How Quickly Does One Go From Being Older To Being 'Old'?

[barry1010]

My relative has become an old man in a few months. He is only 78 but now feels cold all the time even in this weather, lacks concentration to follow a new tv programme, doesn't want to do anything and just about everything is too much effort.

He is definitely not depressed - happy as a pig in muck is a good description (when he's not too cold) - and there is no new health problems. He just seems to see himself as an old man and behaves accordingly.

Is this normal for some older people?

[burlyshirley]

Like a lot of people, I have found lockdown very hard and sometimes I got so used to staying in, apart from dog walking and shopping, I didn't care if I ever went out socially again and all that started to make me feel old (I'm no spring chicken, but a fair way from 80) and I thought 'is this it now'? and I found that I didn't really care. Of course, I'm getting back into the swing of things now, but I will admit, I have aged because of lockdown and that's just the way it is, sadly.

[pastafreak]

But it shouldn't be "just the way it is"...that's giving in and allowing it to happen. I'm quite sure you can grab back some of that "aging".

[davebro]

I realised i was getting on a bit when I got a new job that involved a rail commute & the ticket taker called me "Sir". I was 27, he was probably in his 50s!

[emmie]

that must have been some time back dave, as i don't recall any ticket collector saying anything at all, perhaps a grunt....

[burlyshirley]

Who said I'm giving in pasta ?? I said I'm back in the swing of things now, but it has been hard for me and HAS affected me. I'm not the same and I dread another pandemic. I'm sure I'm not alone in this either.

[pastafreak]

Sorry if it seemed I meant you specifically burly...I don't see you as the giving in type...;)

[ladybirder]

71 is not old anymore Em.
I noticed I was old when people either ignored me or called me Luv. Had to ask a chap 4-5 times to stop calling me Luv when he was installing new blinds in my flat.

[pat2604]

I'm young at heart trapped in a very worn out body through a generic condition. I find it really hard to accept. But sometimes we age early through ill health and it can't be predicted. I would be much happier if I could accept things. Learning to accept would be wonderful but I just can't. I feel resentful!!

[dannyk13]

Pat, being resentful will only make you feel worse.Just think to yourself " at least I am still here".

[margarettom]

I agree entirely with burleyshirey (except for the dog walking) at 09.22. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
I also agree with dannyk at 13.23. Feeling resentful about chronic illness is a very negative approach. I have had chronic asthma for nearly 50years and of course it has effected my lifestyle but my mother, who had the same thing, because of the lack of suitable treatments at that time died at 59. And my sister, who was really fit, died of cancer at 61. I now have chronic arthritis as well, have had one hip replacement so far, yet am tottering on at 76 getting pleasure out of what I can do and, especially on a lovely day like this, enjoying being alive.

[eleanor2]

Pat, can I ask what your condition is? If you don't want to answer don't x