This class has helped me gain a better perspective on the elderly. I really enjoyed doing the Senior Consulting Project since it helped me learn more about my senior friend Linda's life. I wanted to do this blog on how elderly people learn to use leisure time pleasurably.
When I was young, my dad and I would go for bike rides sometimes stopping by at the Rehab Center he worked at. I would see the seniors out in the park/garden area reading a book or pass by some rooms playing bingo and other games. I think it was from these little visits, I formulated a preconcieved notion that the elderly are not very active people.
Reading the book for this class, browsing through news articles to find a journal topic, and doing the Senior Consulting Project, has made me realize how incredibly wrong I was. There are elderly people who led very active and healthy lifestyles! The woman I interviewed, Linda, and her husband made it one of their major goals in their retirement to be committed to going to the gym and walk daily. They have found themselves walking three miles daily and sometimes twice a day! Going on these walks have also helped them reconnect and enjoy themselves. On researching what seniors like to do for recreation, I found that exercise walking is the most popular sports activity for seniors. Followed by other activities such as exercising with equipment, net fishing, camping, golf, and swimming.
Her and her husband still host parties at their home, their two favorites are Chili and Chowder Night and Desert Competitions. She even joined a Red Hat group, making some wonderful friends. Linda's liked how she has been able to pursue new hobbies like taking a beginner's cake decorating class and having the time to sew and make outfits for her grandchildren. I've seen some of her work and also the quilts that she's made for them and let me tell you-- I wish my grandmother had done those things for me!
I've also learned that about 78% of seniors ages 65 and older own a motor vehicle. The lady I babysit for just told me that her 62 year old father recently made a motorcycle purchase. Both of her parents have jackets and bike helmets to go out riding.
One of the main reasons Linda and her husband are leading great lifestyles after their retirement is that they dedicated most of their lives to raising their children to the best of their ability and now that their kids are all grown up they're both committed to keep on enriching their lives.
Many elders are still young at heart. After taking this class, I've learned to embrace the aging process... it really is all about having a positive attitude!
Resources: http://seniorliving.about.com/od/lawpolitics/a/senior_pop_life.htm
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