I didn't see the article but age is just a number. I can't understand people worrying about ageing. It is a natural process and I would much rather grow old gracefully than undertake cosmetic surgery and constant dying of my hair to try to make me look young.

One example which comes to mind is Paul Hogan. I loved him with his wrinkles and typical Aussie look. Now he looks like something out of a wax museum. Yuk.

I am 63 and feel about 40. I am so lucky to have my health. There are so many things to do in life without worrying about ageing.

Moggy.

The thing is not to worry about ageing but to prepare for it. As a carer for a 95 year old, I can see how much easier his life could be if he had proper professional care instead of my very amateur attempts.

I am only in my late 50's,healthy and vigorous, and I intend to do all I can to remain so, while not obsessing about it.But I have made certain decisions about my future care - as I have no children, there will come a time in my life, if I live that long, when I will book myself into a low-care aged facility, from which I cn progress to high care when necessary.

When my parent passes away, health allowing, I intend to backpack around as many countries as possible.

MissJacinta,

I wish you luck and hope you spend many happy years backpacking. I think you have earned it.

THANK YOU !!!! Not only is my parent old, he has Aspergers!!!!! Oh what fun.We always knew he was not like other people but it is only recently that this disorder has had some publicity - I consulted a world authority on the disorder and it was confirmed.Nothing can be done at this advanced age but it makes so much difference to managing his care and his difficult behaviour.

Not familiar with Aspergers. I assume it is some sort of mental degeneration which would make a difficult job so much harder.

keandha - Aspergers is a disorder you are born with - you might like to have a look at this site - http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/ - it explains it really well.A number of the male relatives on my dads side have it,plus other disorders like bi-polar and psychosis.Aspergers is not a mental illness as such, the people who have it are just different and operate on a different wavelength - very hard to live with.

Of course advanced age makes it even more interesting.......

Hi MissJacinta,

Had a look at the website. Without trying to be flippant we used to say that some people "march to the sound of a different drum". Sounds like a more serious form of that. Good luck with your father

And some more information

......................



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergers

keandha - clay - yes, definitely a "different drum"!!! They are often very cruel but have no idea.I have ended up as his carer because he refuses to go into care, and he is unable to recognise my need for a "life".As far as he is concerned,I have a home and some money and that is all you need.I used to try to keep up a social life, going out to hear live music,etc at night, but that's all finished;I had to give up my job too. I guess I'll just pick up the pieces when he is no longer around.

keandha - clay - yes, definitely a "different drum"!!! They are often very cruel but have no idea.I have ended up as his carer because he refuses to go into care, and he is unable to recognise my need for a "life".As far as he is concerned,I have a home and some money and that is all you need.I used to try to keep up a social life, going out to hear live music,etc at night, but that's all finished;I had to give up my job too. I guess I'll just pick up the pieces when he is no longer around.



Life in our senior years can be one of ups and downs and in some cases it seems harder to cope with than when we were younger ............Both of my parents refused to go into care at age 85 and they were living in their own home still and had been for 50 years and since the war .......I was never their carer



They lived solitary lives even so and eventually became sick and went to hospital and then never went back to the house ............They were placed into care and lived for another 2 years aprox............They died at age 90 and within 5 weeks of each other



I was able to take Dad to a Respite location and he settled in fairly well ...........It seemed a prelude to full time care and he made no complaints at that time



You no doubt need help and a few months in Respite might do the trick and he may get to like it

Growing old is just what happens--wrinkles are character lines--and an older face without them seems to be quite bland--when they have had cosmetic surgrery---if you don't grow old --you die--so thats the option

clay - my dad refuses to go into respite - not that it would be easy to get into as there are long waiting lists, even longer for places in nursing homes.

The big,big problem is that he is a self-funded retiree and it would cost him mega-bucks to go into a home, and of course he is hell-bent on leaving it all to his family.

So I just follow him around making sure his pants are clean......your best friend turns out to be disinfectant.