How To Avoid Becoming A Grumpy Old Geezer

Dear Dr. LeCrone:

As a mid- 50s baby boomer, I’m trying to prepare for a healthy older adulthood which will benefit not only me but also my spouse, children, grandchildren and friends.

I think I have a pretty good handle on the physical part of this equation but need help with the mental component. I don’t want to be remembered as a grumpy old geezer, a self-centered old coot, or a chronic old whiner and complainer. How can I develop a healthy outlook and attitude of someone who is fun to be around instead of a drag on everyone?

-A reader in Florida

Dear Reader:

One of the biggest assets for successful aging is the ability to deal with change. If you live long enough, you are going to outlive friends and family, and maybe your spouse. The older adult’s ability to view death as a part of life can be of great assistance in dealing with these changes.

Loss of independence and autonomy because of changes in physical functioning are also often big challenges to the aging adult. Examples of these changes are vision, hearing, physical strength, and memory.

Resilient older adults anticipate possible changes and view these changes and losses as part of the process of living to be older. At the same time they are open to assistance from technology, health care professionals, family, and friends in dealing with these changes. Exercise, a healthy diet, hearing aids and low-vision technologies are but a few things that can help the older adult compensate for changes due to age.

These same successful seniors have a relatively low need for control and tend to “go with the flow” while often possessing a healthy sense of humor. Holding on to rigid images of what life was like in one’s past and believing that these things should never change is a recipe for unhappiness.

Mentally fit older adults use their wit and wisdom to help them avoid feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and hopeless and out of control when changes and losses do occur. Being able to realistically relabel the outcome of events in later life in terms of success and failure is a strong characteristic of resilient older adults.

To be happy and successful later in a person’s life does not require the same physical capabilities, stamina, and memory as when younger.

I applaud your current efforts to plan for the future.