So patronising!

M0nica 😆😆 Me too - there must be hordes of older people rampaging through the streets of Guildford celebrating their hearing aids/extra payments for whatever/glasses/walking aids

Now and again when i see those news/adverts, 'over 80s in Winchester going wild about these hearing aids' I amuse myself by trying to imagine hundreds of people like me clogging up the centre of Winchester, all wildly excited and brandishing our hearing aids.

My DM (now 84) collects for Help the Aged every year. She goes door to door, sells flags, does anything they ask really. She worries about 'the elderly' who 'often can't get out and about'. 😄 She has a lot of problems with her feet and can't actually walk very far, and when she does walk she looks a bit like a crab, and she lives in a very long road. It takes the best part of the day collecting in her road 😄

Who has said that? Are you just imagining it? But eventually we do, like it or not, if we live long enough.

Anything directed to "the elderly and vulnerable." Ye gods! Who has decided that the minute we qualify for the State pension we automatically become vulnerable? Oh no we don't!

Baggs

Feeling patronised is a choice. Choose something else. Like not giving a damn.

Exactly, or as Eleanor Roosevelt said

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Oh that's like the games to keep our minds active!
And only 'left brainers' can do this, which doesn't say much considering most of the population of the world are 'left brainers' because the majority of us are right-handed, or ambidextrous!
These people think we're all so very stupid!!

Dickens, a very good point

Deedaa

It's a bit like some of the complaints about Angela Rippon. I can understand the people who say they have never liked her, or that she won't last long because it will be too much, but there are some who are just say that a woman in her 70s "shouldn't" be dancing. I imagine some of them have a long list of things we "shouldn't" be doing.

Do those people who say she shouldn't be dancing give a reason why they believe that?

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure she will have had the sense to check with her doctor and get his / her professional opinion as to whether she should or shouldn't.

For her 100th birthday, my DIL'S great aunt was asked how she'd like to celebrate it. She decided on her 3rd sky-jump - she took up the 'hobby' during her 90th year. Apart from the obvious risks, her doctor said he thought she was physically fit enough as long as she was cushioned by her co-jumper when she landed. There were, of course, nay-sayers, but as the family said - if she's physically fit - why not? The experienced co-jumpers jump with newbies of all ages.

I don't think we should have limits put on us because of age - either you can do something, or you can't.

Also, how long before we or those that follow us have to work until they are 70 before they can claim their state pension? That limit will increase, too as the years pass.

Those that have set ideas on what they think is age-appropriate may well feel differently when they reach a certain age!

I would add that there are countless men and women in their 70s, 80s - and possibly even 90s, who are caring full time for a disabled or ill spouse, often with ailments and disabilities of their own to cope with simultaneously, I'm one of them... no-one has ever told me I shouldn't be doing this at my age (80). In fact, society seems quite accepting that an elderly person can do this physically and mentally exhausting job - TBH, I'd rather take up dancing, I think it would be less draining and demanding!

So, down with ageism - but basically, I just ignore those who have ideas of what we should or should not do. I probably understand 'old-age' better than they do!

It's a bit like some of the complaints about Angela Rippon. I can understand the people who say they have never liked her, or that she won't last long because it will be too much, but there are some who are just say that a woman in her 70s "shouldn't" be dancing. I imagine some of them have a long list of things we "shouldn't" be doing.

Witzend

Whatever happened to older people being proud of their age?
Back in the 60s a granny of mine had a neighbour who would say, every time you encountered her, ‘Seventy-five! And everybody says I’m wonderful!’ 😂

Something else that’s evidently died the death, and maybe just as well. (In that sort of case, anyway.)

DIL's Mum helps to run an afternoon tea club for older people who might be on their own. One woman who came said to her "I'm 75, you know!"
DIL's Mum is quite a bit older than that 😃

M0nica cannot do handstands', 'Monica cannot fry an egg'

I used to be a whizz at handstands 😃
And DH, who is older than me, is great at frying eggs so I leave it to him.
If ever we thought of running a B&B, he would have had to do the breakfasts.

What do older people love?
Me? 🍷🥂
Chocolate!!

Ads are are targeted. At all demographics.

I try not to get annoyed by them, though they can be irritating when they assume that old age automatically means you can't cope with technology. I had a chap who works for Microsoft here awhile back - and I showed him a couple of computer hacks that he didn't know about (just showing-off here)!

But, then - look at all the daft adverts directed at young people... listen to those young folk tunelessly singing, "just sold my caaar to we buy any caaar". It makes my 16 year old grandson cringe.

I am a bit tired of he funeral ads though...

I am old, I can't run up hills at any great speed, my knees and back complain when I garden and i seem to be growing less hair on my head and a little bit more on my chin. Fortunately I still have a sense of humour, currently don't need incontinence pads (but you never know) and can still get out of an armchair easily. tbh I feel privileged to be old, so many of my friends haven't had that option.

I have been visiting my local hospital recently for assessments and these regularly ask about my mobility etc. I find myself constantly being described in terms of what I can do 'MOnica is self-caring', 'M0nica can manage stairs' 'M0nica does not have help at home'. As if it is quite remarkable that a woman of 80 can do these things.

Why cant they just assume thereis nothing I cannot do unless there is, and then that can be listed 'M0nica cannot do handstands', 'Monica cannot fry an egg'

I had a phone call from my energy supplier during the non-arrival of Storm Agnes, advising me to call a certain number if I should have a power cut and/or need any help, which I thought was thoughtful of them of them.
Didn't feel patronised in the slightest; I am old.

I just got a text from my GP telling me to arrange for a home visit for my flu and covid booster jabs. Every one else I know has to troll to some pharmacy or surgery for them. I dont mind being considered "older" if it saves me trouble or hassle. Ive done more than my share for the community so now its my turn to have people run around after me.

Whatever happened to older people being proud of their age?
Back in the 60s a granny of mine had a neighbour who would say, every time you encountered her, ‘Seventy-five! And everybody says I’m wonderful!’ 😂

Something else that’s evidently died the death, and maybe just as well. (In that sort of case, anyway.)

Blossoming

I did worry when Facebook started showing me adverts for funeral plans

I've been getting ads on Duolingo for Bentleys, Porsches and a college in Dumfries, so not targeted in any way!

(I know this is a resurrected thread, but thought that anyone who feels got at by "elderly" ads should try Duolingo and see what they get!)

Use a pop up blocker.

At what age is one considered older?

Now and again I read articles which are entitled clothes/hair /decor that screams elderly/old .
Here's my response to them -
Really ?
Go forth ....

There’s one particular grey-haired actor who appears in all sorts of ads aimed at the over 50s - cruises, life insurance, retirement apartments, beach holidays, automatic garage doors… Every time he’s with a different woman, who’s presumably supposed to be his wife. 😂 Some of you will know the one I mean. He’s not even very good looking - a bit skinny for me! Oops! I don’t think that was very PC…
Then there’s the one who grows parsnips…

Me too. I can’t remember ever having felt patronised.

Baggs

Feeling patronised is a choice. Choose something else. Like not giving a damn.

Totally agree.