Here are six things we should not take for granted.
For as we age, our bodies aren’t as new and shiny as they once were, and our parts don’t work quite as we expect or want them to.
Our eyes – Ability to see
As we age muscles in our eyes become weaker, and we need reading glasses. Being nearsighted, I always marveled at how the people at my workplace were like my kin. Until I realized a decade or two later that they were probably all reading glasses.
Also, with this, the ability to discern differences, especially dark shapes, to identify objects at night. We take for granted our night vision. The ability to be able to get up to go to the bathroom at night, and to find our way there safely.
As we age further, the cornea clouds (cataracts), we may need lens replacement surgery. For those in their 60s or older, this may become a concern.
If cataract surgery is not easily available to you; or you must get on a wait list. Do so as soon as possible.
It can be very disturbing as shapes get more cloudy either at the edge or center of your vision. You may be more challenged to do the things you did before; and need help from a spouse or friend to get around, do errands, care for yourself.
Typically, the operation is done one at at time, and there may be a time lag between eye surgeries. It has become more of a typical procedure that is frequently done. Whatever you do, do not put it off.
I know of at least 3 people who have had the surgery done, and they saw better right away, as the lens was completely replaced. If you are near-sighted, you will still have glasses when you are awaiting your second eye surgery. They take the lens out, or have a straight glass put in, so you can see out of your perfectly good eye, and still use the vision correction on the second eye. One person still had some astigmatism afterwards, as that isn’t always corrected.
Ability to Balance
The ability to stay balanced on two feet. When we’re small, too, when we learn to push ourselves up to stand on two feet, hanging gingerly onto counters and cabinets. Then, we start to toddle. How we take this for granted.
When we are old, our bones become more brittle, and we risk from medication, or declining health to become a little less sure of ourselves, and our feet. Our ability to balance.
Also, when we do fall, we are more likely to break something. so, the penalty of falling is greater than when we were young. Healing is slower, and it may be more painful.
Try to stay mobile and not rely on walkers or canes until you have to. It is worthwhile to consider not to be a martyr; but yet, not to use these aids too early or to become too reliant on them, as you can also degenerate and become less well the more you have to rely on them.
I often make an arm or hand available to my mom, but still apply a bit of tough love to make sure she doesn’t become too reliant on me propping her up, or doing everything for her.
Ability to grasp.
Ability to grasp and grab things; to grip our fork and knives as we cut our food. The ability to stab at our food pieces, and to eat and to chew them.
Also, the grab a countertop or table, and to pull ourselves up from a seated or lying position, to a standing one. This includes getting up from the bath, from sitting at the kitchen table, couch or sofa, getting out of bed, and getting in and out of the car.
Sometimes, my mom leans awkwardly against the car door or to pull suddenly at it, and the weight of her body or her arm causes the door to swing out suddenly. It surprises her too.
Ability to chew and eat all that we like or want.
Depending on illnesses we might have, we may need to cut our food smaller, or make softer foods for easier digestion. Our portion sizes might become smaller, more manageable, as our appetites shrink, and we are more likely to add weight more easily, and as our metabolisms slow.
The ability to chew decisively. I remember as a child, how I hated chewing. I also went through a phase of trying to chew evenly on each side of my mouth, so as to split the burden between my teeth. Silly, I know. but..yet, I tried to be practical, and I didn’t like to chew tough things (well, except gum).
My mom’s strength in her hands wanes. She wants her food cut into small tiny bites. The steak or meal looks like a checkerboard of pieces, which can be easily scooped up (so we think). The reality is, it’s an effort just to get her big spoon under the piece and to lift it to her mouth. It takes effort.
Also, my mom is fussy about what things taste like, and medication may make her perceive that her food tastes weird or different, so she is not as enthuse d about eating as she once was. I wouldn’t say my mom was a foodie, but she did appreciate spices and flavors in her food.
The ability to sleep through the night
Having a full night sleep is so important – what is 7 or 8 hours? Do we try to stay up later to maximize the time we have in a day, and the time we keep to ourselves? Perhaps we are torn between private projects, and spending time with our loved ones, or children.
When we are old, we may not even get time to ourselves; as our loved ones watch us, to “check-in” on what we are doing, and how we are doing it. Even if we did it different from them before, we may be doing it “their way” after.
In addition to time to ourselves for thinking and refueling (introverts); for meditation, or being calm, to enjoy a slower pace from our busy lives.
Imagine being woken up in the middle of the night by an awkward position, or pain in your back, head, body, or by an urgency…
Bladder Control
At night, our brains ensure we don’t pee all over ourselves at night. That’s right! – the ability to hold your pee so you don’t let yourself entirely go is something we take for granted when we are young. Most of us are lucky to be able to hold onto a full load, and not have to interrupt our sleeping time to take care of nature’s business.
As we age, our bladder weakens, and we may have to go more frequently than before. This means, waking up in the middle of the night, and making your way to the bathroom (perhaps in the dark), and getting there before doing it. It can be embarrassing, and cause discomfort to have an accident happen unexpectedly.
If you haven’t made it to any of these yet, then, thank your lucky stars, and get out there and get active so you can exercise your body longer and appreciate it more while all the parts still work as they are supposed to.