@TranquilMind — just curious where you get the 120 year figure. I’ve never read that before and wonder where it comes from. The human mind seems to be gone long before that in many of the elders I know.
Statistics beat anecdotes, a little wine every day and they would be looking at a couple more years, on average, too.
I don’t think my grandfather would have wanted another couple of years, since he made it to 98 and was more than ready to go.
Even in those who are quite functional in their 90s, I tend to see a narrowing of mental abilities. They may still discuss politics with a vengeance, play music or exercise impressively. But learn anything new, or pick up various threads in a multifaceted conversation, perhaps less able. My experience as well, seeing family as well as patients is that you can live that long fairly competently, but it can be a rough decade with heath scares and frailty often an issue. But, as with all these things, consider the alternative.
Up through the 70s was pretty good for the elders we know. After that has been less enjoyable for them and those who love them. They and we who love them are NOT enjoying the 80s and beyond as much as the 70s and prior. At some point, it just seems exhausting for everyone.
"Even in those who are quite functional in their 90s, I tend to see a narrowing of mental abilities. They may still discuss politics with a vengeance, play music or exercise impressively. But learn anything new, or pick up various threads in a multifaceted conversation, perhaps less able. "
I have another take on “narrowing of mental abilities” and the elderly especially for those who are quite functional and otherwise engaged.
In my experience it’s often not the mental ability that has declined; it’s more often the hearing and eyesight decline that makes it difficult to follow multi-faceted conversations (since they’re missing half of it). Pain is also a distraction at times. People don’t notice some of those subtle physical changes in themselves nor do they readily admit it even if they do.
Interesting article - spot on the topic of the thread:
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20180710-whats-it-like-working-past-your-100th-birthday
My mom’s 90th birthday is in August, and she still works part time.
From the article posted in 106…
"Another problem centenarians may face is slightly more obvious – they’re old. “If you look on a company website and they say ‘this is a young, dynamic, vibrant team’, the last thing they want is a mature worker there,” says Knight. There’s a cultural gap. Imagine telling a colleague with grandchildren about that rave you went to at the weekend. “It’s like working with your parent or your grandparent.”
LOL–You really shouldn’t be bragging about the rave you went to last week at work. That’s why the older guy was hired–common sense (he already knows when to keep his mouth shut.).
And I really don’t think being old keeps you from being “young (at heart), dynamic or vibrant”. If you do you haven’t met the right “old” people.
" the last thing they want is a mature worker there,” says Knight.
LOL even more–No, that’s why the old guy got hired. Somebody has to be mature.