How Old Is Old Depends On the Individual
As an elder law attorney the question inevitably arises in my practice “what is old?” Is old a specific age beyond which you can be expected to decline physically and mentally from then on out? If such an age exists what is that age? I have not defined it to date and have seen many people who defy the numbers alone. Is aging a state of mind or a physical condition or both? Can your mind be working at top level while your physical condition experiences problems? Absolutely. I see it all the time. What I see as remarkable is that some people, including many of my clients maintain mental acuity and sometimes physical abilities well beyond reasonable expectations despite the absolute number that represents their age. There are mountain climbers who are older. There are men and women in challenging occupations who beat the numbers. Further there are examples in every generation of extraordinary people who surpass and defy their numerical age.
I recall one woman who could be considered older by the numbers, who, despite everything, was caring for not one but two disabled adult children. I asked her, without thinking, how did she get to my office for the appointment. She quickly responded “I drove. How do you think I got here?” She had a point. I had no reason to suspect from her background or history or anything else that she had any physical or mental impairment. It was just a question of numbers.
One development I find disturbing is a trend to watch people expecting them to fail. If we applied the same standards to young people we would find it unreasonable. Some television commercials and magazines urge listeners and readers to look for signs of dementia or weakness regardless whether there are other indications. In my experience such things are often apparent to persons around them. True, sometimes related parties are in denial regarding symptoms. However, it is the trying to find weakness where it is otherwise not apparent that is disturbing. It should not be necessary especially for someone who has been healthy, socializes well with others, and leads an active life to prove continuously that they are all right.
We have expressions such as “she is attractive ‘for her age’ assuming that a woman would not be attractive at a later age. Simone Biles, the world’s greatest female gymnast has in some articles been described as the “leader of a mature group of U.S. gymnasts.” She was not expected to perform so well because of her age. She is 26 years old.
There was an advantage I had that I suppose many others did not. I had extraordinary examples of “older”people in my life. My Aunt Fran and Uncle Lue lived to age 92 and 90 respectively and remained mentally alert, aware and compassionate throughout their lives. My Aunt Fran helped me to raise my daughter when my daughter was young. One day as we watched her climb the jungle gym at McDonald’s I commented to Aunt Fran “I’ll bet there are not many 90 year olds watching a toddler” as we were. Both Fran and Lue kept a keen sense of humor that probably helped them through.
Dedication and Involvement Can Cause People T o Continue Well Beyond Their Biological Age. Dedication and great causes can empower people to continue well beyond their expected biological age. So can involvement in their chosen work, experience, commitment and participation with others whatever work that might be. Here are some examples.
Nelson Mandela died at 95. Jane Goodall is still living and active at 89. Warren Buffett is 93. As of July, 2023 his net worth was reported as $114.5 billion. He did not become a billionaire until age 56. Julia Child died at 91. Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis was active until his death and died at 80. Henry Kissinger died recently at the age of 100 and was still involved in diplomacy until close to his death. Mother Theresa died at 87. Anna Mary Robertson Moses known as Grandma Moses took up painting in earnest at the age of 78 and died at 101.
Being old depends a great deal on the individual and his or her experiences. How old is old depends on the individual.
About the Author Janet Colliton
Esquire, Colliton Law Associates, P.C. Janet Colliton has practiced law for over 38 years, 37 of them in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Her practice, Colliton Law Associates, PC, is limited to elder law, Medicaid, including advice, applications and appeals, and other benefits planning including Veterans benefits, life care and special needs planning, guardianships, retirement, and estate planning and administration.