Why do people slow down when they get older?

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   Kenna McHughposted 7 years ago

   Why do people slow down when they get older?
   
   

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   nochanceposted 7 years ago

   https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/older … with-aging

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      Kenna McHughposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Chloe, thank you for the link. But...Do we have to agree with this?

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      nochanceposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      It's biology. It doesn't matter if we agree with it, it's going to happen either way.

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   TIMETRAVELER2posted 7 years ago

   People's health often fails as they age. 
   This often causes them pain and sometimes disability, things that make life more difficult for them.
   They also take more medications, some of which make them lethargic.
   Aging is not comfortable or easy for those who make it too far in life.

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      Kenna McHughposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I agree about the medications. Older people take too many medications. It is crazy.

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   RTalloniposted 7 years ago

   Being less active and putting on weight are huge contributors to slowing seniors down.  The thing to remember about those factors is that there are often many reasons for them.  How active they were in previous years, how well they understand the need to push through and get energy through exercise, the kind of diet they've had all their life, what they are willing to do in retirement years to take care of their bodies, depression (and the drugs offered to them for treating it--they need to understand the side effects!), being over medicated rather than addressing health issues through diet and exercise where possible–so many things!

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      Kenna McHughposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. Start young and keep exercise and healthy diet in, in, in. If depressed, stay away from medication. Find an outlet, make different friends, whatever one can do. www.cchr.org

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      You forgot one big issue...PAIN!  The pain that many older people suffer is often close to being unbearable.  It's difficult to "exercise" when you can barely get out of bed in the morning.

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   Cissy1946posted 7 years ago

   Since all the physical reasons for slowing down have been covered let me add that there are other reasons for slowing down. First you just get tired of the same thing over and over again. The problems are the same, the non-solutions are the same, and the nagging by family members is the same. In addition to this you're treated as though you're an invalid and your brain has lost it's ability to function. Your skills are considered outdated and useless just as you are. Doctors start talking to you like you're a child who can't understand simple directions. And if you want to know about the over medicating of the elderly. Well, the more drugs that are prescribed the more of a kickback the doctors get and the more 'sedate' the elderly are kept the less family members have to participate in their lives. Yes, the body ages but that doesn't mean you're dead even if the younger members of our society would like us to be!
   By the way, I just turned 70 and am working on my BS degree in Information Systems Technology. I have a 3.78 GPA and expect to graduate in 2018 when I'm 72, and that won't make me the oldest graduate.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      You go girl!  I'm 73 and still RVing, writing and enjoying life despite my many health problems!  We ought to form a club lol!

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      Kenna McHughposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Cecelia, Sounds like you are living the life. Young as ever, and IT is a great field to go into at any age.

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