Senior Citizen – Age, Activity, Attitude
Who is a senior citizen? My grandfather was a senior citizen for the entire time I knew him. My Dad was a senior citizen for most of my life. Suddenly, I am a senior citizen. I hope this website helps you as I figure out how to be a senior citizen.
When are You a Senior Citizen?
My grandkids ask me to tell them about the “olden days.” I have people at stores ask me if I need at hand. Am I a senior citizen because I have white hair? Am I a senior citizen because of my age. Possibly, its because of how organizations and the government view me.
When I think about my grand-parents and my parents at my age, I am very different from them.
Mindset
I think differently than they did. I find that I am more interested in many things than ever before in my life. For that reason, I am on the go a lot more than my parents.
They were skeptical of new food, new politicians and new experiences. They were particularly skeptical of new ideas. I find all of that exciting. My outlook on life is different from my parents and grandparents at my age.
Energy
I can’t lift as much as I used to. I can’t run as fast as I did when I was younger. But I have the same energy as I always have. At least, I think I do. Aches and pains not withstanding, a day of hiking or an hour of swimming or basketball still feels good. I try to walk, not jog, 5 miles daily.
Age
My next birthday will put me two years over the age to receive Social Security. I will have had MediCare for 3 years on May 8th. Websites ask me to scroll way down to reach my birth year. As far as the government is concerned, I’m senior citizen.
Who Are Senior Citizens?
When does senior insurance kick in? There are AARP Insurance plans 50, 65 years olds can access. Is everyone in that age range a senior? Many people say that 10,000 baby boomers world wide turn 65 daily.
Glen Kessler wrote in an article dated July 24, 2014:
“Ten thousand people a day is certainly a big number. Over 365 days, that’s almost 4 million people. But then everything about the “Baby Boom” generation is pretty big. There were 76 million people born between the years 1946 and 1964, the traditional window for the baby boom generation. That means that they will retire over a 19-year period. Simple math shows that 76 divided by 19 is 4 million, or almost 11,000 people a day.”
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That’s a lot of people. When I go the store, I see people about my age everywhere I look.
What Do Seniors Mean to the World?
Many people who study demographic trends and their results think that this number of seniors will impact the world economically. With health care improving and nutrition standards rising world wide, seniors are living long.
“Business Insider”, in a Reference.com article, speculates. “America’s 65-and-older population is growing rapidly thanks to the aging Baby Boom generation. This means more and more people are dropping out of the labor force and spending less and less money.” This is seems to be the case world wide.
“Global Health and Aging” observes. “In 2010, an estimated 524 million people were aged 65 or older—8 percent of the world’s population. By 2050, this number is expected to nearly triple to about 1.5 billion, representing 16 percent of the world’s population.”
Wikipedia states that almost 27.6 percent of the world’s population is presently under 15 years of age. Yet people are living longer. The birth rate annually doubles the death rate world wide.
Seniors have built upon the foundation of the past in all areas of life. They will be dependent on others to provide their long term future.
Why This Website?
This website is for me. That’s not why its named after me. I am this domain name because my son bought it for me 15 years ago. I wanted to keep using it.
I’m a senior. What does that means for all areas of my life. I hope this website can be a place where other seniors share their experiences. I need to know how others are handling what I am handling. There will be no order to the articles on the site. I am planning to write as I do things. I also want to share what Ginger, my wife and I do, and other family members, as well. Enjoy the site. Let me know what you do in similar situations. Share what being a senior citizens means to you.
Take a moment to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Are you a senior? Do you seem different than you parents did when they were your age?
Great article James,
I think the huge gap between younger people is what makes them look at senior citizens differently but from where I come from, senior citizens are like our elder circle. They’ve witnessed a lot of changes through time and it would be wise to consult with our elder circle too before making any huge decisions. But one thing for certain, nobody likes politicians regardless of age gap 😀
I must admit, the world seems to change over the years, but I think senior life experience can be worth hearing in any era. I agree on the politicians… especially senior politicians that act like children. Thanks for your comment.
Although I’m not a senior yet, I am beginning to prepare for that phase of my life. I’m looking for ways now to prepare for retirement, eliminate my debt, create more passive income and really put myself in a position to enjoy my retirement years.
I’m in my mid 40’s but my teenagers think that I’m a senior citizen and ask me about the olden days too. LOL. Thanks for sharing.
Many people as they approach their senior years don’t prepare. It can be tough. I think you are very wise to do so. Thanks for your comment.
Hi,
From my online findings senior age activity attitude from my culture, the senior age are called elders and accord with respect, a good attitude is crucial medicine for seniors, best medicine for senior citizens facing stressful situations is to exercise or engage in social activity less or not at all. Senior age comes with energy, age, mindset with responsibility.
Thank you.
Aluko.
That is a wonderful attitude. Too often in western culture, value is placed upon productivity and even looks both of which lower the value of seniors. Thanks for taking the time to read my article and to comment.
I’ve always been born with the knowledge that wherever you go and whenever you age, the elders will still have some knowledge that we can tap in from and we should always try to pay attention to them. Like you have explained here, the Senior citizen age activity attitude is something we should get familiar with. I would be coming to your website to get some more information. Thanks!
There will be some factual material for sure on the website, but much of it is just going to be my experience figuring out this time of my life. Thanks for your comment.
Well you are off to a good start giving help and getting help. I will be back for more.
In the culture I grew up our seniors are called Elders and are looked up to and respected. They carry great knowledge. Now that I have grown into that time of being an Elder I have found out it is not so bad after all.
Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment. I spent almost 30 years living with Native Americans in northern Canada. During that time I grew to think of elders as the foundation of wisdom for the village. I am enjoying this time as well.
Fantastic and Above The Average! Amen!!!
Thanks so much for stopping by the website. I hope to have a lot more helpful content as I build out the site. I figure, if I have to be a senior citizen, I might as well get help and give help to be the best senior I can be.
You are a Senior Citizen as far as I am concern. You are active, healthy but you are still a senior citizen.
AARP has policies beginning at 50 years of age but I would not call a 50-year-old a Senior.
I think it is an honour to be a Senior. I love to go shopping on Tuesdays because that is when my stores give discounts to Seniors.I enjoy going to church and seeing the young men hurrying to take whatever packages I am carrying from me.
I am a Senior regardless of how high the age goes up. I am blessed to be active and still in my right mind.
I like your post it stimulates thoughts.
Do you think Seniors have more fun when they are better prepared for retirement?
Luna
Thanks for leaving a comment,Luna. I agree with you completely. I am really enjoying being a senior. I do think seniors have more fun when they are prepared for retirement. I have had a retirement plan my whole life, but never realized how important it was until I needed to use it. We prepared in terms of major purchases like a good car prior to retirement. That has helped. Thanks for stopping by. You are my first comment. I am just building this site.