How did you get to be such a great age?

hollydolly

hollydolly

SF VIP
Location
London England
I know this is going to illicit some sarcastic or funny answers, but I'm serious, so I'd be grateful for some serious answers please...

For the first time ever as a generation we're able , as young seniors ..to ask a whole bunch of older seniors those in their 80's and 90's, just how they managed to reach such a good age.

For the folks on here, who are now octogenarians , and Nonagenerians... when you were in your 50's and 60's like us younger seniors, wouldn't you have loved to have been able to speak to a group of seniors and pick their brains about how they kept their health, and particularly their mental health?

I feel lucky that I know you all, and I hope no-one feels I'm being rude, but I'd love to have some tips on how you all have kept yourself healthy enough to reach these ages, and still also stay young in mind too !!
 

Holly...how did I live to reach 80, 81 next month. Good clean living, nah. I remember setting in school, back in the 50s, thinking that it would be great to see the 2000s. Well they are here and so am I.
I did the usual teenage stupid things and got through it in one piece. Worked and smoked most of my life. Ate lousy, and here I am, writing this.
My health isn’t all that great now, but meds keep things in check. I guess my reason for longevity could be my dad living to 102, but I really think my lifelong partner of 62 years has been my real reason. We’ve helped each other through some really tough times. Always there for each other. Yep....that’s gotta be it. :love_heart:
 
I am 74, but probably will not see 80..Smoked for 60 years, emphysema and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with no cure..
Never been overweight lived the way I wanted..
 
It does seem to come down to good genes. I know folks in their eighties and nineties who smoked and drank all their lives, and are very overweight, and they're still here. Certainly a healthy lifestyle will give you a better chance of living into old age, I imagine, but if you have genes for developing terminal diseases, they might just take you down, one way or the other, no matter what you do.
 
hollydolly said:
I know this is going to illicit some sarcastic or funny answers, but I'm serious, so I'd be grateful for some serious answers please...

For the first time ever as a generation we're able , as young seniors ..to ask a whole bunch of older seniors those in their 80's and 90's, just how they managed to reach such a good age.

For the folks on here, who are now octogenarians , and Nonagenerians... when you were in your 50's and 60's like us younger seniors, wouldn't you have loved to have been able to speak to a group of seniors and pick their brains about how they kept their health, and particularly their mental health?

I feel lucky that I know you all, and I hope no-one feels I'm being rude, but I'd love to have some tips on how you all have kept yourself healthy enough to reach these ages, and still also stay young in mind too !!
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I'm 85 years of age.
What do I attribute it to?
Well I believe a lot of it has to do with plain old luck and inheriting good genes so that you don't get one of those fatal diseases.
But I will have to compare to my other friends that are not my age but close.
Exercise is very important. Also never having smoked. You are better off if you never have alcohol but if you do, not enough to harm you.
Maintaining a normal weight also. I'm a firm believer that excess weight puts a toll on everything.
You also have to have something to relax your mind and get you away from the stress of life, especially if you work.
I used to golf ever day that I could after work.
And then your family life. Do you get along with your partner? Are your children o.k.? Do you have good friends you can rely on?
Finally a good doctor who can get you through the rough spots that you encounter as you get old.
Age brings with it things you can't avoid, such as prostate problems, and cataracts and memory problems.
I'm lucky I don't have arthritis.

Wow! This is the first time I have ever been asked. Good Luck to everyone.
 
Holly, this is an excellent thread, even for the early Baby Boomers, like wife and I, who were born in 1948 and 1949. I think many Seniors wonder how another Senior gets to be 85 years old or older. Just what did they do to get them there? Exercise, plenty of rest/sleep, eating right, vitamins/supplements, no smoking, little-to-no alcohol drinking and so...….but, many of us do most, if not all of these things, but still wonder, what else can we do?

Unfortunately, some of us, financially, can't afford to do some things that others can do. Yes, that word "money" comes into play again.
 
