Why are the elderly so resistant to change?

Question

Go spend a day in senior housing. You will find the residents watching the same shows, playing the same games, eating the same food, etc., day after day after day. Especially "The Price is Right." What's up!! How about a little change?

I know seniors' lives quite well as a thirty-something National Park Ranger acting as caretaker to my grandmother. She lives in a senior apartment complex alongside a great number of other seniors. I like them and they are my friends as I am theirs. I've given them custom ranger talks, made food for and with them, and assisted many in need. I'm just concerned for them as FEAR seems to be a big part of their mentality! One of those fears seems to be of those things new. The more they avoid change the less they appear to understand the ever-changing world. They then FEAR the world as they don't understand it. They also, in large part, seem to not trust many people. It can be depressing.

Answer 1

Well, you presume too much.

SOME or even MOST might be unwilling to change but there are legions of us out here who's lives are full and exciting....who are out and about, active. I, too, live in a 55+ place...big 10 story apartment building with lovely apartments.... I live on the top floor.
I believe there are 232 apartments here...something like that.

I see sooooo many here who don't do a thing. some who gather in the common room and sit there all day gabbing and gossiping. Others who play cards or bingo. Some who are on casino buses every week. Some who can no longer drive take advantage of the senior transportation offered by the country and they go off to wherever the van is going.

I walk.....everyday. There are 4 or 5 of us here who seem to be regular walkers....but are on different schedules. There is a lovely housing development behind the building with a central park and lovely little pond. There is a walking/bicyling path about 2 miles long that wanders around the park.

Personally, I have so many things I like to do....I embroider, play my keyboard or guitar...I'm learning the ukelele...just for the heck of it. I love to cook. My favorite is books, books, books. I have always been an avid reader (coming from a family of readers)..when I was working, raising my family, keeping house and husbands...I had little time for it. My one great luxury is to sit on my comfortable sofa and read all day and half the night if I want to.

I rarely watch television...but I do have over 300 videos and DVD's with classic films, current films and others. In the cold of winter, a coupla good movies and a huge bowl of popcorn can keep me warm and fuzzy all afternoon.

I think that women who have no hobby, who don't read, who have no interests are very, very sad people. I look at some of them here and I think "what a waste". Life is too damn short.

Answer 2

Because by the time they get there they have already gone through more changes than you can imagine and maybe enjoy a little stability.

I watch the same shows and probably always will because the new ones aren't all that great. Granted some are and I give them a shot....but to just do it so someone thinks they got me to do something new? Na....don't think so. Price is right was never a biggie for me so that's one I doubt you'd see me watching.

My husband and I watch old shows and it's more of a memory test......we quiz each other on things etc. Believe it or not it can be fun.

When you talk about food.....since I did cook in a nursing home.....the seniors have no choice. They eat what they give them and frankly....most don't like it but you eat it or get nothing. They don't even let the cooks spice it up for something different. They are all government pre-planned and there's no room for experimenting or changing. Also when you get that age and if you do have a choice....some things don't mix with certain medications or your body doesn't handle it well anymore or your Dr. says you can't have it and you stick with what doesn't make you sick.

I used to thrive on change. After that many years of constant change.....I'm looking forward to some calm time.

Yes....they do have a problem with trusting people. It's not exactly a trustworthy society anymore. One slight mis-trust could wind you up in a position you have no means of getting out of. Untrustworthy people prey on the vunerable and we know that and there are constant scams and crooked people out there, to where letting the guard down is more risky than you know.

Answer 3

This is a part of the aging process for many people. They have a hard time finding things that really pique their interest. This is why they do the things they do.

Here's what I would suggest that you do to help you understand this a little better: Pay a visit to the Activities Director and take a look at the monthly calendar for the complex. You will find things on there that the Seniors are known to enjoy.

Next, try to think of new things that they may enjoy. And, discuss this with the Activities Director.

You're going to find that if there is something offered that will not put them in physical or mental distress, they'll be game to try it.

