If you are only as young as you feel,how does an Active Older person come to terms with the prospect of Death?

Answer 1

I'm getting old myself. I feel young at heart and mind, but my capacity for physical effort is diminished and there's nothing I can do about it. Plus there's the arthritis...bummer.

I've talked with many people much older than I. They don't feel particularly young. The closer they get to Death, the worse they feel. The physical infirmaties, the loss of control of what is theirs. No longer able to fully take care of others, they become dependent on others, whether family or professionals. You lose the ability to drive, to take care of your property, your home. In effect, your world closes in on you. Denial, anger, depression...

Then there is disease...of whatever kind. They talk about heart problems, circulation problems, cancer, memory loss, bone density loss, loss of eyesight. They become weak. It becomes hard to walk around.

And then there is the closing in of Death itself. They know it's coming. The challenge is to accept it, but not all do a good job. They become angry, then depressed. People of faith concentrate on the next life. It often works. Others find spirituality in family, friends, and in the natural world...ultimately, the goal is acceptance, the ability to affirm your life and just accept what is about to happen. Hopefully, there are no serious medical issues or pain, but this is often the case.

The idea is to stay as mentally active as possible, constantly learning to continue connecting up those neurons. And physically active...use it or loss it, for real...though you can't stop losing more and more of it gradually.... The importance of a positive frame of mind becomes ever more important...

But, at a certain point you no longer feel young at all. You asked.

Answer 2

I think it becomes a bit difficult to think about as an active older person. I say this because my Mother in Law is 85 years young and still works a 5 day week full time, taking care of an "elderly" sick person. The lady she takes care of is 90. My MIL is an incredible woman with more energy than any younger person I know. She looks great, has kept her slim figure all these years and is just go, go , go. Sometimes I think she is worried that if she slows down she will stop. I have heard her say that she doesn't want to get old and feeble and that's why she still works and stays busy. She is like a young woman trapped in an aging body & she fights to stay young and active. I think it's great that she is so healthy and vivacious. At the same time I know she is afraid of what may be ahead for her. I just hope that I can be half as healthy and energetic as she is by the time I'm her age. She has been truly blessed.

Answer 3

Just accept it. Everyone has to die sometime. I'm 16, I've accepted death and have nearly died twice. Think of it like this, you have nothing to fear from death, I mean seriously unless you think you are going to hell how is death bad? Stay alive as long as you can while still having as much fun as you can, when death comes it comes. If you think death is the end, then you won't be lonely after death or depressed after death, you just will wink out of existance, and if you are a christian and believe there is a Heaven and a Hell, unless you did some extremely terrible things in your life then all you will have is joy after you die. If you are a budhist or similar religion and beleive in reincarnation until perfection, then you will live again after you die, and so death need not be feared. Any way you look at it, unless you killed people for the pleasure of it or something then you have nothing to fear from death, for all you know you'll still be able to do all the things you do now in the afterlife or the next life.

Answer 4

How does anyone? Death comes at all ages. It can be very frightening but we all die at some point. I guess what I try to focus on is what kind of person am I being. What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind? I know that there are people in my life that are remembered with hurt and pain and others that are remembered with fondness and warmth. I hope that someday I will be remembered with warmth and fondness and not hurt and pain. If I can do that I think the prospect of Death will be not as scary. I also have a strong faith in God but I think actions speak louder than words. I can say I am Christian but if the people in my circle of influence cant remember me with joy then no matter the strength of my convictions I will have failed completely. So, I guess what I am saying is, it what will people remember about you? Are you comfortable with that? If not, no time like the present to be the person you want to be.

Answer 5

Every day of our life we experience death. Not always first hand but nevertheless its still death. We all know that when our time is up, we have to move on. Whether you're an active older person or not, everybody has to come to terms with the prospect of death. We don't know how, and I'm certainly glad I don't know when I'm going to die but its a fact of life, that it'll happen to us all.

Answer 6

an active healthy older person would no more consider death than a young person but the difference is when health deteriorates an old person would realise that the end is not far away wheras a younger person would have expectations of recovery.ironicaly death is a fact of life.death is painless it is getting there that hurts.often death can be welcomed as a release from chronic pain and suffering

Answer 7

They have had the chance to live their life, hopefully to its fullest. We know we start dying the day we are born. As sad fact, but true. There is a quote, "Death is only the beginning". No matter what religion or beliefs you have, that is true. If you are Christian, then you can look forward to death because you will be in heaven. If you are Muslim, then you can look forward to being with Allah. If you are Hindu, then you can look forward to starting a completly new life. Death is a very hard concept to deal with, because we have to leave our loved ones behind, but Death is just a new chapter in a new place, whatever you believe in. We can be afraid of death, and live our lives in fear because it is constently around the corner, or we can face the fact that we are all going to die and make the most of our lives while we can.

Answer 8

An active older person lives life to the full, its just that when your years become shorter you appreciate every day/minute that you have left. We don`t think about death unless we are faced with it (such as a life threatening illness). When you have reached a ripe old age you have hopefully fullfilled all of your dreams and aspirations, and so feel ready to die. Also you tend to find that most of your friends and relatives from your generation have died already, so you miss them very much and want to be with them.

Answer 9

Everyone need to come to terms with the prospect of death-it happens to all of us, whther tomorrow, or in 60 years.
I htink you dont need to always be thinking 'oh im too old to do this'. Also the prospect of death surely spurs people on a bit, to do things they never had the chance to do (i am 14 so i guess i dont know much about this)
I dont really understand to be honest. Do you mean if they were told they were going to die? I guess they woukd be shocked and thinkt aht it would never happen. everyone is diff, but i think doing that is a good thing. If they have a positive outlook, then they have something to look foorward to. Nonone wants to die do they???

Answer 10

I think we are all in love with life, and an active older person knows he has to give that up sooner than some others. When one sees life as just ending with death, it will be difficult to come to terms with the idea, but life must be seen as continuing at the point of death and entering another phase, which is spiritual....for the person who believes in God this is easier...just as a baby prefers to stay in the womb as he feels safer, so we prefer not to die as we love this life. But then , just as it's lovelier to be born, so it is lovelier to be reborn into eternal life. cheers