practical living
The modern age
Does anyone really know what a good frail life looks like ?
By Mike Rungie
There have always been three big age-stages in our lives –
marked by turning 21 , 40 and 65 ( the key to the door , life begins at , the gold watch ). So , as we live longer is a fourth turning up or do we just head off to aged care ? There is … turning 81 . Most of us will cruise through the 65 to 81 age-stage – less about retirement these days , and more about editing our lives for more happiness and new purposes , even if the finances are a bit tight and the body ’ s wearing out .
Then we turn 81 and there ’ s no escaping the current narrative . We ’ ll have multiple chronic conditions . We ’ ll become clients of aged care ( 81 is the average age of entry to residential care , retirement villages and home care ). We ’ ll cop all kinds of ageist attitudes and directives ( that society sees as OK because of all the things they ’ ve been getting away with in your last age-stage ). We might even die ( its roughly the life expectancy of Australians ). No wonder we ’ re battening down the hatches , downsizing and ageing in place .
But what else should we know about turning 81 , and why is it so hard to find out ?
We talked to lots of 81-year olds and discovered a very different narrative . They had fun in their 70s , designing with their mates a “ good frail life ” that they want to prepare for and be supported to transition to . Regardless of frailty they expect to maximise this age-stage , they want to keep growing and having things to do , and to keep learning about technology , health and living well . They want a very different aged care that supports them to do this while it cares .
And even if their frailty is severe , they want whatever of this is possible , and not just be “ left to die ” even if it ’ s done kindly .
Since this new age-stage doesn ’ t have a name , and because it ’ s at risk of being thought of as aged care , we ’ re calling it “ the modern elder ” ( thanks Chip Conley ’ s Wisdom @ Work ). We ’ ve distilled out from our conversations with modern elders their top 10 tips for being one : 1 Invest in a commitment to life-long learning and upping your tech skills . 2 Join an affinity group for 81-year-olds . 3 Edit out what you don ’ t need , get a new mindset and learn and practice transition skills . 4 Get a younger mentor and learn to mentor . 5 Discover the ways 81-year-olds are doing real stuff and invent some new roles for yourself .
22 agedcareinsite . com . au