In my younger years I put myself in situations that I shouldn't have walked away from but somehow I did......I suppose I attribute reaching the age I am to having a very understanding Guardian Angel (if there is such a thing) and just plain luck.
 
My wife's mom lived to be 89, but that was mainly because of one word (my wife told me)........persistance. She didn't smoke and very light drinker. She did have some financial stress, a big toe problem she didn't take care of and had triple by-pass surgery in 2001 due to a clogged main artery. From what my wife remembers, she never took any vitamins and was around 50 pounds overweight. My wife also told me that her mom was adamant in going to her church every Sunday, except when she was gone for a weekend and "the Lord blessed her with a long life"

Whether it was her Faith and/or her "persistence on living", she did live to 89.
 
Ok, thanks everyone for your replies, interesting that no women have replied, who are 80 plus ( apart from Radishrose who is a hundred and 3... lol) ... .. I understand the good genes bit...

I don't have good genes.. my mother died at 39... my father at 82 but he got Parkinsons ... .

So has anyone lived to be a good age who didn't have good genes to rely on?
 
I'm just 79, but I think the honest answer to your question is "We don't know." There are old people with all kinds of life styles. No doubt modern medicine and decent food help, but it probably comes down to luck. I gave up smoking a little many years ago. I drink an ounce of brandy or a beer every day. I eat whatever tastes good. I can still run and jump a little, but I don't. I have minor health problems, but nothing worth treating. I don't take any prescription drugs. And, I don't worry about how long I'll live.

Don
 
my mom lived to be almost 101 but my dad died at 42 he had a lot of health problems--i also smoked for 60 years--i have a few health problems but they seem to be controlled---all i can say is take 1 day at a time--i ate what i wanted--my only excercise was keeping my yard pretty
 
twinkles said:
my mom lived to be almost 101 but my dad died at 42 he had a lot of health problems--i also smoked for 60 years--i have a few health problems but they seem to be controlled---all i can say is take 1 day at a time--i ate what i wanted--my only excercise was keeping my yard pretty
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Pleased you're managing well enough twinkles, eve tho' you smoked for so many years , I hope you stay as well as possibly for as long as possible.. .. are you willing to say how old you are?
 
Grampa Don said:
I'm just 79, but I think the honest answer to your question is "We don't know." There are old people with all kinds of life styles. No doubt modern medicine and decent food help, but it probably comes down to luck. I gave up smoking a little many years ago. I drink an ounce of brandy or a beer every day. I eat whatever tastes good. I can still run and jump a little, but I don't. I have minor health problems, but nothing worth treating. I don't take any prescription drugs. And, I don't worry about how long I'll live.

Don
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:thumbsup1:You sound wise on this matter, I don't believe anyone really knows as I see people of the older generation walking around who have lived of every excess to none excess, some smart, some who have marbles for brains. If I make it to even 65 that's okay, but, there's no magic advice to follow that's going to get me into my 80's and beyond, I don't think so, and don't worry about it. I've watched people smoke and drink hard well into their late 80s maybe 90's or maybe the hard living just made them look like they were in their 90's.

I watched in my own family live past their warrantee longer than ever expected some expire way before; for the most part time is up when time is up. Not to say you can't make the in between better or worse on oneself in the meantime. :)

Not saying I don't enjoy hearing the tails of the lives of my elders, it still nice to hear thos with words of wisdom share. Still I'm not skipping my chocolate marshmallow ice cream, ever so often, no matter what is said.
 
Today is Sunday, October 7, 2018, 3:50 PM.

Next April, I'll be 95 years old. It's gotta be good genes and being very careful each day. I'll see y'all on my 100dth.
 
Falcon said:
Today is Sunday, October 7, 2018, 3:50 PM.

Next April, I'll be 95 years old. It's gotta be good genes and being very careful each day. I'll see y'all on my 100dth.
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Incredible.. and absolutely mentally agile, and I presume as fit as you can be at 95 Falcon... My birthday is in April too...
 

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