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The last century held more changes than we can count, and the rapid advance of technology can make earlier times seem unimaginably distant. It's easy to forget that some people still have firsthand memories of portions of our past that most of us encounter through history books - people who voted for FDR, or saw the first "talkies" in the theaters.
American culture is more than ever preoccupied with youth and all things new. To be elderly today means something different than it has before, and the elderly population is growing. There are roughly 2 million people over the age of 90 in America, and that number is predicted to reach 10 million by the year 2050.
Are you over 90 years old, or do you know someone who is? How does being that age affect your daily life? What does it feel like to grow old? What is your relationship to history, in light of the present? What does the present look like through eyes that have seen nearly a hundred years of human events? What's the most significant change you've seen over time? How have you changed?
GUESTS:
- Ann Youngman, 95 years old
- Murray Kaufman, 91 years old
- Rita Bullock, 93 years old
Photo credit: jamelah / Creative Commons
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make sure you talk to John Richards; director at Metropolitan Youth Symphony and long time music educator in Oregon. I watch him teach tuba in a practice room at Lewis and Clark many times a week - his student adore him, and I think he just remarried a few years ago! I'm 40, and I know I want to be just like him when I grow up! I know he's at least 90.
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My grandmother is 94 and I am trying to gleen everything i can from her. She is a practical joker, she is very hospitable, and what amazes me is how much these people have lost over the years, siblings, parents, friends and even children, and some how whithout being totally detached heartless people they mourn and then get up and go on. I don't know that I know how to do that.
She will be visiting me in Sept and I look forward to her cooking me all my new mexico favorites,
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I would like to contact computer-active 90+ year olds. The goal of forming such a group would be to interchange ideas, physical and mental feelings, etc. If you are such a surfer, or know one, please spread this word so that we may be able to reach those who would benefit from such a group. I have created a blog to help you to attain this objective. In order to communicate, post comments on this blog that I have created. I will be checking and responding to this blog daily. In this way, I hope to be able to interchange information with other nonegenarians- and even the medical profession- about living as a nonegenarian in the 21st century. Please help me by responding to or spreading the word of this blog
http://nonagenarians.weebly.com/blog.html
Author: I am a retired 92 year old widower dentist still possessing my mental facilities, thankfully. Let's help each other grow older confidently!
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This is wonderful that you have embraced this technology and are actively using it as a tool to communicate with people of vast knowledge and experience. I will spread your word on The Legacy Preservation Society Facebook page and let people know when I teach classes at the various senior centers around town. Keep up the great work!
Tania Rain
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I Mary Konrad, 92 live with my daughter in Scotts MIlls ORegeon, I have lived with her for 3 years now and my biggest gripe is I cannot drive anymore, or wear cute sandals. I can't get around as much as I use to when I was younger and all my chums are gone now. My biggest achievment was being able to work. I can still get up and get my own meals and do some of things I enjoy doing. adivce to younger people is: Get a worthwhile job
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My father is 99, my mother, almost 93. They still live in their own home in Maine. My mother is quite active but my father doesn't get around as much as he used to or would like to but they are both in relatively good health, all things considered. My father gets weekly visits from some kind of care provider to take the load off my mother. My sister lives about a half hour away and visits frequently.
They always watched what they ate and had/have no noxious habits. I think my mother is most responsible for my father's longevity. Without her, I don't think he's still be here. She still plays the organ for her church most every Sunday and still drives. They live in a small town where they are well known.
They impress me immensely.
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My mother, Bea Rasmusson, is 102 and 11/12. When she turned 101, she told me, "That sounds so old, doesn't it, and I still feel young."
I asked her what "young" meant to her, and she answered, "Oh, about 60."
Around that time, she seemed to forget all the ways she "thought she was supposed to be" and became HERSELF.
After being very serious and dignified all her life, she was now young at heart for the first time. She joked about everything, and every visit was filled with laughter. She began playing the piano again and practically ordered me to sing along with her. It was so much fun, other residents of her care center would gather near the piano and sing along too. She'd proudly tell them that she used to play in a band [until she gave it up 70 years ago]. They voted her Valentine Queen.She always loved BINGO and got everyone there playing it regularly. One day, Debby, the activity director wanted to start a different activity, but the residents staged a mini-revolt and demanded to BINGO. My mom was the instigator.
Unfortunately, now at almost 103, she is declining and is back to her former crabby - but dignified self.
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My mother-in-law is 90 and going strong; lives on her own, drives her car around Medford to known destinations. She attends church regularly and goes to many concerts and plays, albeit often on her own as her freinds are dying off.
ML takes NO medications, eats fairly well, walks daily. She plays bridge sometimes 5 times a week and reads a lot, does some gardening. We've noticed that she brings in restaurant food regularly and prepares only simple breakfasts for overnite company, expecting to go out for other meals. Always a good cook, she says retirement meant no more dill pickle making. She does still sometimes make yummy apple and blackberry pie.
She'd like to find a new book group as her last one bit the dust - members died or became too homebound to get to each other's homes for meetings.
I've come to see her stubborness as an asset. For example when she broke her ankle at age 88, she basically refused to wear the boot and carried it to her last surgeon's appointment! With stubborness her ally, she is determined to stay on her own.
These are the positive things I can say about this remarkable woman.
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I feel so fortunate that the women in my family seem to live easily into their 90's. The men not so much, but it's ok; I'm a mother with two daughters.
I am excited for the life I have yet to live. In our society all of the emphasis and glory seems to be for the young. What nonsense. The honor is living into our old age; what a good fortune these folks have. Thanks for the show!
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Thank you for this program! I've been "too busy" to visit my grandmother this summer... After listening to your program, I realize I cannot put it off another day. Kids, get in the car. We're going on a road trip this afternoon. :)
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Nancy, we hope you had a great visit!