At this age, repetition is OK for these folks. At least they know they're still alive. They don't have to worry about learning new things and getting ahead. They've already done this in this life. They've earned the opportunities to do just what they want to do, when they want to do it. And, they've earned the right to resist change if they want to. If they were still working, it would be different.

It's more a matter of choice...... theirs...... not ours.

Answer 4

All my life I've been blessed .... or is it cursed.... with a lot of curiosity and the need to see what's around the next bend in the road. However, as I've aged, the familiar seems more comfortable to me than the unknown. I still enjoy new things but take them a lot slower. By the way, I'm 74 and love living alone in my little condo even though I have no family nearby. I am strongly considering buying a 30 day Amtrak unlimited travel ticket and seeing some of the US by rail. Many of us still do live life in the lane .... just not in the fast lane.

Answer 5

Well my Mom is 82 and she sounds like what you are describing for the most part, except she likes to try different food. The fear thing is big with her and not trusting people and she is very negative about a lot of stuff. She can be very difficult at times to be around and my fear is that I might end up like that, and I so don't want to.

Answer 6

It's taken many years of tweaking to find that which is appealing and what works best. You're gonna go broke on laundry soap if you change as the spirit moves you. You just gotta stop, or at least slow down, to smell the roses. If you had the patience to read these responses, why were you here getting the saame answers to the same question that has been asked many times before ?


Peace, and God bless (almost time for Jeopardy)

Answer 7

I have spent 20 years working with the elderly its called routine. its their safety net. It helps them focus their memory, they set their calenders by what they eat and watch.

But if you are willing to try something different on the odd day I am sure most would enjoy it. If you made a special tasty 3 course meal I bet they would eat it.

Getting old and frail is not particular wonderful, one minute your doing an important job and raising a family, and people need you and ask your advice and your are a valuable member of society. Next thing is you have lost your loved ones, your home, your job, your car, your health and so the list goes on. People no longer speak to you as if you are an adult. If you loose your health people are not sure what to do with you, so you retreat...you keep to routine and you value what little dignity you have left.

If you take the time to listen to them and talk to them then you might learn some very valuable lessons on life and you might also have a good laugh at their wonderful stories.

One thing is for sure this will be you one day.

Answer 8

This is why I will never live in a senior anything. I've watched the seniors in my area and their chatter would drive me nuts.
I'm going to guess that in a senior place, everyone watches the same shows and eats the same food, because that's what's available. My roommie goes out to a senior center and that's great for him, but personally, I cant stand being around a bunch of old people. All they seem to talk about is blood pressure and medication. My mother was the same way and now I know why. If my children start talking senior living, I'm out of here.

Answer 9

As some human beings become previous they substitute into extra set interior the previous strategies of doing issues & that's not a undesirable concern. modern technologies looks to intimidate most of the older human beings besides. they may well be of the mindset that they gained't be waiting to be responsive to the thank you to apply a working laptop or laptop, iPod, etc. for many, doing issues the previous way grew to become into much less complicated & getting to understand new strategies could be slightly overwhelming. in the event that they simply knew how plenty extra handy those new strategies might make their lives. Do you remember whilst your dad and mom tryed to get you to consume greens or nutrients on your plate which you will in no way had earlier? From the get bypass, you desperate you probably did no longer like it even earlier you took a bite? in step with risk as quickly as you tryed it, you got here upon which you loved it. it is how dad and mom/grandparents might look at attempting new issues. whilst they had attempt it, they might discover that they loved it. till that day arrives, that's a mute factor.

Answer 10

Sweetie, I LIVE in low income govt assisted housing & 75% of us are over 50. Next year I am eligible for senior housing (55 & up) & I decided to pay a visit to the building & have decided that I am better off where I am. Crummy Manager & all...my neighbors might smoke a bit of crack, but at least they are quiet. I can't have it all. The NEW price is right is different because it has DREW CAREY as the host & he's really quite a funny guy! That's change enough for some of us. But I think I know what you mean.