6 myths about older ladies that just aren’t true
Barbara Binland is the pen name of a senior, Julie Grenness, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She is a poet, writer, and part-time English and Maths tutor, with over 40 years of experience. Her many books are available on Amazon and Kindle.
Here are some versions of common myths about older ladies. This is for our retirement years.
1. Is it too late to exercise, if I never have before?
FACT: It’s never too late to exercise. Even if we are in our fifties or sixties, and have not exercised too much, we can adopt a moderate, balanced exercise regimen. In retirement, we have more leisure time, so can explore gym memberships, or golf, or aqua aerobics, or senior yoga, or pilates, or anything we fancy. We all need a balanced, moderate physical regimen.
2. Is dementia inevitable?
FACT: Dementia is a medical condition, for which treatments are evolving and developing. It is not an inevitable or normal factor of ageing. Steps can be taken to prevent this condition. We can engage in healthy exercise, and persevere with intellectual pursuits, such as reading, crosswords, letter writing, puzzles, and maintain a support network for our communication skills.
3. Shall we become depressed?
FACT: Depressive conditions can occur at any age. Some people believe all older people become isolated and depressed. But if depression occurs, it can be treated, with appropriate health professionals. Take things one day at a time, but you can plan and look forward to your golden years. One good practice is to write down all your blessings on a daily basis. You woke up! Great! The sun rises and blesses you with another day on Earth, make the most of it!
4. Does ageing mean the end of love?
FACT: No, life can begin at sixty. If we have a long-term significant other, we can develop our old love life in an understanding manner. If we are single, we might meet ‘the one’. But use precautions, these guys were active in the swinging sixties. They are called STD’s, part of the legacy of the baby boomers.
5. Do older ladies fear ageing?
FACT: In general, older ladies do not fear ageing. We cannot worry about, or control, normal signs of growing older. We can have grey hair, we like it that way! We get chicken necks, and double chins, by heck! But we don’t need the undertakers yet!
Lots of women embrace their post-menopausal years, with a positive mindset. There are never enough hours in the day. Women our age can succeed in many pursuits. Plus, wisdom and enlightenment can come with age, but we still don’t know everything!
6. Is arthritis part of ageing?
FACT: Women over fifty years of age, arthritis can be more likely to develop. This is due to the loss of cartilage in our joints. We can adopt suitable strategies such as sensible flat shoes, not expansive high heels, and less jogging or stressful activities for our musculoskeletal system. The key factor to managing this condition is pacing ourselves in physical activities. Use it or lose it! But if there is arthritic pain being experienced, there are holistic remedies to alleviate it. These include: heat packs, massage, maybe acupuncture, hydrotherapy, or TENS, known as electrotherapy. Sometimes, rest is best, sometimes simple exercises can be beneficial, for a balanced lifestyle, now we are ‘older ladies’.
What are some myths about older ladies you are debunking?