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Having taught a class on lifespan development for ten years at Lewis and Clark College, I am interested to ask the "elders" the following: Eric Erikson said that the main task of "elderhood" is making sense and making meaning of one's life, so what were the hardest things in your life to make sense of? What events were the hardest to weave into your life story in a meaningful way?
Thank you!
Peter Mortola
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My inlaws have been active vibrant curious interesting people who have physically grown old in their mid ninties and now are in separate care facilities and are bed ridden now and all their retirement money has been used up. They are unhappy as their quality of life diminishes. They are being kept alive with new age drugs,. I wonder if just passing away naturally is no longer possible? What/hhow do we address these situations?
Kathryn Rhea
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These are remarkabe people as is my mom who is 82 and runs circles around me. (I am 57). But my in laws are in 2 separate care facilities in their mid 90s and have run out of $ and their quality of life has diminished and are being kept alive by new age drugs. How do we make change in the so many facilities that take care of the old who are bed ridden and their minds and bodiies are worn out. What happens to thesr people. Your guests are the exception still.
Kat
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Kat, thank you for this comment. Our guests spoke very favorably about their living situations, but I do wonder — as you seem to — about the many people who actually age when they move in to senior living residences. Could you share any more of your experience? Is there a particular conversation you'd like to hear?
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Hello, I am 38 years old. I feel the small number of changes I have experienced in my lifetime and the increasing speed at which we live is difficult for me to accept even with benefits of such change. How have your guests, who have seen SUCH dramatic change in their lifetimes, integrate CHANGE into their lives, their paradigms? (What are their recommendations toward acceptance of the world as it is?)
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Are people born community minded or is it a learned approach to life?
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This is a very good question. I think when people meet like minded people they become part of a community. Sometimes it can take years to meet like minded people.
But sometimes you change your interested because you meet someone who has knowledge you do not possess. Staying open minded can help you broaden your horizons and adapt to a community.
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I have so much to do today, but cannot tear myself away from this program. My brothers and I put on a 90th birthday party for our father in Montana this summer. I would like to send him this program in large print , since it would mean a lot to him, I believe. During this same week, his house of 37 years sold and he moved to a different assisted living community. What a lot of emotion!
Anne, from Albany
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Anne,
Sorry the show got in the way of everything you had to do today! It's music to our ears, even if it made you less efficient ;)
Unfortunately we don't have the people-power or resources to make transcripts of our shows. But you could definitely play the audio for your father, either from a computer or by downloading the above MP3 and then, say, burning it onto a CD or putting it onto an MP3 player.
Best regards,
Dave
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Thanks for the opportunity to listen to your guests today. My dear grandmother, "Nanny" died a beautiful, peaceful death at the age of 95 just this August 3rd. Even in her death she was a kind and gentle teacher to her 8 children, 17 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren as she waited for each one of us to get to her bedside to express our gratitude for all she has taught us and say our farewells. Like your lovely guests, she had a lust for life and learning, keeping up with the daily news and being forever adaptable to the challenges all of her offspring brought to her table. Her wise counsel will be missed -
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I am sorry for your loss. May you hold her wise counsel close.
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Last year Barbara Walters reported by the year 2025 there will be more than one million Centurions (people over 100 years old) in America. People are living longer healthier lives despite pollution, illness and bad habits.
I believe that we always feel young on the inside and our will to contribute to the world keeps us going. Most of us never cease to desire new experiences and learn new things.
One of the newest fields of study is in Aging Services. Southern Oregon University is launching this new graduate program this fall. With Baby Boomers aging, there are more needs for services that cater to seniors. From travel to recreation, exercise to health care, we will start seeing more and more options for people in their golden years.
Consider transcribing your stories, building memory books, sharing stories with those around you. Your greatest legacy is the memories you leave with others.
Please share your favorite memories with The Legacy Preservation Society. We want to share in your knowledge and experience. Once the younger ones turn 30, they begin to realize people over 30 aren't so bad. Then they start to think "Maybe I should have paid attention to what my parents and grandparents had to say."
http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=oregon+public+broadcast+&init=quick#/pages/Portland-OR/Legacy-Preservation-Society/38048814470?ref=ts
Sincerely,
Tania Rain -
I tried to share this segment with my 60 year old father. He was of the opinion you have to be wealthy to enter senior living.
It is my experience there are tiers of senior living. Is there really a place for everyone?
With social security depleting, we worry about our ability to be able to afford our senior years. Not everyone has been able to save for retirement. But there are services. There are places for people to live out their years.
Please assure us there is hope for our aging lives.
Thank you.
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My mother, Carolynn lives in Medford - semi independent in a cottage at the Manor. She is interested in new things, new friends and places to travel while cherishing her old friends and rembrances of family and times. She turned 90 on September 1. Last year just after her 89th birthday, i asked her what she would like to do for her 90th.....to my surprise, but not surprised, she said that she would like to return to a favorite hike in the Yosemite high country. We succeeded in getting selected in the lottery system required to enter the high country and on July 5 a group of children and grandchildren escorted her to May Lake at 9,000 feet elevation in the Yosemite high country. She made the trek over granite stones in great shape and enjoyed the night in tent cabins and camp dining to its fullest. She continues to look for adventure, began a golf club for the very first time and hopes to be a mentor for another high school girl this year. She celebrates every day as a new adventure. I am exceedingly proud of her!
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Comments are now closed.
How do 90-somethings keep upbeat, positive, and moving? Is it something inherent in their personality or did they teach themselves to filter out noise and keep trucking?
What suggestions do nonagerians have to make life more fulfilling?
What is their single proudest achievement?
Do any of your guests plan on living past 120? Why?